AI Article Synopsis
- The BCG vaccine, developed in 1921 to protect against tuberculosis, boosts cell-mediated immunity by activating Th1 cells and producing interferon gamma.
- It can also stimulate the immune system in a general way, making it effective against various non-mycobacterial infections and some diseases like cancers and autoimmune disorders.
- There’s ongoing research into using BCG to combat COVID-19, leveraging its potential to induce 'trained innate immunity' that enhances protection against reinfection.
Article Abstract
The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine has been used since 1921 initially for protection against tuberculosis. BCG acts through stimulation of cell-mediated adaptive immunity with activation of the Th1 cells and production of interferon gamma. Additionally, it is able to stimulate the immune system in a nonspecific manner, which results in effectiveness of the BCG against non-mycobacterial infections and in some malignant, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases. Recently, its potential use in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been suggested. This is based upon the concept of BCG-induced trained innate immunity-a memory-like response of the innate immune system that can realize greater protection in case of re-infection. This hypothesis represents a milestone in the potential use of the BCG vaccine in the fight with the novel coronavirus.
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Source |
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7836423 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2020.12.018 | DOI Listing |
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