BCG Vaccine Derived Peptides Induce SARS-CoV-2 T Cell Cross-Reactivity

Peter J. Eggenhuizen; Boaz H. Ng; Janet Chang; Ashleigh L. Fell; Rachel M. Y. Cheong; Wey Y. Wong; Poh-Yi Gan; Poh-Yi Gan; Stephen R. Holdsworth; Stephen R. Holdsworth; Joshua D. Ooi

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.692729

Frontiers in Immunology (Aug 2021)

BCG Vaccine Derived Peptides Induce SARS-CoV-2 T Cell Cross-Reactivity

Peter J. Eggenhuizen,
Boaz H. Ng,
Janet Chang,
Ashleigh L. Fell,
Rachel M. Y. Cheong,
Wey Y. Wong,
Poh-Yi Gan,
Poh-Yi Gan,
Stephen R. Holdsworth,
Stephen R. Holdsworth,
Joshua D. Ooi

Affiliations

Peter J. Eggenhuizen: Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
Boaz H. Ng: Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
Janet Chang: Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
Ashleigh L. Fell: Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
Rachel M. Y. Cheong: Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
Wey Y. Wong: Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
Poh-Yi Gan: Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
Poh-Yi Gan: Department of Immunology, Monash Health, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, VIC, Australia
Stephen R. Holdsworth: Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
Stephen R. Holdsworth: Department of Immunology, Monash Health, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, VIC, Australia
Joshua D. Ooi: Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.692729
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12

Abstract

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Epidemiological studies and clinical trials suggest Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine has protective effects against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There are now over 30 clinical trials evaluating if BCG vaccination can prevent or reduce the severity of COVID-19. However, the mechanism by which BCG vaccination can induce severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific T cell responses is unknown. Here, we identify 8 novel BCG-derived peptides with significant sequence homology to either SARS-CoV-2 NSP3 or NSP13-derived peptides. Using an in vitro co-culture system, we show that human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells primed with a BCG-derived peptide developed enhanced reactivity to its corresponding homologous SARS-CoV-2-derived peptide. As expected, HLA differences between individuals meant that not all persons developed immunogenic responses to all 8 BCG-derived peptides. Nevertheless, all of the 20 individuals that were primed with BCG-derived peptides developed enhanced T cell reactivity to at least 7 of 8 SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides. These findings provide an in vitro mechanism that may account, in part, for the epidemiologic observation that BCG vaccination confers some protection from COVID-19.

Published in Frontiers in Immunology

ISSN: 1664-3224 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Immunologic diseases. Allergy
Website: http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/immunology

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Abstract

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