The production of specific neutralizing antibodies by individuals is thought to be the best option for reducing the number of patients with severe COVID-19, which is the reason why multiple vaccines are currently being administered worldwide. We aimed to explore the effect of revaccination with BCG, on the response to a subsequent anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, in persons occupationally exposed to COVID-19 patients. Two groups of 30 randomized participants were selected: one group received a BCG revaccination, and the other group received a placebo. Subsequently, both groups were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. After each round of vaccination, the serum concentration of Th1/Th2 cytokines was determined. At the end of the protocol, neutralizing antibodies were determined and the HLA-DRB loci were genotyped. The participants from the BCG group and anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine group had increased serum cytokine concentrations (i.e., IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-18, GM-CSF, INF-γ, and TNF-α) and higher neutralizing antibody titers, compared to the group with Placebo–anti-SARS-CoV-2. Twelve HLA-DRB1 alleles were identified in the Placebo–anti-SARS-CoV-2 group, and only nine in the group revaccinated with BCG. The DRB1*04 allele exhibited increased frequency in the Placebo–anti-SARS-CoV-2 group; however, no confounding effects were found with this allele. We conclude that revaccination with BCG synergizes with subsequent vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in occupationally exposed personnel.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, vaccination, Neutralizing antibodies, BCG, 【초록키워드】 neutralizing antibody, Vaccine, protocol, severe COVID-19, IL-6, GM-CSF, cytokine, anti-SARS-CoV-2, Randomized, serum, Patient, Placebo, group, COVID-19 patients, TNF-α, IL-13, IL-4, IL-1β, Frequency, Concentration, INF-γ, neutralizing antibody titers, individual, participant, revaccination, allele, serum cytokine, loci, IL-12p70, HLA-DRB1, IL-18, confounding effect, Administered, vaccine group, thought, subsequent, nine, exhibited, was determined, reducing, genotyped, both group, specific neutralizing antibody, 【제목키워드】 Effect,