Sequence similarity of HSP65 of Mycobacterium bovis BCG with SARS-CoV-2 spike and nuclear proteins: may it predict an antigen-dependent immune protection of BCG against COVID-19?

• DOI: 10.1007/s12192-021-01244-y
• Publication Date: 2021-11-09T19:02:42Z
• Authors: Paola Finotti
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; SARS-CoV-2; BCG Vaccine; COVID-19; Humans; Nuclear Proteins; Original Article; Mycobacterium bovis; Heat-Shock Proteins; Immunity, Innate; 3. Good health

The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is known to have protective effects not only against tuberculosis but also other unrelated infectious diseases caused by different pathogens. Several epidemiological studies documented the beneficial influence of BCG in reducing both susceptibility and severity SARS-CoV-2 infection. protective, non-specific vaccination would be related an antigen-independent enhancement innate immunity, termed trained immunity. However, knowledge that heat shock protein (HSP)65 main antigen Mycobacterium bovis prompted us verify whether sequence similarity existed between HSP65 spike (S) nuclear (N) proteins could support antigen-driven immune protection vaccine. results silico investigation showed extensive with viral proteins, especially S, involved regions comprising immunodominant epitopes. finding predicted B cell CD4+ T epitopes shared strong S N possibility a cross-immune reaction SARS-CoV-2.