NL
DE
19 March 2020
The coronavirus (COVID-19) infects more and more people. This also applies to hospital staff, which can cause capacity problems in the healthcare system. There is currently no vaccine against the virus and it takes time before a vaccine will become available. In the United States, for example, an investigation into an mRNA vaccine has just started and an investigation into a DNA vaccine will follow soon, but even with good results it will take time before such a vaccine is available.
Not directed against corona
Radboudumc and UMC Utrecht are now investigating whether hospital staff can be protected by a vaccine against tuberculosis. This BCG vaccine (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) does not directly target the coronavirus, but it boosts the immune system. This boost may provide additional protection against a coronavirus infection, which may result in fewer people to suffer from the virus and also make the infection milder.
More protection, less downtime?
Previous research shows that such a boost of the immune system with BCG provides some protection against influenza, but it is not known whether this also applies to other infections such as corona. "That is exactly the reason for this research," says Mihai Netea, professor of experimental internal medicine. "If during this epidemic fewer people in the BCG-vaccinated group would drop out due to illness, this would be an encouraging result."
Thousand employees
Marc Bonten, professor of molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases at the UMC Utrecht, has initiated this research together with Netea. The study has now been approved by the Medical Ethics Review Committee (METC). "We are in the middle of the outbreak, so we want to have the results of this study as soon as possible," says Bonten. “A total of 1000 employees can participate at Radboudumc, UMC Utrecht, but also in other hospitals. Half of them will receive the BCG vaccine, the other half a placebo. If it turns out that the vaccine does indeed provide extra protection, we can also offer it to other employees.”
The coronavirus (COVID-19) infects more and more people. This also applies to hospital staff, which can cause capacity problems in the healthcare system. There is currently no vaccine against the virus and it takes time before a vaccine will become available. In the United States, for example, an investigation into an mRNA vaccine has just started and an investigation into a DNA vaccine will follow soon, but even with good results it will take time before such a vaccine is available.
Not directed against corona
Radboudumc and UMC Utrecht are now investigating whether hospital staff can be protected by a vaccine against tuberculosis. This BCG vaccine (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) does not directly target the coronavirus, but it boosts the immune system. This boost may provide additional protection against a coronavirus infection, which may result in fewer people to suffer from the virus and also make the infection milder.
More protection, less downtime?
Previous research shows that such a boost of the immune system with BCG provides some protection against influenza, but it is not known whether this also applies to other infections such as corona. "That is exactly the reason for this research," says Mihai Netea, professor of experimental internal medicine. "If during this epidemic fewer people in the BCG-vaccinated group would drop out due to illness, this would be an encouraging result."
Thousand employees
Marc Bonten, professor of molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases at the UMC Utrecht, has initiated this research together with Netea. The study has now been approved by the Medical Ethics Review Committee (METC). "We are in the middle of the outbreak, so we want to have the results of this study as soon as possible," says Bonten. “A total of 1000 employees can participate at Radboudumc, UMC Utrecht, but also in other hospitals. Half of them will receive the BCG vaccine, the other half a placebo. If it turns out that the vaccine does indeed provide extra protection, we can also offer it to other employees.”
-
Want to know more about these subjects? Click on the buttons below for more news.
Related news items
Epigenetics: Immunization is passed on to offspring Mice transmit adaptations to infections to next generations
19 October 2021 Does an infection affect the immunization of subsequent generations? It does, according to research now published in Nature Immunology. read more
First volunteers vaccinated with Radboudumc malaria vaccine
20 May 2021 Today a new vaccine against malaria, largely developed in Nijmegen, is being tested for the first time in volunteers at Radboudumc. read more
Trained immunity: a tool for reducing susceptibility to and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection
17 February 2021 In a review in Cell Mihai Netea, Frank van de Veerdonk, Reinout van Crevel and Jorge Dominguez Andres propose that induction of trained immunity by whole-microorganism vaccines may represent an important tool for reducing susceptibility to and severity of SARS-CoV-2. read more
Invasive fungal infections in influenza and COVID-19
8 July 2020 The Aspergillus fungus is found in the lungs of many COVID patients. A parallel occurs with influenza patients, who often develop a serious fungal infection. Although such a serious fungal infection seems to occur less frequently in COVID-patients, alertness remains necessary, read more
Online conference offers advantages for scientists
2 July 2020Flying around the world for every congress is outdated. Scientists can now choose for a more environmentally conscious option. Published in 'De Volkskrant', Radboudumc researchers Teun Bousema, Estel Collado and Julie Verhoef argue that the online congress can offer serious advantages.
read more