Effects of BCG on Influenza Induced Immune Response

Influenza Virus Infection Clinical Trial

Official title: The Effects of BCG-vaccination on the Immune Response Induced by Influenza-vaccination in Healthy Volunteers. A Pilot Proof-of-principle Study.

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

In the present study, the investigators want to investigate whether prior BCG-vaccination improves the efficacy of influenza ("the flu") vaccination in young and/or old healthy volunteers and consequently could protect against influenza virus infection.

Clinical Trial Description

Influenza virus infection leads to millions of cases of severe illnesses worldwide and up to an estimated 500.000 deaths annually. The potential for the sudden emergence of pandemic influenza strains represents an incessant threat on even a larger scale. seasonal influenza vaccination is the backbone of influenza management. However, antibodies generated by vaccination, most often do not effectively neutralize emergent strains due to the high mutation rate of the influenza viral genome. In addition, although vaccination is effective in up to 85% of healthy adults, only 40-60% of the elderly are able to mount an protective antibody response due to an agerelated decline in immune function (so-called immunoscenescence). As a result, the protective effects of influenza vaccination are limited, and strategies to improve host immune defenses against influenza virus infection per se, and following influenza vaccination, are highly warranted.

It is suggested that prior vaccination with Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) could enhance resistance to other infectious diseases in addition to protection to tuberculosis (TBC) and, in mice, protection of prior BCGvaccination against influenza infection was demonstrated long ago. However, only recently substantial evidence for these nonspecific beneficial effects of BCG-vaccination in humans has been provided by several randomized clinical trials. Considering these potentiating effects of BCG-vaccination, it could be a viable strategy to improve efficacy of influenza vaccination, and/or enhance immune defenses against influenza virus infection per se. If so, this would have an enormous impact on clinical practice. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Prevention

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Influenza Virus Infection
• Influenza, Human
• Trained Immunity
• Virus Diseases

• NCT number: NCT02114255
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Radboud University
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2/Phase 3
• Start date: May 2014
• Completion date: September 2014