Title Does early childhood vaccination protect against COVID-19? /
Authors Sidiq, Karzan R ; Sabir, Dana Khdr ; Ali, Shakhawan M ; Kodzius, Rimantas
DOI 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00120
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Is Part of Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences.. Lausanne : Frontiers Media SA. 2020, Vol. 7, art. no. 120, p. 1-6.. ISSN 2296-889X
Keywords [eng] children ; COVID-19 ; immunity ; measles ; rubella ; vaccination ; virus
Abstract [eng] The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an on-going pandemic caused by the SARS-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) which targets the respiratory system of humans. The published data show that children, unlike adults, are less susceptible to contracting the disease. This article aims at understanding why children constitute a minor group among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Here, we hypothesize that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine could provide a broad neutralizing antibody against numbers of diseases, including COVID-19. Our hypothesis is based on the 30 amino acid sequence homology between the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) glycoprotein (PDB: 6VSB) of both the measles virus fusion (F1) glycoprotein (PDB: 5YXW_B) and the rubella virus envelope (E1) glycoprotein (PDB: 4ADG_A). Computational analysis of the homologous region detected the sequence as antigenic epitopes in both measles and rubella. Therefore, we believe that humoral immunity, created through the MMR vaccination, provides children with advantageous protection against COVID-19 as well, however, an experimental analysis is required.
Published Lausanne : Frontiers Media SA
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2020
CC license CC license description