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Does Early Childhood Vaccination Protect Against COVID-19?
Karzan R Sidiq1,2, Dana Khdr Sabir2, Shakhawan M Ali3
1Charmo Centre for Research, Training and Consultancy, Charmo University, Chamchamal, Iraq.
Insights
The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine may offer children protection against COVID-19. This is due to a shared amino acid sequence between the MMR vaccine and SARS-CoV-2, potentially boosting immunity in vaccinated children.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Computational Biology
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disproportionately affects adults compared to children.
- The SARS-CoV-2 virus primarily targets the human respiratory system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the lower susceptibility of children to COVID-19 hospitalization.
- To hypothesize the protective role of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in pediatric COVID-19 cases.
Main Methods:
- Comparative sequence analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) glycoprotein with measles and rubella virus glycoproteins.
- Identification of homologous amino acid sequences and potential antigenic epitopes using computational methods.
Main Results:
- A 30-amino acid sequence homology was identified between SARS-CoV-2 S glycoprotein and measles virus fusion (F1) glycoprotein, and rubella virus envelope (E1) glycoprotein.
- The homologous region was computationally predicted to contain antigenic epitopes for both measles and rubella.
Conclusions:
- The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine may induce broad humoral immunity offering cross-protection against COVID-19 in children.
- Experimental validation is necessary to confirm the protective effect of MMR vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Abstract:
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.
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