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Antibody dependent disease enhancement (ADE) after COVID-19 vaccination and beta glucans as a safer strategy in
Nobunao Ikewaki1, Gene Kurosawa2, Gary A Levy3
1Dept. of Medical Life Science, Kyushu University of Health and Welfare, Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan; Institute of Immunology, Junsei Educational Institute, Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan.
Abstract:
A potential risk associated with vaccines for COVID-19 is antibody-dependent disease enhancement (ADE) in which vaccine induced antibody mediated immune responses may lead to enhanced SARS CoV- 2 acquisition or increased disease severity. Though ADE has not been clinically demonstrated with any of the COVID-19 vaccines so far, when neutralizing antibodies are suboptimal, the severity of COVID-19 has been reported to be greater. ADE is presumed to occur via abnormal macrophages induced by the vaccine based immune response by antibody-mediated virus uptake into Fc gamma receptor IIa (FcγRIIa) or by the formation of Fc-mediated excessive antibody effector functions. Beta-glucans which are naturally occurring polysaccharides known for unique immunomodulation by capability to interact with macrophages, eliciting a specific beneficial immune-response and enhancing all arms of the immune system, importantly without over-activation are suggested as safer nutritional supplement-based vaccine adjuvants for COVID-19.
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