[The search for ways to improve the efficacy of tuberculosis revaccination in children with immunological deficiency].
Chernushenko. E F EF; Kadan. L P LP; Kruglova. I F IF; Podgainaia. E A EA
Key Findings
- ~50% of children slated for BCG revaccination showed immunodeficiency, mainly in T‑cell and macrophage function
- T‑cell and macrophage deficits were identified as key barriers to effective revaccination
- Animal experiments showed that adding thymalin (and sodium nucleinate) improved the immune response to BCG
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers, thymalin could be explored as a supplement to enhance vaccine efficacy in people with weak immunity, but the data are limited to animal models and no human dosing guidelines are provided. More clinical research is needed before adopting it as a standard protocol.
Summary
The study found that half of the kids who need a repeat BCG TB vaccine have weak immune systems, especially T‑cells and macrophages. In animal tests, giving them the peptide thymalin (along with sodium nucleinate) helped the vaccine work better, suggesting thymalin might boost immune response in similar human cases.
Abstract
Clinicoimmunological examination of children to be BCG revaccinated showed 50% of them to have immunodeficiency. Primarily T-cell and macrophagal components of immunity were compromised. The study of immune response to BCG in animals with T-cell and macrophage immunodeficiency validated feasibility of improving antituberculous vaccination efficacy by using thymalin and sodium nucleinate.
Study Information
pubmed
1996