Paulo Antas
Senior Researcher Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Brazil Email: paulo.zuquim@fiocruz.br
VALIDATE Role: Network Investigator
Research Keywords: Tuberculosis, BCG Vaccine, Leprosy
Biography: In the last 5 years, Dr. Antas has been working in a group that develops research on the field of clinical immune response of vaccinations against human Tuberculosis, especially in the cellular immunology area. Most of his scientific time is currently dedicated to studying several aspects of the immune response in Tuberculosis, such as the involvement of inflammatory cytokines, and the T cells on the immune response to mycobacterium as a whole. As a result, he has accumulated significant data and thus experience in this field. Lately, the use of the BCG-Moreau strain being almost exclusive to Brazil may potentially offer a good carrier/vector for potential immunodominant virus proteins leading to protection against COVID-19. That is intended to interfere with acute viral infection by means of orchestrating the excessive cytokine storm triggered by SARS- COV2 infection. The main approach will be the use of the BCG vaccine not only for the immunological memory of mycobacterial antigens but also as a boost to the immune system, which can lead to non-specific protection against other pathogens or a milder course of infection caused by SARS- COV2. In the end, this immunomodulation would greatly encourage the acquisition of effective anti-viral properties.
Key Publications:
|
