Background: Millions have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, but the severity of resultant infections has varied among adults and children, with adults presenting more serious symptomatic cases. Children may possess an immunity that adults lack, possibly from childhood vaccinations. This retrospective study suggests immunization against the poliovirus may provide an immunity to SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Publicly available data were analyzed for possible correlations between national median ages and epidemiological outbreak patterns across 100 countries. Sera from 204 adults and children, who were immunized with the poliovirus vaccine, were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effects of polio-immune serum on SARS-CoV-2-induced cytopathology in cell culture were then evaluated. Results: Analyses of median population age demonstrated a positive correlation between median age and SARS-CoV-2 prevalence and death rates. Countries with effective poliovirus immunization protocols and younger populations have fewer and less pathogenic cases of COVID-19. Antibodies to poliovirus and SARS-CoV-2 were found in pediatric sera and in sera from adults recently immunized with polio. Western blot demonstrated antibodies recognized the RNA-dependent-RNA-polymerase (RdRp) of either virus. Sera from polio-immunized individuals inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection of Vero cell cultures. These results suggest the anti-D3-pol-antibody, induced by poliovirus vaccination, may provide a similar degree of protection from SARS-CoV-2 to adults as to children. Conclusions: Poliovirus vaccination induces an adaptive humoral immune response. Antibodies created by poliovirus vaccination bind the RdRp protein of both poliovirus and SARS-CoV-2, thereby preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. These findings suggest proteins other than spike proteins may be suitable targets for immunity and vaccine development.
Competing Interest Statement
All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form at www.icmje.org/coi_disclosure.pdf and declare: BC did not receive any personal fees from E-Mo Biology, Inc. while writing this manuscript, though is pending negotiations for future interests. YJ reports personal fees from GeneScan Diagnostics, LLC. JA and RAC report personal fees from E-Mo Biology, Inc. QX holds an executive position in and reports personal fees from E-Mo Biology, Inc. E-Mo Biology, Inc. has a patent pending. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Funding Statement
This retrospective study was fully funded by a private source in Southern California. Funders provided finances only and had no involvement in the research activities (project initiation, study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, results, and inference). All authors had full access to the full data in the study and accept responsibility to submit for publication.
Author Declarations
I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.
Yes
The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:
IRB approval was obtained from BioMed IRB, and samples were purchased from Discovery Life Sciences (Huntsville, AL) in accord with the approved IRB protocol Alabama Biobank Research Trial 001 V3 (ABRT 001-V3)
All necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived.
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Paper in collection COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 preprints from medRxiv and bioRxiv
