Science advances
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Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination may reduce the risk of a range of infectious diseases, and if so, it could protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we compared countries that mandated BCG vaccination until at least 2000 with countries that did not. ⋯ Linear mixed models revealed a significant effect of mandated BCG policies on the growth rate of both cases and deaths after controlling for median age, gross domestic product per capita, population density, population size, net migration rate, and various cultural dimensions (e.g., individualism). Our analysis suggests that mandated BCG vaccination can be effective in the fight against COVID-19.
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Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gasotransmitter and a potential therapeutic agent. However, molecular targets relevant to its therapeutic actions remain enigmatic. Sulfide-quinone oxidoreductase (SQR) irreversibly oxidizes H2S. ⋯ Moreover, deletion of SQR, complex I, or AMPK abolishes therapeutic effects of H2S following intracerebral hemorrhage. To conclude, SQR mediates H2S signaling and therapeutic effects by targeting mitochondrial electron transport to induce mitochondrial uncoupling. Moreover, SQR is a previously unrecognized target for developing non-protonophore uncouplers with broad clinical implications.