Özet:

Tuberculosis (TB) is a infectious disease that deeply affects communities throughout human history due to the serious effects of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), which has a historic importance in the protection against TB, has been applied to more than 4 billion people with its 100 years of history. While more effective vaccine development studies are ongoing to protect against TB than BCG, BCG, with studies on BCG’s protection against coronavirus pandemic, has re-established in a surprising way on the 100th anniversary. In addition to the non-specific/anti-TB effect of BCG on infectious diseases, it has been used as an immunomodulator approved by the "Food and Drug Administration" since 1976 in the treatment of cervical cancer in humans. Furthermore, studies are also on its use as an immune therapy agent in local treatment for common genital scars. The fact that BCG vaccine reduces the risk of TB infection by approximately 50 percent is a limited effect, but the discovery of its non-specific effects through heterological and educated immunity in protection against other infections keeps the vaccine’s interest alive. This study is designed to compile the history of the discovery and development of the BCG vaccine, its history and its effects on immune mechanisms in non-TB infectious diseases.

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