Project description:We examined host gene expression across infection status, viral load, age, and sex among RNA-sequencing profiles of nasopharyngeal swabs from 430 individuals with SARS-CoV-2 and 54 negative controls. SARS-CoV-2 induced a strong interferon-driven antiviral response and reduced transcription of ribosomal proteins. Expression of interferon-responsive genes, including ACE2, increased as a function of viral load. B cells and neutrophils were higher in patients with lower viral load. Older individuals had reduced expression of chemokines CXCL9/10/11, their cognate receptor CXCR3, and CD8A and granzyme B. Males had reduced B and NK cell-specific transcripts and increased NFkB inhibitors. Our data demonstrate that host responses to SARS-CoV-2 are dependent on viral load and infection time course, with observed differences due to age and sex that may contribute to disease severity.
Project description:We examined host gene expression in human airway epithelial cells following infection at 3 or 7 days post infection (DPI) with SARS-CoV-2
Project description:Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiologic agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We conducted a longitudinal study to investigate gene expression patterns during the acute SARS-CoV-2 illness. The cases included SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals with an extremely high viral load early in their illness matched to individuals who either had a low SARS-CoV-2 viral load early in their infection or were otherwise stable patients who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 prior to their outpatient surgical or aerosol generating procedure. We detected hundreds of up-regulated genes that were highly correlated to the SARS-CoV-2 viral load. Many of these up-regulated genes were enriched in cellular pathways involved in the innate immune response, antiviral interferon and cytokine signaling, and cell death.
Project description:Despite limited genomic diversity, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has shown a wide range of clinical manifestations in different patient populations. The mechanisms behind these host differences are still unclear. Here, we examined host response gene expression across infection status, viral load, age, and sex among shotgun RNA sequencing profiles of nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs from 430 individuals with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 and 54 negative controls. SARS-CoV-2 induced a strong antiviral response with up-regulation of antiviral factors such as OAS1-3 and IFIT1-3 and T helper type 1 (Th1) chemokines CXCL9/10/11, as well as a reduction in transcription of ribosomal proteins. SARS-CoV-2 culture in human airway epithelial (HAE) cultures replicated the in vivo antiviral host response 7 days post infection, with no induction of interferon-stimulated genes after 3 days. Patient-matched longitudinal specimens (mean elapsed time = 6.3 days) demonstrated reduction in interferon-induced transcription, recovery of transcription of ribosomal proteins, and initiation of wound healing and humoral immune responses. Expression of interferon-responsive genes, including ACE2, increased as a function of viral load, while transcripts for B cell-specific proteins and neutrophil chemokines were elevated in patients with lower viral load. Older individuals had reduced expression of the Th1 chemokines CXCL9/10/11 and their cognate receptor CXCR3, as well as CD8A and granzyme B, suggesting deficiencies in trafficking and/or function of cytotoxic T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. Relative to females, males had reduced B cell-specific and NK cell-specific transcripts and an increase in inhibitors of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling, possibly inappropriately throttling antiviral responses. Collectively, our data demonstrate that host responses to SARS-CoV-2 are dependent on viral load and infection time course, with observed differences due to age and sex that may contribute to disease severity.
Project description:This research analyzes the potential of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as markers in determining the necessity of antiviral treatment in pregnant women by examining alterations in the expression profile of serum lncRNAs in pregnant women with elevated hepatitis B viral load (HBVL) under antiviral and non-antiviral treatment regimens between the second trimester and delivery.