We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Fluidigm

Fluidigm Corporation focuses on the most pressing needs in translational and clinical research, including cancer, imm... read more Featured Products: More products

Download Mobile App





Long COVID Etiologies Found in Acute Infection Blood Samples

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 12 Dec 2022

Long COVID or long-haul COVID (also known as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 [PASC], or chronic COVID syndrome [CCS]) is a condition characterized by long-term health problems persisting or appearing after the typical recovery period of COVID-19. More...

The most commonly reported symptoms of long COVID are fatigue and memory problems. Many other symptoms have also been reported, including malaise, headaches, shortness of breath, anosmia (loss of smell), parosmia (distorted smell), muscle weakness, low-grade fever, and cognitive dysfunction.

A large team of Medical Scientists led by those at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (New York, NY, USA) enrolled in a study 567 individuals (495 hospitalized with COVID-19 and 72 healthy and hospitalized controls) between April and June 2020. Blood was collected from hospitalized individuals serially throughout their stay and from healthy controls at a single timepoint in the outpatient setting, and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was generated from these (n = 1,392). Six months or more after discharge from COVID-19 hospitalization (median = 363 days), 232 individuals (165 with RNA-seq) completed a self-reported checklist assessing for the emergence of PASC.

Sera were evaluated by ELISA for IgG, IgA or IgM antibody to the full-length spike protein (original variant). Serum samples were analyzed for a panel of 92 circulating proteins associated with human inflammatory conditions using the Olink multiplex assay (Olink Target 96 Inflammation, Olink Bioscience, Uppsala, Sweden). Real-time microfluidic quantitative PCR was performed in Biomark (Fluidigm, South San Francisco, CA, USA) for target protein quantification. Total RNA was extracted using a modification of the MagMax protocol for Stabilized Blood Tubes RNA Isolation Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). Libraries were amplified with 15 cycles of PCR, pooled and sequenced on a NovaSeq 6000 (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA).

The investigators observed that distinct gene expression signatures of post-acute sequelae were already present in whole blood during acute infection, with innate and adaptive immune cells implicated in different symptoms. Two clusters of sequelae exhibited divergent plasma-cell-associated gene expression patterns. In one cluster, sequelae associated with higher expression of immunoglobulin-related genes in an anti-spike antibody titer-dependent manner. In the other, sequelae associated independently of these titers with lower expression of immunoglobulin-related genes, indicating lower non-specific antibody production in individuals with these sequelae. This relationship between lower total immunoglobulins and sequelae was validated in an external cohort. Altogether, multiple etiologies of post-acute sequelae were already detectable during SARS-CoV-2 infection, directly linking these sequelae with the acute host response to the virus and providing early insights into their development.

The authors concluded that at least two divergent etiologies were identified for different sets of PASC symptoms, one dependent and one independent from the antibody response to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The discovery of the association of gene expression during acute COVID-19 with PASC symptoms one year after discharge establishes the existence of direct connections between the acute and post-acute phases. The study was published on December 8, 2022 in the journal Nature Medicine.

Related Links:
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 
Olink Bioscience 
Fluidigm 
Thermo Fisher Scientific 
Illumina 


Gold Member
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Sample-To-Answer Test
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Cartridge (CE-IVD)
Verification Panels for Assay Development & QC
Seroconversion Panels
New
FOB+Transferrin+Calprotectin+Lactoferrin Test
CerTest FOB+Transferrin+Calprotectin+Lactoferrin Combo Test
New
Alpha-Fetoprotein Reagent
AFP Reagent Kit
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The GlycoLocate platform uses multi-omics and advanced computational biology algorithms to diagnose early-stage cancers (Photo courtesy of AOA Dx)

AI-Powered Blood Test Accurately Detects Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, largely due to late-stage diagnoses. Although over 90% of women exhibit symptoms in Stage I, only 20% are diagnosed in... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The cancer stem cell test can accurately choose more effective treatments (Photo courtesy of University of Cincinnati)

Stem Cell Test Predicts Treatment Outcome for Patients with Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer frequently responds to chemotherapy initially, but eventually, the tumor develops resistance to the therapy, leading to regrowth. This resistance is partially due to the activation... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: AI-analyzed images from the FDM microscope show platelet clumps in motion (Photo courtesy of Hirose et al CC-BY-ND)

AI Microscope Spots Deadly Blood Clots Before They Strike

Platelets are small blood cells that act as emergency responders in the body, rushing to areas of injury to help stop bleeding by forming clots. However, sometimes platelets can overreact, leading to complications.... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The new algorithms can help predict which patients have undiagnosed cancer (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Advanced Predictive Algorithms Identify Patients Having Undiagnosed Cancer

Two newly developed advanced predictive algorithms leverage a person’s health conditions and basic blood test results to accurately predict the likelihood of having an undiagnosed cancer, including ch... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.