Characterization of host immune responses to SARS-CoV-2

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 infection displays immense inter-individual clinical variability, ranging from silent infection to lethal disease, to multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) or in adults (MIS-A) that occur 3-4 weeks after acute infection. The mechanisms underlying such broad phenotypic heterogeneity remain largely unknown. Following the development of COVID-19 pandemic, we have established a collaboration with centers in Italy, Chile, and in the United States that have been inflicted by a severe disease burden. We have obtained biological specimens and de-identified clinical and laboratory data from over 1300 patients that have been hospitalized with acute COVID-19, including both adult and pediatric cases. We have also obtained biological specimens from over 100 children with MIS-C and from pediatric controls. Our lab has played a critical role in the distribution of the biological specimens to a large number of intramural investigators. We have initiated studies aimed at better defining the molecular and cellular signatures of immune dysfunction associated with acute COVID-19 and MIS-C. We have also attempted correlation between host genetic and immune factors and severity of the clinical phenotype, and studied how underlying medical conditions, and hematological malignancies in particular, may affect clinical outcome. Finally, we have collected biological samples from approximately 80 patients with various forms of inborn errors of immunity (IEI) and from 42 healthcare workers at various time points before and after administration of COVID-19 vaccines, in the intent to analyze the strength and durability of adaptive immune responses and the incidence and severity of adverse events following vaccine administration.