immune regulation by helminths and the microbiota with SARS-Cov2 infection

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

It is unclear why some individuals infected with Covid-19 are asymptomatic while others develop severe hyper-inflammation, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multi-organ failure that can be fatal. Severe inflammation may be primarily driven by the host response and the result of a dysregulated cytokine storm that persists after activation by the virus. We have been studying how helminth infections and the associated microbiota changes regulate the host response. In mouse models, helminth infections can also have protective effects against various inflammatory conditions, including autoimmune diseases, allergic diseases as well as metabolic conditions, including diabetes and atherosclerosis. Both intestinal helminths and the gut microbiota can exert immunoregulatory effects that may contribute to the hygiene hypothesis and the rising incidence of inflammatory diseases in developed countries. It is possible that reduced disease severity in developing countries from Covid-19 may be associated with immune regulation by helminths and the microbiota. We hypothesize that immune regulation by helminth infection and the associated gut microbiota would alter the innate and adaptive immune response directed towards Covid-19 infection. To investigate the interaction between helminth co-infection and Covid-19, we will perform a cross sectional study on households in India, to collect peripheral blood and stool samples from study participants to identify Covid-19 exposed individuals with or without helminth infections. We will use the computational approaches that we have developed to integrate multi-parameter datasets from blood and stool analysis to identify nodes of interactions that may provide insights into how innate and adaptive immune responses in Covid-19 exposed individuals may be altered in the presence of helminth infections. Characterizing effects of helminth infection on Covid-19 exposed individuals may inform us about the impact of Covid-19 and future vaccination responses in poorer countries. Understanding mechanisms of immune regulation during Covid-19 infection may lead to the development of better therapeutic strategies.