Distinct clinical and immunological profiles of patients with evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in sub-Saharan Africa

Morton, B. et al. (2021) Distinct clinical and immunological profiles of patients with evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Nature Communications, 12, 3554. (doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-23267-w) (PMID:34117221) (PMCID:PMC8196064)

Abstract

Abstract: Although the COVID-19 pandemic has left no country untouched there has been limited research to understand clinical and immunological responses in African populations. Here we characterise patients hospitalised with suspected (PCR-negative/IgG-positive) or confirmed (PCR-positive) COVID-19, and healthy community controls (PCR-negative/IgG-negative). PCR-positive COVID-19 participants were more likely to receive dexamethasone and a beta-lactam antibiotic, and survive to hospital discharge than PCR-negative/IgG-positive and PCR-negative/IgG-negative participants. PCR-negative/IgG-positive participants exhibited a nasal and systemic cytokine signature analogous to PCR-positive COVID-19 participants, predominated by chemokines and neutrophils and distinct from PCR-negative/IgG-negative participants. PCR-negative/IgG-positive participants had increased propensity for Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonisation. PCR-negative/IgG-positive individuals with high COVID-19 clinical suspicion had inflammatory profiles analogous to PCR-confirmed disease and potentially represent a target population for COVID-19 treatment strategies.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Wellcome [220757/Z/20/Z] (to B.M.). Further support was provided by Wellcome [211433/Z/18/Z] (to S.B.G.) and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) [16/136/46] (to K.C.J.). K.C.J. is supported by an MRC African Research Leader award [MR/T008822/1]. J.R. is supported by a Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellowship [211098/Z/18/Z]. K.G.B. is supported by a NIH K-award (TW010853). K.J. is supported by a Wellcome International Training Fellowship [201945/Z/16/Z]. A Wellcome Strategic award number 206545/Z/17/Z supports the Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme (to S.B.G.).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Barnes, Dr Kayla and MacPherson, Professor Peter
• Authors: Morton, B., Barnes, K. G., Anscombe, C., Jere, K., Matambo, P., Mandolo, J., Kamng’ona, R., Brown, C., Nyirenda, J., Phiri, T., Banda, N. P., Van Der Veer, C., Mndolo, K. S., Mponda, K., Rylance, J., Phiri, C., Mallewa, J., Nyirenda, M., Katha, G., Kambiya, P., Jafali, J., Mwandumba, H. C., Gordon, S. B., Cornick, J., Jambo, K. C., Phulusa, J., Mkandawire, M., Kaimba, S., Thole, H., Nthala, S., Nsomba, E., Keyala, L., Mandala, P., Chinoko, B., Gmeiner, M., Kaudzu, V., Lissauer, S., Freyne, B., MacPherson, P., Swarthout, T. D., Iroh Tam, P.-Y., Sichone, S., Ahmadu, A., Kanjewa, O., Nyasulu, V., Chinyama, E., Zuza, A., Denis, B., Storey, E., Bondera, N., Matchado, D., Chande, A., Chingota, A., Ntwea, C., Mkandawire, L., Mhango, C., Lakudzala, A., Chaponda, M., Mwenechanya, P., Mvaya, L., Tembo, D., Henrion, M. Y. R., Chirombo, J., Masesa, C., and Gondwe, J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
• Journal Name: Nature Communications
• Publisher: Nature Research
• ISSN: 2041-1723
• ISSN (Online): 2041-1723
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Nature Communications 12: 3554
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License