R3 Seminar Recap: Persistent SARS-CoV-2 antigens and correlation with Long COVID symptoms: Findings from a multi-cohort study
By looking closely at processes that take place inside the body and its cells, RECOVER research is advancing our understanding of how SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, might also cause Long COVID.
During the December 10th RECOVER Research Review (R3) Seminar, researchers described a recent pathobiology study investigating viral persistence, or when SARS-CoV-2 remains in a person’s body and continues to cause changes even after they recover from their initial sickness. The study’s findings suggest that viral persistence could be one reason why some people experience certain symptoms of Long COVID.
Watch the R3 recording below or on YouTube
Dr. David R. Walt (Harvard Medical School; Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Wyss Institute at Harvard University) discussed what scientists already know about viral persistence and how this knowledge made viral persistence a good candidate for further study. He also described how RECOVER researchers measured viral persistence—by looking for specific pieces of the virus, called antigens, in blood samples.
Dr. Zoe Newell Swank (Harvard Medical School; Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Wyss Institute at Harvard University) provided an overview of the different groups of people, or cohorts, who took part in the study. She noted that this study included cohorts from outside RECOVER and explained how including them helped researchers gain additional insights. Dr. Swank also explained how the study used an innovative approach to measuring antigens. The study’s approach is very sensitive and can detect very small amounts of antigens. Other, older approaches may not be able to detect these small amounts.
Dr. Elizabeth W. Karlson (Harvard Medical School; Brigham and Women’s Hospital) revealed that, in this study, people with Long COVID were twice as likely to have antigens in their blood as people without Long COVID symptoms. However, some people without symptoms also had antigens in their blood. Future studies will investigate possible explanations for this finding.
Dr. Karlson also shared that specific patterns or clusters of Long COVID symptoms were strongly associated with the presence of antigens in a person’s blood. Specifically, a little less than half (43 percent) of study participants with antigens in their blood reported experiencing symptoms affecting their heart, lungs, brain, joints, and muscles.
Dr. Walt returned to outline the next set of questions researchers might seek to answer about viral persistence. Answers to these questions could improve our ability to diagnose and treat Long COVID and its symptoms. He also detailed how the RECOVER-VITAL clinical trial is already exploring whether antiviral treatments, or medications designed to fight viral infections during their acute (initial) phase, can relieve symptoms of Long COVID.
During the Q&A session led by Dr. Beth Linas (RTI International), the speakers answered questions from the audience about:
- The role viral persistence may play in causing other infection-associated chronic conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
- Where—in which organs and cells—SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, may remain in the body and how that might influence the Long COVID symptoms a person experiences.
- Whether viral persistence might vary based on which variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (for example, the Omicron or Delta variant) causes the initial COVID-19 infection.
- How researchers plan on sharing the innovative antigen measurement approach (and associated tools) they created for this study.
To find recordings and transcripts of more R3 seminars, visit the RECOVER YouTube channel and the R3 webpage.