Analiza bremena virusa SARS-CoV-2 v vzorcih iz spodnjih dihal pri bolnikih s Covid-19

Polanc, Tina (author), Avšič Županc, Tatjana (mentor), Korva, Miša (co-mentor)

Povzročitelj bolezni COVID-19 je SARS-CoV-2. Za težjo obliko COVID-19 najpogosteje zbolijo starejši in osebe s pridruženimi kroničnim boleznimi. V magistrski nalogi smo analizirali virusno breme pri bolnikih s težjo obliko COVID-19. Želeli smo ugotoviti, če pri starejših v primerjavi z mlajšimi bolniki virusno breme v spodnjih dihalih počasneje upada, ali je virusna dinamika v spodnjih in zgornjih dihalih enaka in ali genetska različica SARS-CoV-2 vpliva na virusno dinamiko. V raziskavo smo vključili 100 bolnikov, ki so se zdravili na enoti intenzivne nege zaradi COVID-19. Skupno smo analizirali 404 brise nosnega dela žrela, 493 aspiratov traheje, 132 bronhoalveolarnih izpirkov in 19 sputumov. Iz vzorcev smo osamili nukleinsko kislino in izvedli kvantitativen RT-PCR v realnem času, da smo določili virusno breme. Ugotovili smo, da virusno breme SARS-CoV-2 pri bolnikih s COVID-19, starejših od 65 let, v zgornjih in spodnjih dihalih počasneje pade na nezaznavno raven. Nadalje smo ugotovili, da je dinamika virusnega bremena SARS-CoV-2 v spodnjih dihalih pri različicah drugačna. Virusno breme SARS-CoV-2 v zgornjih in spodnjih dihalih nima enake dinamike upadanja.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: virusi, koronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, dihala, breme virusa SARS-CoV-2, težja oblika COVID-19, molekularna diagnostika, rtRT-PCR
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publisher: [T. Polanc]
• Year: 2024
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-155010
• UDC: 578.834:57.083:612.2
• COBISS.SI-ID: 189268995
• Publication date in RUL: 14.03.2024

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 viral load in lower respiratory tract samples in patients with Covid-19

Abstract

The causative agent of COVID-19 is the SARS-CoV-2. The severe form of COVID-19 is most often contracted by elderly and in patients with comorbidities. The aim of the study was to analyse the viral load in patients with severe COVID-19. The aim was to investigate whether the viral load in the lower respiratory tract declines more slowly in elderly patients than in younger patients, whether the viral dynamics in the lower and upper respiratory tract are the same, and whether the genetic variant of SARS-CoV-2 influences the viral dynamics. A total of 404 nasopharyngeal swabs, 493 tracheal aspirates, 132 bronchoalveolar lavages and 19 sputum samples were collected from 100 patients treated for COVID-19 in the intensive care unit. Nucleic acid was isolated from the lower respiratory tract samples and real-time quantitative RT-PCR was performed to measure viral load. The results showed that the SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the upper and lower respiratory tract declined more slowly in patients older than 65 years. Also, viral dynamics was different in samples from the upper in comparison to samples from lower respiratory tract. The SARS- CoV-2 viral load dynamics was influenced also by virus genetic variant.

• Keywords: viruses, coronaviruse, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, respiratory tract, SARS-CoV-2 viral load, severe form of COVID-19, molecular diagnostic, rtRT-PCR