A NEW preprint found that submaximal exercise in people with #LongCOVID caused large microclots to fragment into smaller microclots and this then triggered increases in inflammatory and vascular injury markers. 1/ The breakdown of large microclots, rather than clearing them from circulation, was linked to reduced oxygen uptake and heightened inflammation. 2/

Globally, NB.1.8.1 is now the dominant variant. The WHO has issued a warning about rising COVID-19 activity in the Western Pacific, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Mediterranean, driven by NB.1.8.1 this week.

H/T: @RajlabN Classified as a "variant under monitoring" by the WHO & “ Nimbus” by @TRyanGregory, NB.1.8.1 has triggered a seventh consecutive week of surges in Southeast Asia. Taiwan has seen ER visits double again this week. 2/

focustaiwan.tw/society/202505…

The relationship between the gut and #LongCOVID:

Researchers found that people with LongCOVID fatigue have damaged gut barriers & signs of immune activation.

Preexisting gastrointestinal symptoms before COVID infection predisposed people to developing LongCOVID fatigue. 1/ LongCOVID patients were found to have an increased LBP/sCD14 ratio & lower IL-33 levels, which indicates altered immune activation & a reduced intestinal barrier. In addition, there were increased IL-6 levels, which are considered a marker for systemic inflammation. 2/

A new study from Germany found that intravenous administration of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in mice led to neuroinflammation and accumulation of alpha-synuclein in brain regions associated with Parkinson’s disease. 1/ Authors also discovered “sex-dependent alterations in astrocyte reactivity and parvalbumin-positive interneurons.” 2/

A significant discovery in the fight against #LongCovid!

➡️ Researchers have identified the epipharynx, a part of the pharynx, as a key site for chronic inflammation driven by residual SARS-CoV-2 RNA. 1/ Using a next-generation molecular mapping technology called Visium HD spatial transcriptomics, researchers from Japan provided the world's first high-resolution spatial gene expression analysis of the epipharynx in patients with longCOVID. 2/

A new article on #LongCOVID shows that millions of Americans continue to suffer from LongCOVID which is a very complex and heterogeneous disease, with no diagnostic tests and no approved treatments. 1/ New clinical trials will target specific biological pathways including immune dysfunction and autoimmunity, viral persistence, and microclots rather than treating LongCOVID as a single disease. 2/

A study new finds that neutrophils—the most abundant white blood cells in humans—may be altered by SARS-CoV-2 virus to cease their normal function of destroying pathogens in the body and, instead, significantly inhibit other immune cells critical for fighting the virus. 1/ The study finds that in some COVID infections, SARS-CoV-2 may dramatically impair the immune response by reprogramming neutrophils—front-line immune cells central to fighting infections—into a cell type called polymorphonuclear myeloid derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs) 2/

COVID-19 carries neurological and psychological risks. Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is ubiquitous in human genes, resulting in mRNA variation, and has been shown to play a key role in the starting and progression of many diseases, including viral infections. 1/ Here, researchers analyzed the APA usage across different cell types in frontal cortex cells from non-viral control group and COVID-19 patients, and identified functionally related APA events in COVID-19. 2/

A NEW study reports that 68 individuals with LongCOVID had unusually active CD8+ T cells and elevated IL-3 levels, which may drive inflammation and symptom severity up to 18 months after acute COVID infection. 1/ A pronounced T cell hypo-reactivity and reduced expression of IL-3 was found in patients with severe acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Interestingly, the opposite was the case as researchers detected a marked hyper-reactivity of T cells in LongCOVID. 2/

A new study, the first to compare inflammation & brain stress in #LongCOVID patients w/ those who have fully recovered shows that those w/continued brain fog & other cognitive issues have a lower ability to adapt to stress & higher levels of inflammation in their brains. 1/ While previous longCOVID studies have shown changes in these markers in mice, this study evaluated the infection's impact on the brain in documented COVID-positive patients. 2/

A new study suggested that COVID-19 may cause lasting damage to the esophageal epithelial barrier, increasing its permeability & provoking an exacerbated inflammatory response. These changes may explain the prevalence of post-infection gastroesophageal symptoms 1/ This prospective study found that 55 hospitalized patients recovering from COVID reported significantly increased symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux 3 to 6 months after hospital discharge. 2/

A new study suggests that
#LongCOVID patients had significantly more dilated capillaries, microhemorrhages, abnormal capillary shapes (neoangiogenesis) and lower capillary density than both recovered COVID patients without LongCOVID and healthy controls. 1/ In this multicenter Italian study, researchers used nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) to identify microvascular damage in Long COVID patients up to 18 months after infection. 2/

A new study shows that coronavirus spike proteins can trigger mast cell degranulation by binding to cellular receptors and activating the Src/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, leading to increased calcium levels and mast cell granule release. 1/ The activation and degranulation of mast cells (MCs), triggered by a variety of viruses, are intricately linked to viral pathogenesis. However, the precise mechanism underlying virus-induced MC degranulation remains largely unknown. 2/

Tiny RNA molecule may hold the key to treating knee osteoarthritis!

A NEW discovery could pave the way for new breakthroughs in detecting & treating the disease. Researchers identified a circulating microRNA, miR-126-3p, a mechanistic biomarker of osteoarthritis of knee 1/ MiR-126-3p plays a role in reducing blood vessel formation and reducing the severity of knee osteoarthritis, making it not just a signal of disease—but potentially a contributor to it. 2/

A new preprint validated earlier findings that genetic factors strongly influence who develops Long COVID, using data from both U.S. (All of Us) and U.K. (Sano GOLD) cohorts with diverse ancestries. 1/ Over 90% of genes identified in the original study were also associated with #LongCOVID in the U.S. population including in Black and Hispanic groups. 2/

A team of researchers has launched a global clinical trial to evaluate two repurposed anti-inflammatory drugs #upadacitinib and #pirfenidone—approved for treating arthritis and lung disease, respectively as potential treatments for #LongCOVID. 1/ he two drugs were selected using artificial intelligence (AI) from over 5,400 proteins linked to LongCOVID, offering a promising shortcut to treatment by targeting 13 shared biological pathways.  2/

A group from SUNY Buffalo developed a nanoparticle vaccine candidate that displays recombinant H5 and N1 proteins from the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b on liposomes. 1/ The widespread transmission of highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza, clade 2.3.4.4b, in wild and livestock mammals with isolated human cases has heightened concerns for zoonotic outbreak, necessitating vaccine readiness. 2/

Children who tested positive for COVID, face significantly higher long-term risks for chronic kidney disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and cardiovascular issues compared to peers who tested negative. 1/ The study, led by the University of Pennsylvania and part of the NIH’s RECOVER initiative, found kidney disease risks increased up to 35%, GI symptoms by up to 28%, and cardiovascular conditions like heart inflammation or arrhythmias by 63%. 2/

Could this molecule be 'checkmate' for SARS-CoV-2?

A research team has developed new drug candidates major protease blockers, AVI-4516 & AVI-4773 that show great promise against SARS-CoV-2 & potentially other coronaviruses that could cause future pandemics 1/ In preclinical testing, the compounds performed better than Paxlovid against SARS-CoV-2 and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus, which periodically causes deadly outbreaks around the world. 2/

Remember COVID toes?

➡️ A study has found that people with pandemic chilblains have an unusually strong immune response to SARS-CoV-2, driven by overactive plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) responding to TLR7 signals. 1/ Given the essential role of type I interferon in protective immunity against SARS2 & the association of chilblains with inherited type I interferonopathies, researchers hypothesized that excessive I-IFN responses to SARS2 might underlie the occurrence of chilblains 2/

Differential DNA methylation 7 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection

A NEW study detected associations between changes in DNA methylation in individuals who had even asymptomatic or mild SARS-CoV-2 infections as compared to their household controls after 7 moths of infection 1/ Aberrant DNA methylation patterns have been linked to various diseases, including cancer and metabolic disorders. 

These changes resembled patterns seen in autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, suggesting long-term epigenetic remodeling even in mild cases. 2/