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Updated: Nov 20, 2025
Dynamic Monitoring of Seroconversion using a Multianalyte Immunobead Assay for Covid-19
Published on: February 16, 2022
Immune Profiling to Determine Early Disease Trajectories Associated With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Mortality Rate: A
Joshua M Thiede1,2, Abigail R Gress1,2, Samuel D Libby1,2
1Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Insights
This study on COVID-19 treatments found no clear immune response differences between remdesivir and placebo. However, early seronegative status and recent symptom onset were linked to higher mortality risk in hospitalized patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Host immune responses significantly influence COVID-19 outcomes.
- Antiviral therapies may modulate these immune responses.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for effective treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate antibody and cytokine responses in hospitalized COVID-19 patients receiving remdesivir or placebo.
- To identify potential immunologic trends associated with remdesivir treatment.
- To explore the relationship between immune signatures and disease trajectories.
Main Methods:
- Serum specimens from 19 hospitalized adults with COVID-19 were analyzed.
- Participants were randomized to receive either remdesivir or placebo.
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody responses and cytokine profiles were assessed.
- Hierarchical clustering was used to identify cytokine signatures.
Main Results:
- No distinct immunologic trends were clearly attributable to remdesivir treatment.
- Seven participants were initially seronegative; all four deaths occurred within this subgroup.
- A higher mortality rate was observed in seronegative patients with more recent symptom onset.
- Three dominant cytokine signatures were identified, correlating with different disease trajectories.
Conclusions:
- Remdesivir treatment did not appear to significantly alter antibody or cytokine profiles in this cohort.
- Early seronegativity and recent symptom onset may indicate a poorer prognosis in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
- Distinct cytokine signatures are associated with varying COVID-19 disease progression patterns.
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes are linked to host immune responses and may be affected by antiviral therapy. We investigated antibody and cytokine responses in ACTT-1 study participants enrolled at our center. We studied serum specimens from 19 hospitalized adults with COVID-19 randomized to treatment with remdesivir or placebo. We assessed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibody responses and identified cytokine signatures, using hierarchical clustering. We identified no clear immunologic trends attributable to remdesivir treatment. Seven participants were initially seronegative at study enrollment, and all 4 deaths occurred in this group with more recent symptom onset. We identified 3 dominant cytokine signatures, demonstrating different disease trajectories.
