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SARS-CoV-2 viral load and shedding kinetics
Olha Puhach1, Benjamin Meyer2, Isabella Eckerle3,4,5
1Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Nature Reviews. Microbiology
|December 2, 2022
Summary
Understanding SARS-CoV-2 infectious virus shedding is crucial for public health. Viral load and host immunity significantly impact transmission dynamics, especially with new variants.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- SARS-CoV-2 infectiousness is determined by viral load and shedding in the respiratory tract.
- Understanding viral shedding is vital for effective public health interventions against SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze factors influencing SARS-CoV-2 infectious virus shedding.
- To understand how viral load, host immunity, and variants affect transmission dynamics.
- To highlight the need for diagnostic tools detecting infectious SARS-CoV-2.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding.
- Analysis of factors including viral load, host immunity (infection/vaccination), and viral variants.
- Discussion of implications for public health strategies.
Main Results:
- Viral load is a key determinant of SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk.
- Pre-existing immunity and emerging variants alter viral shedding patterns.
- Distinct shedding patterns are observed compared to ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strains.
Conclusions:
- Factors influencing infectious virus shedding must be understood to guide public health measures.
- Increased population immunity and viral evolution necessitate updated transmission models.
- Development of diagnostic tools for infectious virus detection is essential.
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