Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2025
Cystic Fibrosis Aggregate Biofilm Model to Study Infection-relevant Gene Expression
Published on: April 18, 2025
Covid-19 in cystic fibrosis patients compared to the general population: Severity and virus-host cell interactions
Fabiana Ciciriello1, Francesco Panariello2, Paola Medino3
1Cystic Fibrosis Center, 'Bambino Gesù' Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Insights
Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients may not experience more severe COVID-19 due to lower ribosomal gene expression, potentially hindering viral replication. This finding offers insights into virus-host interactions in CF populations.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory viral infections
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- People with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) face increased risk from respiratory viral infections.
- Understanding COVID-19's impact on pwCF is crucial for managing their health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the consequences of COVID-19 in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) compared to non-CF individuals.
- To analyze virus-host cell interactions in the context of cystic fibrosis and SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Main Methods:
- Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from CF and non-CF individuals for SARS-CoV-2 detection.
- RNA sequencing was used to evaluate gene expression from nasopharyngeal swabs.
- COVID-19 severity was defined by hospitalization or increased oxygen therapy needs.
Main Results:
- 171 patients (65 pwCF, 106 non-CF) were included; 15.4% of pwCF and 40.6% of non-CF individuals tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
- Host transcriptomics showed downregulated ribosomal genes in CF samples, regardless of SARS-CoV-2 status.
- Interferon signaling was upregulated in both groups upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, while motile cilia genes were upregulated in non-infected CF samples.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 severity in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) does not appear to be greater than in the general population.
- Lower expression of ribosomal genes in pwCF may reduce protein translation, creating an environment less conducive to viral replication.
- Intrinsic factors within the CF population might offer protection against severe COVID-19 outcomes.
Background:
People with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) are considered at risk of developing severe forms of respiratory viral infections. We studied the consequences of COVID-19 and virus-host cell interactions in CF vs. non-CF individuals.
Methods:
We enrolled CF and non-CF individuals, with /without COVID-like symptoms, who underwent nasopharyngeal swab for detection of SARS-CoV-2. Gene expression was evaluated by RNA sequencing on the same nasopharyngeal swabs. Criteria for COVID-19 severity were hospitalization and requirement or increased need of oxygen therapy.
Results:
The study included 171 patients (65 pwCF and 106 non-CF individuals). Among them, 10 pwCF (15.4 %) and 43 people without CF (40.6 %) tested positive at RT-PCR. Symptomatic infections were observed in 8 pwCF (with 2 requiring hospitalization) and in 11 individuals without CF (6 requiring hospitalization). Host transcriptomic analysis revealed that genes involved in protein translation, particularly ribosomal components, were downregulated in CF samples irrespective of SARS-CoV-2 status. In SARS-CoV-2 negative individuals, we found a significant difference in genes involved with motile cilia expression and function, which were upregulated in CF samples. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated that interferon signaling in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection was upregulated in both pwCF and non-CF subjects.
Conclusions:
COVID-19 does not seem to be more severe in CF, possibly due to factors intrinsic to this population: the lower expression of ribosomal genes may downregulate the protein translation machinery, thus creating an unfavorable environment for viral replication.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:23Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis
CF is primarily caused by a genetic mutation in a chromosome 7 gene coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The most common gene mutation leading to CF is the ΔF508 mutation,...
01:24Cystic Fibrosis: Management
Sinus disease and chronic...
01:26Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...