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Raman Spectroscopy Can Identify Acute and Persistent Biochemical Changes in Leukocytes From Patients With COVID-19
Anuradha Ramoji1,2, Philipp Baumbach3,4, Oleg Ryabchykov1,2
1Institute of Physical Chemistry and Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Member of the Leibniz Centre for Photonics in Infection Research (LPI), Jena, Germany.
Biotechnology Journal
|September 2, 2025
Summary
High-throughput Raman spectroscopy distinguishes sepsis patients from healthy individuals and differentiates between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 sepsis. This technique reveals lasting molecular changes in leukocytes, aiding sepsis diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Sepsis presents a significant clinical challenge with persistent physiological and immunological consequences.
- Understanding the long-term molecular impact of sepsis on immune cells is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the biochemical profiles of leukocytes in sepsis patients using high-throughput single-cell Raman spectroscopy.
- To assess molecular alterations during acute and recovery phases of sepsis, differentiating between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 etiologies.
Main Methods:
- Employed high-throughput single-cell Raman spectroscopy to profile peripheral blood leukocytes.
- Analyzed leukocyte samples from healthy controls and sepsis patients at acute (Days 3, 7) and recovery (6, 12 months) phases.
- Utilized balanced accuracy (BAcc) to quantify spectral profile distinctions.
Main Results:
- Raman spectroscopy clearly separated sepsis leukocytes from healthy controls in the acute phase (BAcc: 95%-98%).
- Significant spectral differences were observed between acute and recovery phases (BAcc: 84%-97%) and between recovery and healthy controls (BAcc: 81%-90%), indicating lasting molecular changes.
- Distinct profiles differentiated non-COVID-19 and COVID-19-associated sepsis in acute (BAcc: 65%-71%) and recovery (BAcc: 71%-83%) phases.
Conclusions:
- Raman spectroscopy provides label-free, high-throughput biochemical profiling of leukocytes across the sepsis trajectory.
- The technique offers insights into sepsis-related biomolecular changes and serves as a promising diagnostic platform.
- It can differentiate between sepsis etiologies, marking a significant advancement in sepsis diagnostics.
