The findings of the Infection and Immunity Research Group (INIM) of the Pere Virgili
Health Research Institute (IISPV) and the Joan XXIII Hospital, in Tarragona, will
contribute to a greater understanding of future pandemics caused by similar viruses
Tarragona, October 18, 2023. A study carried out by the Infection and Immunity
Research Group (INIM) and led by Dra. Anna Rull and Dr. Joaquim Peraire, from the
Pere Virgili Health Research Institute (IISPV) and the Joan XXIII Hospital, in Tarragona,
has made it possible to learn about the changes that occur at a molecular level when a
person contracts the COVID-19 virus and develops severe symptoms. Some of the
complications that this type of patient presents and that end up harming their quality of life are the result of alterations in mechanisms that are key to the proper functioning of our body, such as that which regulates blood coagulation or those related with general metabolism or lipid production. An imbalance in these last two processes, for example, can end up significantly weakening the person’s immune system since these cells stop performing their protective function and defense against infections.
The discovery of the molecular patterns underlying the alteration of these mechanisms
will allow us to treat these patients in a more effective and personalized way: “Knowing
exactly where the imbalance is and knowing the molecular patterns that occur will help
us find the most appropriate treatment for each patient”, explains Dra. Sílvia Chafino,
one of the participating researchers.
This study has been carried out from a multi-omic approach, which has made it possible to delve deeper into the causes of the disease and to learn about its behavior at a molecular level. Two groups of patients have been compared: one with mild symptoms and another with severe complications, in order to understand the changes that are experienced at the molecular level (and the patterns that follow) when a patient with COVID worsens to the point of being severe. This discovery – comments Dra. Alba Sánchez, one of the other participating researchers, will contribute to a greater understanding of pandemics caused by similar viruses that may occur in the future.” On the other hand, it will also help to better understand the causes behind what is known as Long COVID19, a syndrome recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) that certain people suffer from after having passed the COVID and who have symptoms such as chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal problems or difficulties related to the neuromotor system. The INIM research group is part of the Catalan Research Centers network (CERCA) and the Infectious Disease Network Biomedical Research Center (CIBERINFEC).
Bibliografic reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10551651/
Sánchez A, García-Pardo G, Gómez-Bertomeu F, López-Dupla M, Foguet-Romero E,
Buzón MJ, Almirante B, Olona M, Fernández-Veledo S, Vidal F, Chafino S, Rull A,
Peraire J; COVIDOMICS Study Group. Mitochondrial dysfunction, lipids metabolism, and
amino acid biosynthesis are key pathways for COVID-19 recovery. iScience. 2023 Sep
19;26(10):107948. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107948. PMID: 37810253; PMCID:
PMC10551651.
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