Project Title: Analysis of Autoantibodies
NIAID Principal Investigator: Steve Holland, M.D.
Director, Division of Intramural Research, NIAID
Chief, Immunopathogenesis Section, LCIM
Do autoantibodies against antiviral cytokines contribute to COVID-19 disease?
The outcome of viral infections depends, in part, on the effect of antiviral cytokines. While other projects will explore the production of these cytokines in COVID-19 infection, this project will explore how the clinical outcome is affected by both their quantity and their accessibility. Researchers in the Immunopathogenesis Section of the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM) believe that neutralizing anticytokine antibodies may contribute to COVID-19 disease progression, as they do in other immune-mediated diseases. The researchers will perform bead-based detection of a large multiplexed panel of autoantibodies in patient samples during acute infection and convalescence. Follow-up experiments will assess whether these antibodies affect downstream signaling. The results will be correlated with the results of the other projects, and the clinical data may provide insight into important pathways for the pathogenesis and treatment of COVID-19.
Participating Groups
NIAID
Sample Requirements
100 µL of serum or plasma is required. Ideally, samples would be taken 1) upon hospital admission, 2) during hospitalization, 3) at discharge, and 4) after discharge.
Contact Information for Collaboration
If you are involved in the care of COVID-19 patients and are interested in collaborating on this project, please contact Steve Holland, M.D.