Korea VirusResearch Institute

Research Objective 

We plan to focus on single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis using peripheral blood from COVID-19 patients, convalescents and vaccinees. By identifying the characteristics of various immune cells present in PBMCs from COVID-19 patients, convalescents and vaccinees, immunological mechanisms of severe COVID-19 will be revealed at the molecular level.

In addition to basic scRNA-seq analysis, various novel techniques will be adopted, including TCR-seq and CITE-seq. Moreover, PBMCs will be analyzed as a whole or specific immune cells will be isolated and analyzed.

Furthermore, scRNA-seq using dCODE MHC-I multimer, which stains only CD8+ T cells specific to SARS-CoV-2, is planned to selectively analyze only virus-specific CD8+ T cells.

In the case of the COVID-19 patient cohort, PBMCs from severe COVID-19 patients treated with corticosteroids, which are currently widely used as anti-inflammatory drugs, will be analyzed to determine how corticosteroids exert therapeutic effects in severe or critical COVID-19 patients at the molecular level.

We will also analyze phenotypes and functions of antigen-specific T cells in patients with acute viral infections (COVID-19 and HAV), chronic viral infections (CMV and HBV) and cancers.

Research Contents

IsNA-seq analysis using PBMCs from COVID-19 patients, convalescents and vaccinees

scRNA-seq analysis will be performed to focus on comparisons between matched groups as follows:

• Severe COVID-19 vs mild COVID-19 or asymptomatic infection
• Pre-corticosteroid treatment vs post-treatment among severe COVID-19 patients
• Acute stage vs resolution phase
• Immediately after recovery vs 6-month follow-up in patinets with long COVID
• Pre-vaccination vs post-vaccination