Researchers identify gene activity patterns in children with severe COVID-19

Gene activity patterns found in children with severe COVID-19 infection have been shown to be shared with other serious respiratory infections.

The findings offer early clues as to how the immune system responds to severe infections, to which children are at higher risk. They also identify potential targets for treatments.

The results have now been published in BMC Infectious Diseases.

Dr Negusse Kitaba, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton (UoS), was the lead researcher. He is supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC): Southampton.

The research also included BRC Professors John Holloway and Diana Baralle.

Preventing childhood illnesses

Lower respiratory tract infections are major causes of childhood illness and death. This is particularly true in low and middle income countries.

These infections include COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).

Southampton researchers worked with those at the University of Cape Town and international partners.

They analysed gene expression in blood samples from 333 children from South Africa. These samples were supplied by the Drakenstein Child Health Study.

They analysed samples from children hospitalised with severe COVID-19, RSV and PTB infections. They compared these with samples from children with mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 and healthy children.

Identifying differences in gene activity 

The team identified over 5,000 genes expressed differently in children with severe infections.

Ten groups of genes were expressed in a similar pattern across the three infections. Some were linked to immune responses and cell regulation. Others were linked to other biological processes involved in infection.

They also found 82 genes that helped distinguish mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 from severe cases. This suggests gene expression patterns could potentially be used as an indicator of disease severity.

Dr Kitaba said: “These findings provide new insights into the biological pathways involved in disease severity. They highlight genes for further investigation as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.”

The team say further research with larger groups of children is needed. This will determine whether these promising discoveries can be developed for clinical use.

Professor John Holloway said: “This study highlights the value of international collaboration in understanding childhood respiratory disease. It provides a foundation for future research into why some children develop severe infection.”