SARS-CoV-2 Spleen Infection Study

• Grant number: 22/10751-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2022
• End date: October 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Eurico de Arruda Neto
• Grantee: Felipe Rocha do Nascimento
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/26119-0 - Emerging and re-emerging viruses: biology, pathogenesis and prospection, AP.TEM

Abstract

The present scientific initiation project focuses on the study of SARS-CoV-2 infection of the spleen, an important site of secondary lymphoid tissue with an important role in the assembly of the immune response. This research effort will be possible through the collaboration already existing between the Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis of the Virology Research Center, with the Department of Pathology of FMRP-USP, in order to develop original studies of translational science based on previous FAPESP support. . The objectives are focused on evaluating the detection of the genome and expression of SARS-CoV-2 proteins in post-mortem spleen samples from COVID-19 patients, in addition to determining the cell types infected by the virus and analyzing cytokine mRNA expression and detection. of inflammasome markers in splenic samples. We intend to investigate new mechanisms of immunopathogenesis and biomarkers of splenic injury resulting from covid-19.