Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 Impact on Ulcerative Colitis and Long-term Consequences of COVID-19

• Grant number: 24/22179-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Cristina Ribeiro de Barros Cardoso
• Grantee: Pedro Vieira da Silva Neto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/03257-4 - The interplay between SARS-CoV-2 infection and dysregulated gut immunity, AP.TEM

Abstract

Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects a significant number of individuals worldwide. The intestine is also susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms persisting in post-acute COVID-19 (PACS) cases. In individuals with IBD, the prolonged presence of SARS-CoV-2 antigens in the intestine is associated with COVID-19 sequelae in PACS, indicating the existence of viral reservoirs that might maintain memory responses linked to these sequelae. Moreover, the long-term effects of COVID-19 on UC relapses are still unclear. Hence, the proposed study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and UC relapse, as well as to investigate the long-term consequences of COVID-19 on UC patients.