Multi-cohort analysis of host immune response identifies conserved protective and detrimental modules associated with severity irrespective of virus

• DOI: 10.7490/f1000research.1118410.1
• Publication Date: 2020-12-06
• Authors: Hong Zheng; Aditya Rao; Denis Đermadi; Jiaying Toh; Lara Murphy Jones; Michele Donato; Yiran Liu; Yapeng Su; Minas Karagiannis; Theodoros Marantos; Yehudit Hasin-Bru...; Yudong D. He; Evangelos J. Giam...; Jim F. Heath; Purvesh Khatri
• Keywords: Myelopoiesis; Pandemic

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the fourth pandemic of decade, has underscored gaps in global preparedness and need for generalizable tests to avert overwhelming healthcare systems worldwide, irrespective a virus. We integrated 4,780 blood transcriptome profiles from patients infected with one 16 viruses across 34 independent cohorts 18 countries, 71 scRNA-seq 264,224 immune cells three cohorts. found myeloid cell-dominated conserved host response associated severity. It showed increased hematopoiesis, myelopoiesis, myeloid-derived suppressor identified four gene modules that delineate distinct trajectories mild severe outcomes, show interferon was decoupled protective during viral infection. These distinguished non-severe infection clinically useful accuracy. Together, our findings provide insights into dynamics infection, identify factors may influence patient outcomes.