Journal article
Total and subgenomic RNA viral load in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants
The Journal of infectious diseases, Vol.228(3), pp.235-244
08/01/2023
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad061
PMCID: PMC10420395
PMID: 36883903
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 genomic and subgenomic RNA levels are frequently used as a correlate of infectiousness. The impact of host factors and SARS-CoV-2 lineage on RNA viral load is unclear.
Total nucleocapsid (N) and subgenomic N (sgN) RNA levels were measured by RT-qPCR in specimens from 3,204 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 at 21 hospitals. RT-qPCR cycle threshold (Ct) values were used to estimate RNA viral load. The impact of time of sampling, SARS-CoV-2 variant, age, comorbidities, vaccination, and immune status on N and sgN Ct values were evaluated using multiple linear regression.
Ct values at presentation for N (mean ±standard deviation) were 24.14±4.53 for non-variants of concern, 25.15±4.33 for Alpha, 25.31±4.50 for Delta, and 26.26±4.42 for Omicron. N and sgN RNA levels varied with time since symptom onset and infecting variant but not with age, comorbidity, immune status, or vaccination. When normalized to total N RNA, sgN levels were similar across all variants.
RNA viral loads were similar among hospitalized adults, irrespective of infecting variant and known risk factors for severe COVID-19. Total N and subgenomic RNA N viral loads were highly correlated, suggesting that subgenomic RNA measurements adds little information for the purposes of estimating infectivity.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Total and subgenomic RNA viral load in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants
- Creators
- Derek E Dimcheff - University of MichiganChristopher N Blair - University of MichiganYuwei Zhu - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterJames D Chappell - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterManjusha Gaglani - Scott & White HospitalTresa McNeal - Scott & White HospitalShekhar Ghamande - Scott & White HospitalJay S Steingrub - Baystate Medical CenterNathan I Shapiro - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterAbhijit Duggal - Cleveland ClinicLaurence W Busse - Emory UniversityAnne E P Frosch - Hennepin County Medical CenterIthan D Peltan - Intermountain Medical CenterDavid N Hager - Johns Hopkins MedicineMichelle N Gong - Albert Einstein College of MedicineMatthew C Exline - The Ohio State UniversityAkram Khan - Oregon Health & Science UniversityJennifer G Wilson - Stanford UniversityNida Qadir - University of California, Los AngelesAdit A Ginde - University of Colorado DenverDavid J Douin - University of Colorado DenverNicholas M Mohr - University of IowaChristopher Mallow - University of MiamiEmily T Martin - University of MichiganNicholas J Johnson - University of WashingtonJonathan D Casey - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterWilliam B Stubblefield - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterKevin W Gibbs - Wake Forest UniversityJennie H Kwon - Washington University in St. LouisH Keipp Talbot - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNatasha Halasa - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterCarlos G Grijalva - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterAdrienne Baughman - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterKelsey N Womack - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterKimberly W Hart - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterSydney A Swan - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterDiya Surie - Centers for Disease Control and PreventionNatalie J Thornburg - Centers for Disease Control and PreventionMeredith L McMorrow - Centers for Disease Control and PreventionWesley H Self - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterAdam S Lauring - University of MichiganInvestigating Respiratory Viruses in the Acutely Ill (IVY) Network
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Journal of infectious diseases, Vol.228(3), pp.235-244
- DOI
- 10.1093/infdis/jiad061
- PMID
- 36883903
- PMCID
- PMC10420395
- NLM abbreviation
- J Infect Dis
- eISSN
- 1537-6613
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000030, name: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, award: 75D30121F00002; DOI: 10.13039/100006108, name: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health, award: UL1 TR002243
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 03/08/2023
- Date published
- 08/01/2023
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology; Emergency Medicine; Anesthesia; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9984375349802771
Metrics
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