Daily longitudinal sampling of SARS-CoV-2 infection reveals substantial heterogeneity in infectiousness.

ABSTRACT: The dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 replication and shedding in humans remain poorly understood. We captured the dynamics of infectious virus and viral RNA shedding during acute infection through daily longitudinal sampling of 60 individuals for up to 14 days. By fitting mechanistic models, we directly estimated viral expansion and clearance rates and overall infectiousness for each individual. Significant person-to-person variation in infectious virus shedding suggests that individual-level heterogeneity in viral dynamics contributes to 'superspreading'. Viral genome loads often peaked days earlier in saliva than in nasal swabs, indicating strong tissue compartmentalization and suggesting that saliva may serve as a superior sampling site for early detection of infection. Viral loads and clearance

SUBMITTER: Ke R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9084242 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature