Biochemical, biophysical, and immunological characterization of respiratory secretions in severe SARS-CoV-2 infections.

ABSTRACT: Thick, viscous respiratory secretions are a major pathogenic feature of COVID-19, but the composition and physical properties of these secretions are poorly understood. We characterized the composition and rheological properties (i.e., resistance to flow) of respiratory secretions collected from intubated COVID-19 patients. We found the percentages of solids and protein content were greatly elevated in COVID-19 compared with heathy control samples and closely resembled levels seen in cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease known for thick, tenacious respiratory secretions. DNA and hyaluronan (HA) were major components of respiratory secretions in COVID-19 and were likewise abundant in cadaveric lung tissues from these patients. COVID-19 secretions exhibited heterogeneous rheological behaviors,

SUBMITTER: Kratochvil MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9309048 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature