Precision microbiota profiling in COVID-19 in adolescents

Offentlig prosjektsammendrag

Akershus University Hospital (Ahus) and Bio-Me are collaborating in an important landmark study of the long-term effects of COVID-19 in adolescents and young adults (LoTECA), investigating the involvement of the microbiome in such long-term effects. Based on several international studies, it is possible that the intestinal microbiota could be disturbed for a long time in pediatric COVID-19. Findings from this project may identify factors important for disease severity. The project is engaging professionals of multiple disciplines through pediatricians, experts in infectious disease, microbiologists, geneticists, and private enterprises, and will create avenues for further research into other disease states where the gut microbiota is important. The primary objective in this study will be to identify gut bacteria involved and altered in COVID-19. Moreover, we will try to identify factors (such as clinical, genetic, microbiological, immunological and psychosocial) that are important for a severe disease course and long- term complications. With Bio-Me’s PMP platform, fecal microbiota profiles are explored at species-level resolution which gives more specific results. It is a validated test, with translational value, with user properties not restricted to research and basic science but with great clinical potential. It is rapid, cheap, reproducible, and easily obtainable, with the potential for diagnostic as well as prognostic use. Bio-Me’s cloud-based proprietary software facilitates machine learning analysis from combined microbiome and clinical data, enabling deep analysis and novel discovery. Bio-Me software is powered by Amazon Web Services, allowing Bio-Me to leverage supercomputer processing power to incorporate thousands of health parameters and complex microbial function data in their analytics.