A simple nasal swab may soon help doctors predict the severity of a person’s COVID-19 infection. According to a new study published in Science Translational Medicine, over 70% of individuals with mild to moderate COVID-19 develop specific autoantibodies in their nasal cavities, which are associated with fewer symptoms, improved immune response, and quicker recovery.
These autoantibodies, typically linked to autoimmune diseases, surprisingly appear to play a protective role in COVID-19 when present in the nose. Eliver Ghosn, a faculty member with Emory University’s Lowance Center for Human Immunology and Emory Vaccine Center, noted that while autoantibodies in the blood have been associated with more severe illness, the opposite seems to be true in the nasal cavity.
Nasal Autoantibodies Offer Protection
The study indicates that the immune response in the nose differs significantly from that in the blood. Nasal autoantibodies target an important inflammatory molecule produced by the patient's cells, preventing excessive inflammation and promoting balance as individuals recover. This finding contrasts with previous studies that linked autoantibodies in the blood to more life-threatening COVID-19.
"The key to this puzzle was to look directly at the site of infection, in the nose, instead of the blood," Ghosn said. "While autoantibodies in the blood were linked to bad prognosis, producing them only in the nose soon after infection is linked to efficient recovery."
Development of a Predictive Nasal Swab Test
Researchers are now focused on developing a nasal swab test to predict the severity of COVID-19 infections. Ben Babcock, a doctoral candidate at Emory, envisions a test that captures the immune response in real time, providing physicians and patients with the information needed to make faster, smarter treatment decisions.
"Imagine if we could capture the immune response in real time, right in the clinic. A just-in-time test could give physicians and patients the real-time information they need to make faster, smarter treatment decisions.", said Babcock.
This innovative approach could significantly improve patient care by allowing for timely and targeted interventions based on the individual's immune response at the site of infection.
