Exploring Genetic Variation and COVID-19 Clinical Variability – Technology Networks
By daniellenierenberg
One of the biggest challenges that scientists and healthcare professionals are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic is the high rate of clinical variability. Whilst some patients present as asymptomatic, others are developing more severe symptoms such as pneumonia, and some cases are ultimately proving fatal. Why?The answer remains elusive; however, extensive research is exploring the possible contribution our genetics may be having. Genetic variation differences in the DNA sequences that make up our genome can impact our response to infectious diseases.
GoodCell uniquely measures and monitors inherited and acquired genetic variations in stem cells and other nucleated cells in our blood over time. Technology Networks recently spoke with Dr Salvatore Viscomi, chief medical officer at GoodCell, and attending physical at Baystate Health, to explore factors that might influence COVID-19 risk, and to discuss how the company is working to identify at-risk individuals through genetic variation analysis.
Molly Campbell (MC): For our readers that may be unfamiliar, can you discuss why medicine is moving towards a personalized approach, and why this is important considering genetic variation?Salvatore Viscomi (SV): Healthcare has traditionally taken the approach of one size fits all in defining individual risk for a disease and prescribing therapy for it. Understanding the differences between individuals on a molecular level optimizes assessment of an individuals susceptibility to a certain disease and predicting response to pharmacological therapy. Genomics plays the most important role in the emergence of personalized therapy. Identifying the inherited and acquired genetic variation will direct personalized screening and prevention plans and inform bespoke medical therapies.
MC: We know that there is high clinical variability across COVID-19 patients. How might genetic variation be contributing here, and what published evidence exists to support this?SV: Understanding immune response is critical to identifying individuals at high risk of severe morbidity and mortality. Emerging research suggests that accumulated genetic variation in our blood cells may be associated with a dysfunctional inflammatory response to COVID-19 leading to its pulmonary, cardiac and coagulopathic complications.
In a recent study published by JAMA Cardiology, researchers demonstrated an association between the presence of accumulated genetic change in our blood cells and a pro-inflammatory immune response that resembles the exaggerated cytokine release syndrome (CRS) manifested in COVID-19-positive patients. Direct evidence has emerged more recently; a study published in Cancers examined patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and found a significantly higher prevalence of accumulated genetic variation in all age groups compared to age-matched control groups.
MC: What impact might genetic variation in COVID-19 patients have on efforts to develop therapeutics or preventives, such as vaccines?SV: Identifying highly susceptible individuals through blood testing could have many applications. As an initial wave of vaccines move through Phase III trials and potentially come to market, we would have the data to determine prioritization of vaccinations when one is available. Business and government sectors need insight into risk factors that can inform inoculation strategies for societys most vulnerable, inform decisions around who should and should not be on the front lines, and give people more control when making personal decisions about how to mitigate individual risk. The broader field of genetics offers a window into the potential to correlate inherited and acquired gene mutations with immune response for the betterment of society, providing a more robust and accurate set of risk factors unique to every individual.
Furthermore, in high-risk individuals, targeting inflammation may be a clinical strategy to mitigate its clinical consequencesin COVID-19. For example, we may identify patients who are most responsive to pro-inflammatory inhibitors. Implementing measures intended to reduce subjects exposure to the infection or likelihood of contracting such infection through self-isolation, quarantine or social distancing may be advised.
MC: Can you explain the aims of GoodCell, and what the company does in terms of "banking blood for life"?SV: GoodCells mission is to extend and improve the quality of life through technology powered by our own cells. Blood is the author of our bodies, and can both cure as well as cause disease. Through our proprietary data aggregation and analytics technology platform, which aims to decode our blood cells and harness their insights to advance population and personal health, we empower individuals to identify, track and mitigate health risks. By getting ahead of their health risks, we enable the potential for a better life. In addition, through our personal biobanking service, long-term storage of your healthiest cells provides the opportunity for potential use in future therapeutics if you need them you are your best donor.
MC: Does GoodCell measure other "omics" parameters outside of genomics (DNA measurements and analysis), such as proteomics or metabolomics?SV: GoodCells platform leverages the power of blood to assess risk as such, we of course look at acquired and inherited genetic changes, but there are many more opportunities afforded by blood to understand and assess risk including routine blood chemistry tests, tests for biomarkers of disease, including emerging capabilities in liquid biopsy for earlier detection of solid tumor cancers. Ultimately, we are always looking to incorporate novel health and data insights into our product platform to better inform both an individuals health, as well as population-based health. Transcriptomics, epigenomics and metabolomics are but a few of the opportunities we are evaluating.
MC: What work is GoodCell currently conducting in the COVID-19 space?SV: GoodCell is currently engaged in a research collaboration with the New York Blood Center to evaluate how specific acquired and inherited genetic variation contribute to COVID-19 severity and recovery. We are analyzing genetic variation in asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic patients compared to hospitalized/ICU patients. GoodCell will evaluate the genetic variation in the collected samples using our proprietary assay platform to identify and validate their association with COVID-19 morbidity and mortality.
Salvatore Viscomi was speaking to Molly Campbell, Science Writer, Technology Networks.
Read the original post:
Exploring Genetic Variation and COVID-19 Clinical Variability - Technology Networks
- Global Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market 2020 Key Drivers and Restraints, Regional Outlook, End-User Applicants by 2025 - The Pinstripe... - January 14th, 2021
- Coronavirus Impact Editon of Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market Report Future Development, Top Manufacturers, Technological Advancement,... - January 12th, 2021
- Global Cardiovascular Drug Delivery Technologies, Companies & Markets to 2028: Focus on Cell Therapy, Gene Therapy, Drug-Eluting Stents - WFMZ... - January 12th, 2021
- Stem Cell Therapy Market Latest Report with Forecast to 2025 - Jumbo News - January 12th, 2021
- Worldwide Industry for Biopreservation to 2026 - Key Drivers, Restraints and Opportunities - Yahoo Finance - January 5th, 2021
- Stem Cell Therapy Market Estimated to Expand at a Robust CAGR over 2025 - The Monitor - December 30th, 2020
- Vape Flavorings Are Cardiotoxic and Can Damage the Heart - SciTechDaily - December 28th, 2020
- Outlook on the Biopreservation Global Market to 2026 - Profiling Avantor, BioLife Solutions and ThermoGenesis Among Others - GlobeNewswire - December 22nd, 2020
- Stem Cell Therapy for Heart Failure Treatment - December 17th, 2020
- I Peace, Inc. and Avery Therapeutics announce collaboration to bring iPSC derived cell therapy for heart failure to the clinic - PRNewswire - December 17th, 2020
- Flavors added to vaping devices damage the heart, vanilla custard the most toxic of all - Study Finds - December 17th, 2020
- Network of Genes Involved in Congenital Heart Disease Identified - Technology Networks - December 16th, 2020
- Industry News: Hamamatsu Photonics UK Ltd and the Medical Technologies Innovation Facility enter into a partnership agreement - SelectScience - December 16th, 2020
- Covid-19 can have impact on heart too, say experts - Hindustan Times - December 14th, 2020
- Houston healthcare in 1945 was 'mediocre.' The rivalry between DeBakey and Cooley changed it forever - Houston Chronicle - December 13th, 2020
- Flavours added to vaping devices can damage the heart: Study - Sify News - December 13th, 2020
- Exploiting the diphtheria toxin internalization receptor enhances delivery of proteins to lysosomes for enzyme replacement therapy - Science Advances - December 13th, 2020
- New health researchers at Dal, IWK and Nova Scotia Health receive funding from Research Nova Scotia - Dal News - December 11th, 2020
- Creative Medical Technology Holdings files Patent on Induction of Infectious Tolerance by Ex Vivo Reprogrammed Immune Cells Utilizing ImmCelz Cellular... - December 10th, 2020
- RA Capital backs Oxford spinout PepGen with a $45M Series A, seeking to treat Duchenne and other similar diseases - Endpoints News - December 9th, 2020
- Treatment with Investigational LentiGlobin Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease (bb1111) Results in Complete Elimination of SCD-Related Severe... - December 8th, 2020
- Could Gene Therapy Be Used To Mimic the Positive Effects of Exercise? - Technology Networks - December 8th, 2020
- Tissue chips and organoids: SpaceX is launching lots of science to space for NASA on Sunday - Space.com - December 6th, 2020
- Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market Research Report 2020: Market Competition Trend and Price by Manufacturers till 2026 - Factory Maintenance - December 6th, 2020
- Five things that happen to your body in space - RocketSTEM - December 6th, 2020
- Not All Patients With Relapsed DLBCL Referred for CAR T in Community Setting - Targeted Oncology - December 3rd, 2020
- 3D Cardiac Mapping Systems Market Key Vendors, Analysis by Growth and Revolutionary Opportunities by 2028 - Murphy's Hockey Law - December 3rd, 2020
- Osteoporosis treatments could be on the way after scientists identify aging gene - iNews - December 1st, 2020
- Stem Cell Assay Market In-Depth Analysis and Forecast 2017-2025 - Khabar South Asia - December 1st, 2020
- Global Myocardial Infarction Drug Market to have sustainable growth over the forecast period 2020-2028| Leading Players BioCardia, Inc., Laboratoires... - November 30th, 2020
- Pilot study finds potential signal indicative of loss of tone in blood vessels after cardiac surgery - The Hindu - November 30th, 2020
- Growing Value of Stem Cells in Medicine to Create a US$2,4 Billion Opportunity for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell ((iPSC) - GlobeNewswire - November 26th, 2020
- Functionally distinct resident macrophage subsets differentially shape responses to infection in the bladder - Science Advances - November 26th, 2020
- Breakthroughs in Stem Cell Based Treatment of Heart Disease - The Connecticut College Voice - November 25th, 2020
- Exosome Therapeutic Market to Record Escalated Growth in Revenue During the Forecast Period || Major Gaints Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boehringer... - November 23rd, 2020
- 3D Cardiac Mapping Systems Market Competitive Landscape Analysis with Forecast by 2028 - The Haitian-Caribbean News Network - November 23rd, 2020
- This Squishy 3D-Printed Human Heart Feels Like the Real Thing - WIRED - November 23rd, 2020
- Mount Sinai Cardiologist Awarded $2.9 Million NIH Grant to Advance Work with Stem Cells and Heart Repair after Heart Attack - Cath Lab Digest - November 20th, 2020
- Leveraging the lung's biogenesis to repair the heart - Advanced Science News - November 20th, 2020
- Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market Share, Growth by Top Company, Region, Application, Driver, Trends & Forecasts by 2026 - PRnews Leader - November 20th, 2020
- Organoids mimic the early development of the heart in mouse embryos - BioNews - November 18th, 2020
- Exosome Therapeutic Market 2020-2026 Thriving Worldwide || Major Gaints Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, ReNeuron... - November 18th, 2020
- FDA gives Cellectis all clear after patient death halted off-the-shelf CAR-T trial - Endpoints News - November 18th, 2020
- UPDATED: Merck's Keytruda nets another approval, this time in triple negative breast cancer. Can it catch up to Tecentriq? - Endpoints News - November 18th, 2020
- Global Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market 2020 Segmentation, Statistics, Top Manufacturers, Regional Analysis and Forecast to 2025 - The... - November 16th, 2020
- Cell Therapy and Gene Therapy Markets, 2019-2020 & Forecast to 2025 and 2030 - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business Wire - November 16th, 2020
- The Amniotic Fluid Stem Cell Therapy market to be in conjunction to growth from 2018 to 2026 - PRnews Leader - November 12th, 2020
- KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA (lenvatinib) Demonstrated Statistically Significant Improvement in Progression-Free Survival (PFS), Overall... - November 10th, 2020
- Global Progenitor Cell Product Professional Survey 2020 by Manufacturers, Regions, Types and Applications, Forecast to 2026 - Zenit News - November 10th, 2020
- Advancement: Know the Rapid Growth Factors of Biopreservation Market| Stay Up-To-Date With Emerging - PharmiWeb.com - November 10th, 2020
- Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market 2020 Emerging Trend and Advancement - News by aeresearch - November 8th, 2020
- Stem Cell Therapy Market to Surge at a Robust Pace in Terms of Revenue Over2017 2025 - Royal Sutton News - November 5th, 2020
- bluebird bio to Present Data from Gene and Cell Therapy Programs During the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition -... - November 5th, 2020
- Stem Cell Therapy Market is estimated to be worth USD 8.5 Billion by 2030 - PRnews Leader - November 5th, 2020
- ADL live: Matters of the Heart Monash University - Monash Lens - November 5th, 2020
- Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market to Witness Increase in Revenues by 2020-2026 - PRnews Leader - November 3rd, 2020
- Orphan Drug Designation Granted for CSL Behring's Investigational Plasma-Derived Hemopexin Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease - PRNewswire - November 3rd, 2020
- Ready To Use Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market Industry Analysis, Trend and Growth, 2020-2020 - Royal Sutton News - November 1st, 2020
- Novartis expands Kymriah manufacturing footprint with first-ever approved site for commercial CAR-T cell therapy manufacturing in Asia - GlobeNewswire - October 31st, 2020
- Regenerative Medicine Market Poised to Garner Maximum Revenues During 2025 - The Think Curiouser - October 30th, 2020
- Role of Trop-2 as an Actionable Biomarker in Solid Tumors - OncLive - October 29th, 2020
- The Amniotic Fluid Stem Cell Therapy market to invigorate from 2018 to 2026 - TechnoWeekly - October 24th, 2020
- COVID-19 can affect the heart - Science Magazine - October 23rd, 2020
- The role of induction therapy before autologous stem cell transplantation in low disease burden AL amyloidosis patients - DocWire News - October 23rd, 2020
- Exosome Therapeutic Market 2020-2026 Demand Analysis and Projected Huge Growth by Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH,... - October 23rd, 2020
- Stem Cell Therapy Market to Witness Steady Expansion During 2025 KYT24 - KYT24 - October 21st, 2020
- Exosome Therapeutic Market 2020-2026 || Major Gaints Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, ReNeuron Group plc,... - October 21st, 2020
- Five Indian American Researchers Named Among NIH 2020 New Innovator Awardees - India West - October 19th, 2020
- Merck Presents Three-Year Survival Data for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in Combination With Chemotherapy and Updated Phase 1/2 Data for Investigational... - October 17th, 2020
- Global Cell Based Assay & High Content Screening Markets to 2024: Updated Report - Understand Growth Expectations and the Potential Market Size -... - October 16th, 2020
- Banking wisdom: Teen saving stem cells in hopes of future treatment - LubbockOnline.com - October 14th, 2020
- Human heart organoids provide unmatched insight into cardiac disease and dysfunction - BioWorld Online - October 14th, 2020
- What is New in Cardiology? A Review of All Major Emerging Technologies for Heart Diseases - Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology - October 14th, 2020
- Preclinical Study Shows Improvement In Recovery From Heart Attack With Exosomes - Anti Aging News - October 14th, 2020
- Treatment Options Expand Beyond JAK Inhibition for Patients With Myelofibrosis - Targeted Oncology - October 14th, 2020
- COVID Drug Given to Trump Developed From Aborted Fetus Cells - Quint Fit - October 10th, 2020
- Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market Size, Business Revenue Forecast, Leading Competitors And Growth Trends 2026| Regeneus, Mesoblast,... - October 7th, 2020
- Recording thousands of nerve cell impulses at high resolution - Newswise - October 2nd, 2020
- Measuring chips amplify and record nerve cells - Futurity: Research News - October 2nd, 2020
- Researchers Discover Cells That Heal Cardiac Damage After Infarction - Technology Networks - September 30th, 2020
