COVID-19 and Pathogens: Interactions, Associations, and Implications

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Viral Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 4890

Special Issue Editors

Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E3, Canada
Interests: coronaviruses; virus–host interactions; viral pathogenesis; vaccine development
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Guest Editor
Department of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169856, Singapore
Interests: COVID-19; pathogens; histopathology and cytology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant worldwide morbidity and mortality. As the pandemic persists, there is emerging evidence suggesting associations and co-infections with other pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and fungal pathogens [14]. Furthermore, viral infections other than SARS-CoV-2 have also been reported to be associated/reactivated with the administration of COVID-19 vaccination [57], and syndromes such as ‘long COVID syndrome’ [8].

This Special Issue aims to serve as a nidus for delineating the possible interactions and associations between COVID-19 and human pathogens, as well as the implications of the relationships between these pathogens. We will consider submissions of bench, translational and clinical research performed in animals or humans, in the form of original research articles (retrospective studies, prospective studies, or correspondences), reviews (systematic reviews, scoping reviews, or narrative reviews), case series, case reports, short letters, and images. 

Suggested topics of interest include but are not limited to:

  • Associations between pathogens and COVID-19 infection, management/treatment of COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination;
  • Associations between COVID-19 and immunocompromised hosts with pathogenic infections such as human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis;
  • Clinical implications and complications of these relationships between COVID-19 and pathogens;
  • Associations of human pathogens with long- or post-COVID syndrome;
  • Immune responses to co-infection with COVID-19 and pathogens;
  • Mechanisms of interactions between pathogens and COVID-19 infection or vaccines. 

We hope that this Special Issue will provide researchers with the opportunity to publish their novel findings in this rapidly evolving area. We also hope to bring to light the insights on the relationship between COVID-19 infection and pathogens, with the goal of deepening our understanding of this pathogen that has caused an unprecedented global crisis. 

We look forward to receiving your contribution. 

References

  1. Zhu X, Ge Y, Wu T, Zhao K, Chen Y, Wu B, et al. Co-infection with respiratory pathogens among COVID-2019 cases. Virus Res. 2020; 285: 198005.
  2. Chen X, Liao B, Cheng L, Peng X, Xu X, Li Y, et al. The microbial coinfection in COVID-19. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2020; 104: 7777-85.
  3. Chen T, Song J, Liu H, Zheng H, Chen C. Positive Epstein-Barr virus detection in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Sci Rep. 2021; 11: 10902.
  4. Langford BJ, So M, Raybardhan S, Leung V, Westwood D, MacFadden DR, et al. Bacterial co-infection and secondary infection in patients with COVID-19: a living rapid review and meta-analysis. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2020; 26: 1622-9.
  5. Lensen R, Netea MG, Rosendaal FR. Hepatitis C Virus Reactivation Following COVID-19 Vaccination - A Case Report. Int Med Case Rep J. 2021; 14: 573-6.
  6. Fathy RA, McMahon DE, Lee C, Chamberlin GC, Rosenbach M, Lipoff JB, et al. Varicella-zoster and herpes simplex virus reactivation post-COVID-19 vaccination: a review of 40 cases in an International Dermatology Registry. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022; 36: e6-e9.
  7. Santovito LS, Pinna G. A case of reactivation of varicella-zoster virus after BNT162b2 vaccine second dose? Inflamm Res. 2021; 70: 935-7.
  8. Gold JE, Okyay RA, Licht WE, Hurley DJ. Investigation of Long COVID Prevalence and Its Relationship to Epstein-Barr Virus Reactivation. Pathogens. 2021; 10.

Prof. Dr. Qiang Liu
Dr. Tzy Harn Chua
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • infection, pathogenesis, transmission, epidemiology, evolution
  • clinical presentation, investigation, management, treatment
  • vaccines
  • long/post-COVID syndrome
  • bacteria
  • fungus
  • comorbidity

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 766 KiB  
Article
Prognostic Value of Transaminases and Bilirubin Levels at Admission to Hospital on Disease Progression and Mortality in Patients with COVID-19—An Observational Retrospective Study
by Antonio Russo, Mariantonietta Pisaturo, Roberta Palladino, Paolo Maggi, Fabio Giuliano Numis, Ivan Gentile, Vincenzo Sangiovanni, Vincenzo Esposito, Rodolfo Punzi, Giosuele Calabria, Carolina Rescigno, Angelo Salomone Megna, Alfonso Masullo, Elio Manzillo, Grazia Russo, Roberto Parrella, Giuseppina Dell’Aquila, Michele Gambardella, Antonio Ponticiello, Nicola Coppola and on behalf of CoviCam Groupadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Pathogens 2022, 11(6), 652; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11060652 - 6 Jun 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1915
Abstract
Introduction: Given the impact of COVID-19 on the world healthcare system, and the efforts of the healthcare community to find prognostic factors for hospitalization, disease progression, and mortality, the aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic impact of transaminases and [...] Read more.
Introduction: Given the impact of COVID-19 on the world healthcare system, and the efforts of the healthcare community to find prognostic factors for hospitalization, disease progression, and mortality, the aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic impact of transaminases and bilirubin levels at admission to hospital on disease progression and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Methods: Using the CoviCamp database, we performed a multicenter, observational, retrospective study involving 17 COVID-19 Units in southern Italy. We included all adult patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection with at least one determination at hospital admission of aminotransaminases and/or total bilirubin. Results: Of the 2054 patients included in the CoviCamp database, 1641 were included in our study; 789 patients (48%) were considered to have mild COVID-19, 347 (21%) moderate COVID-19, 354 (22%) severe COVID-19, and 151 patients (9%) died during hospitalization. Older age (odds ratio (OR): 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.03), higher Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) (OR 1.088; 95%CI 1.005–1.18), presence of dementia (OR: 2.20; 95% CI: 1.30–3.73), higher serum AST (OR: 1.002; 95% CI: 1.0001–1.004), and total bilirubin (OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.002–1.19) values were associated with a more severe clinical outcome. Instead, the 151 patients who died during hospitalization showed a higher serum bilirubin value at admission (OR 1.1165; 95% CI: 1.017–1.335); the same did not apply for AST. Discussion: Patients with COVID-19 with higher levels of AST and bilirubin had an increased risk of disease progression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 and Pathogens: Interactions, Associations, and Implications)
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17 pages, 1377 KiB  
Article
Selective COVID-19 Coinfections in Diabetic Patients with Concomitant Cardiovascular Comorbidities Are Associated with Increased Mortality
by Kamaleldin B. Said, Ahmed Alsolami, Fawwaz Alshammari, Fayez Saud Alreshidi, Anas Fathuldeen, Fawaz Alrashid, Abdelhafiz I. Bashir, Sara Osman, Rana Aboras, Abdulrahman Alshammari, Turki Alshammari, Sultan F. Alharbi and on behalf of the Ha’il COM Research Unit Group
Pathogens 2022, 11(5), 508; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11050508 - 25 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2345
Abstract
Coinfections and comorbidities add additional layers of difficulties into the challenges of COVID-19 patient management strategies. However, studies examining these clinical conditions are limited. We have independently investigated the significance of associations of specific bacterial species and different comorbidities in the outcome and [...] Read more.
Coinfections and comorbidities add additional layers of difficulties into the challenges of COVID-19 patient management strategies. However, studies examining these clinical conditions are limited. We have independently investigated the significance of associations of specific bacterial species and different comorbidities in the outcome and case fatality rates among 129 hospitalized comorbid COVID-19 patients. For the first time, to best of our knowledge, we report on the predominance of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii in COVID-19 non-survival diabetic patients The two species were significantly associated to COVID-19 case fatality rates (p-value = 0.02186). Coinfection rates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii in non-survivors were 93% and 73%, respectively. Based on standard definitions for antimicrobial resistance, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii were classified as multidrug resistant and extremely drug resistant, respectively. All patients died at ICU with similar clinical characterisitics. Of the 28 major coinfections, 24 (85.7%) were in non-survivor diabetic patients, implying aggravating and worsening the course of COVID-19. The rates of other comorbidities varied: asthma (47%), hypertension (79.4%), ischemic heart disease (71%), chronic kidney disease (35%), and chronic liver disease (32%); however, the rates were higher in K. pneumoniae and were all concomitantly associated to diabetes. Other bacterial species and comorbidities did not have significant correlation to the outcomes. These findings have highly significant clinical implications in the treatment strategies of COVID-19 patients. Future vertical genomic studies would reveal more insights into the molecular and immunological mechanisms of these frequent bacterial species. Future large cohort multicenter studies would reveal more insights into the mechanisms of infection in COVID-19. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 and Pathogens: Interactions, Associations, and Implications)
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