SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 Pathologies, Long COVID, and Anti-COVID Vaccines

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Coronaviruses".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1798

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Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institute of Neurophysiopathology (INP), Aix-Marseille University, 27, Bd Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of the international scientific journal Viruses concerns the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the pathologies of COVID-19, and long COVID, as well as anti-COVID vaccines and their potential harmful effects on the human body (in particular, mRNA vaccines). All aspects are covered in this Special Issue, from the mode of action of the virus or the Spike protein, to the adverse effects concerning neurodegeneration, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal disorders, autoimmunity, and cancers. The dysregulation of the renin–angiotensin system and the overactivation of the AT1R receptor by excess angiotensin-2, at the origin of COVID-19 pathologies or long COVID, are included in this Special Issue. Potential drug treatments can be discussed depending on the case.

Dr. Jean-Marc Sabatier
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • SARS-CoV-2
  • COVID-19
  • long COVID
  • anti-COVID vaccines
  • spikeopathy
  • renin–angiotensin system

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 334 KiB  
Article
Maternal Obesity Modifies the Impact of Active SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Placental Pathology
by Francisca Carmo, Carla Ramalho, Susana Guimarães and Fátima Martel
Viruses 2025, 17(7), 1013; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17071013 - 18 Jul 2025
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Abstract
Background: Obesity during pregnancy is associated with an elevated risk of severe COVID-19, including higher rates of maternal complications, intensive care admission, and adverse neonatal outcomes. The impact of combination of SARS-CoV-2 infection and maternal obesity in placental pathology has not been properly [...] Read more.
Background: Obesity during pregnancy is associated with an elevated risk of severe COVID-19, including higher rates of maternal complications, intensive care admission, and adverse neonatal outcomes. The impact of combination of SARS-CoV-2 infection and maternal obesity in placental pathology has not been properly investigated. Aim: To compare the histopathological changes in the placenta induced by active SARS-CoV-2 infection in obese and non-obese patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included human placentas from non-obese women and pre-gestationally obese women with active SARS-CoV-2 infection (SARS and OB+SARS, respectively), and placentas from non-obese women and pre-gestationally obese women without SARS-CoV-2 infection (control and OB, collected in the post- and pre-pandemic periods, respectively). Results: A higher (50%) occurrence of ischemic injury and subchorionic fibrin deposits and a 15× higher risk of occurrence of these lesions were found in the OB+SARS group, in relation to control. In contrast, a 10% lower risk of developing chorangiosis in the OB+SARS group than the OB group was observed. Conclusions: An increased risk of lesions related to both maternal and fetal malperfusion and ischemic injury and a lower risk for chorangiosis exist in placentas from obese women affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Importantly, these differences were not observed in placentas from non-obese women. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 Pathologies, Long COVID, and Anti-COVID Vaccines)
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17 pages, 390 KiB  
Article
The Role of Serum Prolidase Activity, MMP-1, MMP-7, and TGF-β Values in the Prediction of Early Fibrosis in Patients with Moderate to Severe COVID-19
by Didem Dogu Zengin, Dilek Ergun, Burcu Yormaz, Recai Ergun, Halil Guven, Muslu Kazim Korez, Halil Ozer, Ali Unlu, Baykal Tulek and Fikret Kanat
Viruses 2025, 17(7), 954; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17070954 - 6 Jul 2025
Viewed by 392
Abstract
Background: This study aims to identify predictive factors for pulmonary fibrosis development in COVID-19 patients by analyzing thorax CT (computed tomography) findings, serum prolidase activity, MMP-1, MMP-7, TGF-β values, laboratory findings, and demographic characteristics. Materials and methods: The investigation involved 68 patients, both [...] Read more.
Background: This study aims to identify predictive factors for pulmonary fibrosis development in COVID-19 patients by analyzing thorax CT (computed tomography) findings, serum prolidase activity, MMP-1, MMP-7, TGF-β values, laboratory findings, and demographic characteristics. Materials and methods: The investigation involved 68 patients, both male and female, aged 18 years and older, who were volunteers and had been diagnosed with confirmed COVID-19. The pulmonologist and the radiologist evaluated the thorax CT by consensus. Patients were evaluated in two categories, group 1 and group 2, based on the status of fibrotic changes, and 3-month fibrosis scores were calculated. Findings in both lungs were calculated and noted for the lobes, considering lobar spread. Correlations between quantitative parameters were assessed with Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient. Comparisons between independent samples were evaluated using either the independent sample t-test or the Mann–Whitney U test. We evaluated the relationship between categorical variables using the Pearson chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test. Results: Serum prolidase activity, MMP-1, MMP-7, and TGF-β biomarkers were not statistically significant among groups. LDH was found to be significantly high in the group with fibrotic changes. Additionally, the group with fibrotic changes also had higher levels of fibrinogen. The percentage of neutrophils, the severity of the disease, muscle–joint pain and fatigue symptoms, and the length of hospitalization stay were correlated with the total scores of fibrosis at the third month. In the group with fibrotic changes, the duration of muscle–joint pain and fatigue symptoms and the length of hospitalization were longer than in the other group. Conclusions: The group with fibrotic changes showed an increase in biomarkers. However, this increase did not reach a statistically significant level, suggesting that the third month may be an early period for these changes. The group with fibrotic changes showed high levels of LDH, one of the most important laboratory parameters of pulmonary fibrosis risk factors, along with fibrinogen, suggesting that these parameters are valuable in predicting pulmonary fibrosis. Patients with fibrotic changes can experience specific symptoms, commonly seen in COVID-19. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 Pathologies, Long COVID, and Anti-COVID Vaccines)
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