A model for multispecialty in-hospital and out-of-hospital care of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection
Subproject leader (microbiology): Tomasz Gosiewski, Ph.D., Prof. UJ
Years of implementation 2020 - 2021
Subproject title: Research on laboratory diagnosis of infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus in the course of COVID-19 disease.
Project type: Support of single-name hospitals in the fight against the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and the treatment of COVID-19.
As part of the ongoing project, we propose to develop a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-based test to differentiate SARS-CoV-2 virus from influenza viruses, which can help in the rapid detection of COVID-19 and/or influenza. The test will be based on the analysis of a fluorescent microscopic preparation from an upper respiratory tract swab from a patient with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. When exposed to UV light, intense bright luminescence will be observed in airway epithelial cells containing viral RNA.
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection is a key element in determining COVID-19 disease in a patient with symptoms of respiratory tract infection, or ruling it out if infected with other pathogens. The reference test is a molecular PCR test based on the detection of at least two virus-specific genes in a sample of respiratory tract secretions. The development of alternative molecular (and therefore highly accurate), diagnostic methods is desirable, as this will increase the ability to diagnose infections, which should improve the effectiveness of COVID-19 outbreak control.
A parallel arm of the study will be to see if the patient has a co-infection with another pathogen (such as influenza virus or RSV) and whether this affects the severity of the course of COVID-19. Such knowledge will allow future prognosis of the clinical course of the infection. This study will be carried out using commercial PCR tests, so-called "respiratory panels" that allow detection of other pathogens in the sample.
https://cracov.cm-uj.krakow.pl/pl/podprojekty/mikrobiologia-i-diagnostyka/