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von Bartheld CS, Wang L. Prevalence of Olfactory Dysfunction with the Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cells 2023; 12:430. [PMID: 36766771 PMCID: PMC9913864 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The omicron variant is thought to cause less olfactory dysfunction than previous variants of SARS-CoV-2, but the reported prevalence differs greatly between populations and studies. Our systematic review and meta-analysis provide information regarding regional differences in prevalence as well as an estimate of the global prevalence of olfactory dysfunction based on 62 studies reporting information on 626,035 patients infected with the omicron variant. Our estimate of the omicron-induced prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in populations of European ancestry is 11.7%, while it is significantly lower in all other populations, ranging between 1.9% and 4.9%. When ethnic differences and population sizes are considered, the global prevalence of omicron-induced olfactory dysfunction in adults is estimated to be 3.7%. Omicron's effect on olfaction is twofold to tenfold lower than that of the alpha or delta variants according to previous meta-analyses and our analysis of studies that directly compared the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction between omicron and previous variants. The profile of the prevalence differences between ethnicities mirrors the results of a recent genome-wide association study that connected a gene locus encoding an odorant-metabolizing enzyme, UDP glycosyltransferase, to the extent of COVID-19-related loss of smell. Our analysis is consistent with the hypothesis that this enzyme contributes to the observed population differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher S. von Bartheld
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Reno School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0352, USA
| | - Lingchen Wang
- School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0275, USA
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Brechbühl J, Ferreira F, Lopes AC, Corset E, Gilliand N, Broillet MC. Ocular Symptoms Associated with COVID-19 Are Correlated with the Expression Profile of Mouse SARS-CoV-2 Binding Sites. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020354. [PMID: 36851565 PMCID: PMC9961464 DOI: 10.3390/v15020354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has engendered significant scientific efforts in the understanding of its infectious agent SARS-CoV-2 and of its associated symptoms. A peculiar characteristic of this virus lies in its ability to challenge our senses, as its infection can lead to anosmia and ageusia. While ocular symptoms, such as conjunctivitis, optic neuritis or dry eyes, are also reported after viral infection, they have lower frequencies and severities, and their functional development is still elusive. Here, using combined technical approaches based on histological and gene profiling methods, we characterized the expression of SARS-CoV-2 binding sites (Ace2/Tmprss2) in the mouse eye. We found that ACE2 was ectopically expressed in subtissular ocular regions, such as in the optic nerve and in the Harderian/intraorbital lacrimal glands. Moreover, we observed an important variation of Ace2/Tmprss2 expression that is not only dependent on the age and sex of the animal, but also highly heterogenous between individuals. Our results thus give new insight into the expression of SARS-CoV-2 binding sites in the mouse eye and propose an interpretation of the human ocular-associated symptoms linked to SARS-CoV-2.
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von Bartheld CS, Wang L. Prevalence of Olfactory Dysfunction with the Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2022.12.16.22283582. [PMID: 36561176 PMCID: PMC9774228 DOI: 10.1101/2022.12.16.22283582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The omicron variant is thought to cause less olfactory dysfunction than previous variants of SARS-CoV-2, but the reported prevalence differs greatly between populations and studies. Our systematic review and meta-analysis provide information about regional differences in prevalence as well as an estimate of the global prevalence of olfactory dysfunction based on 62 studies reporting on 626,035 patients infected with the omicron variant. Our estimate of the omicron-induced prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in populations of European ancestry is 11.7%, while it is significantly lower in all other populations, ranging between 1.9% and 4.9%. When ethnic differences and population sizes are taken into account, the global prevalence of omicron-induced olfactory dysfunction in adults is estimated at 3.7%. Omicron’s effect on olfaction is twofold to tenfold lower than that of the alpha or delta variant, according to previous meta-analyses and our analysis of studies that directly compared prevalence of olfactory dysfunction between omicron and previous variants. The profile of prevalence differences between ethnicities mirrors the results of a recent genome-wide association study that implicated a gene locus encoding an odorant-metabolizing enzyme, UDP glycosyltransferase, to be linked to the extent of COVID-related loss of smell. Our analysis is consistent with the hypothesis that this enzyme contributes to the observed population differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher S. von Bartheld
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, 89557-0352, United States
| | - Lingchen Wang
- School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, 89557-0275, United States
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Braga LW, Oliveira SB, Moreira AS, Martins Pereira MEMDS, Serio ASS, Carneiro VDS, Freitas LDFP, Souza LMDN. Long COVID neuropsychological follow-up: Is cognitive rehabilitation relevant? NeuroRehabilitation 2023; 53:517-534. [PMID: 38143394 DOI: 10.3233/nre-230212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Duration of neuropsychological disorders caused by long COVID, and the variables that impact outcomes, are still largely unknown. OBJECTIVE To describe the cognitive profile of patients with long COVID post-participation in a neuropsychological rehabilitation program and subsequent reassessment and identify the factors that influence recovery. METHODS 208 patients (mean age of 48.8 y.o.), mostly female, were reevaluated 25 months after their first COVID infection and 17 months after their initial evaluation. Patients underwent subjective assessment, Barrow Neurological Institute Screen for Higher Cerebral Functions (BNIS), Phonemic Verbal Fluency and Clock Drawing Tests (NEUPSILIN) for executive functions, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and WHOQol-Bref. RESULTS We noted a discrete improvement of neuropsychological symptoms 25 months after the acute stage of COVID-19; nonetheless, performance was not within the normative parameters of standardized neuropsychological testing. These results negatively impact QoL and corroborate patients' subjective assessments of cognitive issues experienced in daily life. Improvement was seen in those who participated in psychoeducational neuropsychological rehabilitation, had higher levels of education, and lower depression scores on the HADS. CONCLUSION Our data reveal the persistence of long-term cognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders in patients with long COVID. Neuropsychological rehabilitation is shown to be important, whether in-person or online.
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Butowt R, Bilinska K, von Bartheld CS. Olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19: new insights into the underlying mechanisms. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:75-90. [PMID: 36470705 PMCID: PMC9666374 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms of olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 are still unclear. In this review, we examine potential mechanisms that may explain why the sense of smell is lost or altered. Among the current hypotheses, the most plausible is that death of infected support cells in the olfactory epithelium causes, besides altered composition of the mucus, retraction of the cilia on olfactory receptor neurons, possibly because of the lack of support cell-derived glucose in the mucus, which powers olfactory signal transduction within the cilia. This mechanism is consistent with the rapid loss of smell with COVID-19, and its rapid recovery after the regeneration of support cells. Host immune responses that cause downregulation of genes involved in olfactory signal transduction occur too late to trigger anosmia, but may contribute to the duration of the olfactory dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafal Butowt
- Global Consortium of Chemosensory Research - Poland, Przybory Str 3/2, 85-791 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Bilinska
- Department of Molecular Cell Genetics, L. Rydygier Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, uI. Curie Sklodowskiej 9, 85-94, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
| | - Christopher S. von Bartheld
- Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557-0352, USA,Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557-0352, USA,Correspondence:
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Muacevic A, Adler JR. Attenuation and Degeneration of SARS-CoV-2 Despite Adaptive Evolution. Cureus 2023; 15:e33316. [PMID: 36741655 PMCID: PMC9894646 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.33316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) has followed similar trends as other RNA viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and the influenza A virus. Rapid initial diversification was followed by strong competition and a rapid succession of dominant variants. Host-initiated RNA editing has been the primary mechanism for introducing mutations. A significant number of mutations detrimental to viral replication have been quickly purged. Fixed mutations are mostly diversifying mutations selected for host adaptation and immune evasion, with the latter accounting for the majority of the mutations. However, immune evasion often comes at the cost of functionality, and thus, optimal functionality is still far from being accomplished. Instead, selection for antibody-escaping variants and accumulation of near-neutral mutations have led to suboptimal codon usage and reduced replicative capacity, as demonstrated in non-respiratory cell lines. Beneficial adaptation of the virus includes reduced infectivity in lung tissues and increased tropism for the upper airway, resulting in shorter incubation periods, milder diseases, and more efficient transmission between people.
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Lustig G, Ganga Y, Rodel H, Tegally H, Jackson L, Cele S, Khan K, Jule Z, Reedoy K, Karim F, Bernstein M, Moosa MYS, Archary D, de Oliveira T, Lessells R, Abdool Karim SS, Sigal A. SARS-CoV-2 evolves increased infection elicited cell death and fusion in an immunosuppressed individual. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2022:2022.11.23.22282673. [PMID: 36451879 PMCID: PMC9709797 DOI: 10.1101/2022.11.23.22282673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The milder clinical manifestations of Omicron infection relative to pre-Omicron SARS CoV-2 raises the possibility that extensive evolution results in reduced pathogenicity. To test this hypothesis, we quantified induction of cell fusion and cell death in SARS CoV-2 evolved from ancestral virus during long-term infection. Both cell fusion and death were reduced in Omicron BA.1 infection relative to ancestral virus. Evolved virus was isolated at different times during a 6-month infection in an immunosuppressed individual with advanced HIV disease. The virus isolated 16 days post-reported symptom onset induced fusogenicity and cell death at levels similar to BA.1. However, fusogenicity was increased in virus isolated at 6 months post-symptoms to levels intermediate between BA.1 and ancestral SARS-CoV-2. Similarly, infected cell death showed a graded increase from earlier to later isolates. These results may indicate that, at least by the cellular measures used here, evolution in long-term infection does not necessarily attenuate the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gila Lustig
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa
| | - Yashica Ganga
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
| | - Hylton Rodel
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Houriiyah Tegally
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Sandile Cele
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Khadija Khan
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Zesuliwe Jule
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
| | - Kajal Reedoy
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
| | - Farina Karim
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Mahomed-Yunus S Moosa
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nelson R. Mandela School of Clinical Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Derseree Archary
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa
| | - Tulio de Oliveira
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform, Durban, South Africa
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Richard Lessells
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform, Durban, South Africa
| | - Salim S Abdool Karim
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Alex Sigal
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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Mahase E. Covid-19: Is the UK still tracking the virus-and other questions answered. BMJ 2022; 379:o2802. [PMID: 36400434 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.o2802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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