Outer membrane vesicles in SARS-CoV2-bacteria co-infection (C01)

• Subject Area: Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
• Term: from 2010 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 114933180

Severity of SARS-CoV2 infection seems to be paralleled by a disbalance between interferon mechanisms and neutrophilic differentiation. The effect of bacterial co-infection or colonization on COVID-19 is still unclear. We observed that outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from some bacteria (Klebsiella, Legionella) restricted replication of SARS-CoV2 in a co-culture model of human macrophages and airway epithelial cells, while influenza virus is inhibited only by Klebsiella OMVs. We hypothesise that different bacterial species can change the course of SARS-CoV2 infection to the better or worse by OMVs, e.g. via-IFN-I and IFN-III induction in macrophages. Potential intersecting immunesignalling events during bacterial or OMV exposure and SARS-CoV2 infection will be identified by comprehensive computational modelling and validated in co-culture models of human myeloid and epithelial cells, primary human lung tissue culture, and an established hamster model.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 84: Innate Immunity of the Lung: Mechanisms of Pathogen Attack and Host Defence in Pneumonia
• Applicant Institution: shared FU Berlin and HU Berlin through:; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• Project Heads: Dr. Annalisa Marsico; Professor Dr. Bernd Schmeck; Professor Dr. Martin Vingron, until 6/2018