In a major breakthrough, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Indore (IIT-I), in collaboration with leading Indian institutions, have discovered how different COVID-19 variants uniquely affect the human body, contributing to varying levels of disease severity.
Pioneering Collaboration and Support
As reported by TOI, the study was led by Dr. Hem Chandra Jha from IIT-I and Dr. Nirmal Kumar Mohakud from KIMS Bhubaneswar, with backing from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Highlighting the collaborative strength, Prof. Suhas S Joshi, Director of IIT-I, remarked,
“This study is a testament to the strength of interdisciplinary collaboration and cutting-edge research at IIT-Indore. Understanding COVID-19’s long-term molecular impact is crucial for developing better healthcare responses and targeted treatments.”
Large-Scale Data and Advanced Analysis
Researchers analyzed clinical data from 3,134 COVID-19 patients from India’s first and second waves. They applied machine learning to identify nine key biomarkers associated with disease severity:
- C-reactive protein (CRP)
- D-dimer
- Ferritin
- Neutrophils
- White blood cell (WBC) count
- Lymphocytes
- Urea
- Creatinine
- Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
They also examined lung and colon cells exposed to spike proteins from different virus variants to understand their molecular effects.
Delta Variant Caused Maximum Disruption
Dr. Hem Chandra Jha explained that the Delta variant was particularly aggressive in disrupting metabolic and hormonal pathways.
“Our findings show that Delta severely affected the body’s chemical balance, especially pathways related to catecholamine and thyroid hormone production. These disruptions can lead to complications like silent heart failure and thyroid dysfunction.”
A meta-analysis further confirmed these observations, indicating disruptions in urea and amino acid metabolism as well.
Innovative Technologies Strengthen Findings
The study employed multi-omics and Raman spectroscopy, advanced techniques used by Prof. Rajesh Kumar’s team at IIT-Indore, to visualize the biochemical disruptions. The patient data analytics were led by Prof. Sonali Agarwal from IIIT Allahabad.
Toward Precision Medicine for Long COVID
By mapping how each variant impacts different biological pathways, the study opens doors to targeted diagnostics and treatments, especially for patients suffering from long COVID symptoms. This precision-based approach could revolutionize how post-COVID conditions are managed in the future.
Contributors to the Study
Key contributors included: Budhadev Baral, Vaishali Saini, Siddharth Singh, Tarun Prakash Verma, Deb Kumar Rath, Jyotirmayee Bahinipati, Priyadarsini Panda, Shubhransu Patro, Namrata Misra, Manas Ranjan Behera, Kartik Muduli, Hamendra Singh Parmar, Ajay Kumar Meena, and Soumya R. Mohapatra.