Identification of risk predictors of SARS-CoV-2 infection based on the intestinal microbiome of school children–PREDICOL, 2020-21. CSIC Global Health Platform; Principal Investigator: Prof. Yolanda Sanz.
PREDICOL investigates the role of the gut microbiome in SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents and the impact in schools and families. The reason why COVID-19 is less severe and often asymptomatic in the pediatric population compared with adults and their potential role in SARS-CoV-2 transmission is unclear. Our project hypothesizes that the gut microbiome in the pediatric population relates to the immune status of the children and their ability to evade viral infection. We will also evaluate the possible influence of the pandemic on psycho-educative evolution of the children. The project is a collaboration between the CSIC, school centers, the Hospital Dr. Peset in Valencia (Dr. Pilar Codoñer) and Limbic. It also counts on the support of the local municipality (Ayuntamiento de Paterna) and Hidraqua, which will monitor the virus in fecal waters around the schools.
Check out this link to learn more about the “Global Health” Interdisciplinary Platform (PTI) launched by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in an effort to contribute to the global fight against the COVID pandemic:
https://pti-saludglobal-covid19.corp.csic.es/
Objectives
- Identify differential microbiome and immune signatures that together with clinical and behavioral factors determine a child’s susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection
- Determine the role of children and adolescents in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in schools and the families
- Determine the effects of the pandemia on the psycho-educative evolution of children
Strategy
- Biobanking biological samples and generating a database of the study population
- Microbiome analysis of stool samples through next-generation sequencing technologies and bioinformatics
- Immune markers analysis by cytokine arrays
Impact
- Epidemiological data on COVID-19 in schools to inform decisions
- Stratification of children according to their susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection
- Identification of biological and environmental factors that protect or increase the risk and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in schools
Partners and funding organisation
