@article{fdi:010086304,
  title = {{P}robing {SARS}-{C}o{V}-2-positive plasma to identify potential factors correlating with mild {COVID}-19 in {G}hana, {W}est {A}frica},
  author = {{T}apela, {K}. and {O}yawoye, {F}. {O}. and {O}lwal, {C}. {O}. and {O}purum, {P}. {C}. and {A}mponsah, {J}. {A}. and {S}egbedzi, {K}. {A}. {L}. and {T}etteh, {B}. and {K}umi-{A}nsah, {F}. and {M}utungi, {J}. {K}. and {O}bodai, {E}. and {A}moako, {E}. and {A}gyemang, {S}. and {T}uikue {N}dam, {N}icaise and {A}mpofo, {W}. {K}. and {R}ayner, {J}. {C}. and {A}wandare, {G}. {A}. and {P}aemka, {L}. and {B}ediako, {Y}. and {Q}uashie, {P}. {K}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground {W}est {A}frica has recorded a relatively higher proportion of asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 ({COVID}-19) cases than the rest of the world, and {W}est {A}frica-specific host factors could play a role in this discrepancy. {H}ere, we assessed the association between {COVID}-19 severity among {G}hanaians with their immune profiles and {ABO} blood groups. {M}ethods {P}lasma samples were obtained from {G}hanaians {PCR}-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ({SARS}-{C}o{V}-2)-positive individuals. {T}he participants were categorized into symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. {C}ytokine profiling and antibody quantification were performed using {L}uminex ({TM}) multiplex assay whereas antigen-driven agglutination assay was used to assess the {ABO} blood groups. {I}mmune profile levels between symptomatic and asymptomatic groups were compared using the two-tailed {M}ann-{W}hitney {U} test. {M}ultiple comparisons of cytokine levels among and between days were tested using {K}ruskal-{W}allis with {D}unn's post hoc test. {C}orrelations within {ABO} blood grouping ({O}'s and non-{O}'s) and between cytokines were determined using {S}pearman correlations. {L}ogistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association of various cytokines with asymptomatic phenotype. {R}esults {T}here was a trend linking blood group {O} to reduced disease severity, but this association was not statistically significant. {G}enerally, symptomatic patients displayed significantly (p < 0.05) higher cytokine levels compared to asymptomatic cases with exception of {E}otaxin, which was positively associated with asymptomatic cases. {T}here were also significant (p < 0.05) associations between other immune markers ({IL}-6, {IL}-8 and {IL}-1{R}a) and disease severity. {C}ytokines' clustering patterns differ between symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. {W}e observed a steady decrease in the concentration of most cytokines over time, while anti-{SARS}-{C}o{V}-2 antibody levels were stable for at least a month, regardless of the {COVID}-19 status. {C}onclusions {T}he findings suggest that genetic background and pre-existing immune response patterns may in part shape the nature of the symptomatic response against {COVID}-19 in a {W}est {A}frican population. {T}his study offers clear directions to be explored further in larger studies.},
  keywords = {{COVID}-19 ; {W}est {A}frica ; {A}symptomatic ; {ABO} blood groups ; {E}otaxin ; {A}ntibodies ; {GHANA}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{BMC} {M}edicine},
  volume = {20},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {370 [14 p.]},
  ISSN = {1741-7015},
  year = {2022},
  DOI = {10.1186/s12916-022-02571-2},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010086304},
}