Decoding Viral Persistence Signals in Biofluids Using Single-Particle EVP Analysis

Project Summary

This project investigates extracellular vesicles and particles (EVPs) as carriers of viral and host-derived signals that may drive Long COVID. EVPs are nanoscale structures released from cells that transport viral RNA, proteins, and inflammatory molecules throughout the body, protecting their cargo and enabling long-range intercellular communication.

To interrogate these signals, the team is deploying the Biochip Antigen and RNA Assay (BARA), an ultrasensitive platform developed by the investigators that is capable of capturing intact virions and EVPs and simultaneously detecting viral nucleic acids and proteins at the single-particle level. By analyzing cerebrospinal fluid and plasma from Long COVID patients, the project aims to identify persistent SARS-CoV-2 signatures and associated immune pathways, generating biomarkers to stratify patients and guide targeted clinical trials.

Project Background

EVPs provide a unique window into ongoing disease activity because they preserve and transport molecular signals from infected or dysregulated tissues. This makes them a powerful tool for detecting low-level viral persistence and mapping how infection-associated signals propagate through the body.

Using BARA to compare matched cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples, the team will trace viral and immune signals back to their tissue sources—offering insight into anatomical reservoirs of persistence. By integrating EVP-based viral detection with host response profiling, the project establishes a scalable framework for measuring disease biology in accessible biofluids, with the potential to accelerate the development of diagnostics and precision therapies for Long COVID.