COVID-19: Unravelling the changing immune environment of human lung cells in a search for biomarkers that are predictive for a cytokine storm

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There is a lack of models and biomarkers to predict the severity and outcome of a COVID-19 infection. Such biomarkers could help in predicting the expected intensive care beds that are needed. Importantly, there are few or no models to use in the laboratory that are safe, that can study the immunologic progression of viruses in a condition that does not involve human volunteers or animal models but demonstrates possible effects in human cells in a human-like tissue environment.Severity in COVID-19 infection is related to the so-called cytokine storm, an excessive production of signalling proteins to immune cells to come to the site of infection in response to an inflammation in the lungs. This leads to hyper-inflammation which could eventually kill a patient. In case of a cytokine storm, the immune system begins to destroy lung cells and makes breathing difficult.We propose to develop a safe experimental model that can be customised to mutated forms of the virus to unravel the changing immune environment of human lung cells in COVID-19 infection in a search for biomarkers associated with the infection. The model will enable tests of people to predict the progression of an infection into a cytokine storm.