COVID-19 impact on dormant virus reactivation

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin published a study in Nature regarding the impact of severe COVID-19 on the human body. The observational analysis, part of the Immunophenotyping Assessment in a COVID-19 Cohort (IMPACC) study, examined data from 1,154 unvaccinated patients hospitalized across 20 U.S. hospitals.

Using RNA sequencing to track viral dynamics, the study found that severe COVID-19 can cause the reactivation of dormant viruses. Nearly half of the hospitalized patients experienced the reawakening of at least one latent virus, most notably the Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus-1, and members of the Anelloviridae family.

The research noted specific temporal patterns, such as Epstein-Barr virus being frequently detected at the time of hospitalization, while cytomegalovirus detections often spiked several weeks later. The reactivation of Anelloviridae was strongly associated with the development of Long COVID symptoms, fatigue, and long-term physical disability. These findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2-induced immune disruption may contribute to prolonged post-COVID illness and worse clinical outcomes, including longer hospital stays.