In response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the Kanki research group is engaged in studies that incorporate SARS-CoV-2 and other human coronaviruses in their BSL2+ and BSL3 laboratories. To address important clinical diagnostic issues related to SARS-CoV-2, the Kanki lab is collaborating with BIDMC investigators to study the relationship of SARS-CoV-2 antigenemia and viral infectivity, including new SARS-CoV-2 variants. In studies with Dr Jin-Ah Park (Environmental Health), the Kanki lab group is studying SARS-CoV-2 infection in human respiratory epithelial cells to better understand cellular responses associated with risk factors for COVID-19 disease.
Africa is facing major challenges as the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads, exacerbated by a smaller healthcare workforce, fragile healthcare infrastructure, and limited access to testing and personal protective equipment (PPE). In collaboration with the University of Lagos and the Lagos State government, the Kanki lab is studying humoral and cellular immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers and the natural history of asymptomatic and symptomatic disease. These studies were extended to evaluate temporal immune responses after the AstraZeneca SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Current studies are characterizing pre-pandemic cross-reactive antibody and cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 in Africa.