Transcriptomic profiling of host response genes in convalescent COVID-19 donors and healthy controls using the NanoString nCounter Human Host Response V1.0 Panel

NanoString nCounter assay was performed to measure the basal expression of host response genes in primary human monocytes from convalescent COVID-19 donors and SARS-CoV-2 naïve healthy individuals. In this study, RNA was isolated from primary human monocytes from convalescent COVID-19 donors who had experienced mild or severe symptoms and SARS-CoV-2 naïve healthy controls and the expression of 785 genes was measured. COVID-19 participants were recruited 3-6 months following a positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for SARS-CoV-2. These participants were categorised into two groups based on their disease severity. Participants who were symptomatic but did not require hospitalisation were classed as mild. Participants who required hospitalisation and oxygen therapy were classified as severe. RNA collected from healthy control samples prior to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 were included in the study as the control group.