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Immune Response to Life-Threatening Respiratory Infections in Children and Young Adults

This is a cross sectional study describing age-related differences in the nasal mucosal immune response to SARS-CoV-2. We collected nasal mucosal samples from six groups: healthy children, children infected with SARS-CoV-2, children infected with respiratory syncytial virus, children infected with influenza virus, healthy adults, and adults infected with SARS-CoV-2. Samples were obtained by mucosal scrape biopsy of the inferior turbinate using a sterile plastic curette. We performed bulk RNA-sequencing to obtain gene expression data. Clinical data was extracted from the electronic health record including: demographics, medical history, clinical presentation, duration of symptoms, intensive care unit admission, hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, type and duration of respiratory support at sample collection and peak illness. Our analysis described the host response to SARS-CoV-2 in the nasal mucosa in children and adults and compared it to the host response to respiratory syncytial virus and influenza virus.