# Total plasma N-glycomic patterns of COVID-19 disease

## TL;DR

This study identifies specific changes in plasma N-glycans in COVID-19 patients, which may help distinguish infection severity and outcomes.

## Contribution

The study reveals novel N-glycan patterns associated with ICU admission and mortality in COVID-19 patients.

## Key findings

- Bisected glycans were decreased in patients compared to controls.
- Fucosylated tri-antennary and sialylated tetra-antennary glycans were increased in patients.
- Peak 61 (A4G4S4F) was elevated in severe cases, while Peak 29 (FA2G2S2) was lowered.

## Abstract

Total plasma N-glycans alter in disease states, with few studies focused on COVID-19. A discovery cohort of 310 COVID-19 patients, replicated with 97 COVID-19 patients and tested with 100 COVID-19 patients, was used to unearth the N-glycans capable of distinguishing infection, as well as prognosis of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality. All significant bisected glycans were decreased in patients compared to controls, whilst fucosylated tri-antennary glycans and sialylated tetra-antennary glycans were increased in patients. For both those admitted to the ICU and those who died, Peak 61 (A4G4S4F) was elevated in the more severe disease course, while Peak 29 (FA2G2S2) was lowered. Pinpointing specific glycosylation changes has alluded to a potential story of glycoprotein pathways in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study could be further explored through deriving the glycoproteins associated with the glycans of interest and the glycosylation changes experienced on these proteins.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10719-025-10201-1.