- February 20, 2026
- Jochen M Schwenk, et al. SciLife Lab
Topic/Product:
Inflammation Panel 250
Disease Area:
Population Health
Sample Type:
Dried Blood Spot (DBS)
Abstract
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has posed major health challenges. To expand our molecular understanding beyond those seeking medical care, we conducted a cross-sectional survey targeting random residents from Sweden’s two largest cities.
Two thousand participants were invited during 2021 to self-sample dried blood spots (DBS) and provide health information. DBS samples were analysed for multiple anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (Abs), auto-reactive antibodies (AAbs) against 23 interferons (IFNs), and for 502 circulating immune-related proteins. Data-driven methodologies characterised the DBS phenotypes in response to infections and vaccination.
We received DBS samples from 437 (22%) volunteers aged 18-69, 60% females, and 50% per city. Multi-analyte serology distinguished self-reported infections (26%) and vaccination (40%), revealing a time-dependent discrepancy between reported and measured immunity. Anti-IFN Abs were detected in 21% of the donors and more frequent for type 1 IFNs alongside a natural infection. Integrating proteomics with antibody data provided additional insights into processes of cell-mediated immunity. Proteomics-centric analysis identified 24% of the participants to deviate in their phenotypes due to infection, immunity, respiratory distress, and age-related traits.
Multi-molecular analysis of layperson samples uncovered heterogeneity and diversity of immunity and health phenotypes, complementing clinical investigations.
Authors & Affiliations
Leo Dahl¹, Annika Bendes¹, María Bueno Álvez¹, Vincent Albrecht¹¹⁴, Hooman Aghelpasand², Sophia Björkander³, Simon Kebede Merid³, Anja Mezger², Max Käller², Claudia Fredolini¹⁴, Åsa Torinsson Naluai⁵, Olof Beck⁶, Erik Melén³⁷, Stefan Bauer⁸, Magnus Gisslén⁹¹⁰¹¹, Niclas Roxhed¹²¹³, and Jochen M. Schwenk¹⁷¹⁵
¹ SciLifeLab, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Solna, Sweden
² SciLifeLab, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Solna, Sweden
³ Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
⁴ Affinity Proteomics Unit, SciLifeLab Infrastructure, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Solna, Sweden
⁵ Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
⁶ Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
⁷ Sachs’ Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
⁸ TUM Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
⁹ Department of Infectious Diseases, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
¹⁰ Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
¹¹ Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden
¹² Department of Micro and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
¹³ MedTechLabs, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
¹⁴ Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
¹⁵ Lead contact
