Sustained type I interferon activity and N-antigenemia form a vicious cycle during severe COVID-19

Summary: Background: Although antigenemia is associated with poor outcomes in respiratory viral infections, the underlying mechanisms driving viral bloodstream dissemination remain not fully understood. Herein, we aimed to characterise SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N)-antigenemia kinetics in patients with severe COVID-19. We also sought to identify host and viral determinants associated with viral dissemination through a multiparametric integrated analysis and assess the associated risk of death.