Letter to the editor: Viral load decline time offers theoretical insight rather than practical value

References

1. Jonnerby J, Fenn J, Hakki S, Zhou J, Madon KJ, Koycheva A, et al. Inferring transmission risk of respiratory viral infection from the viral load kinetics of SARS-CoV-2, England, 2020 to 2021 and influenza A virus, Hong Kong, 2008 to 2012. Euro Surveill. 2025;30(6):2400234.  https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.6.2400234  PMID: 39949319 
2. Randolph HE, Fiege JK, Thielen BK, Mickelson CK, Shiratori M, Barroso-Batista J, et al. Genetic ancestry effects on the response to viral infection are pervasive but cell type specific. Science. 2021;374(6571):1127-33.  https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abg0928  PMID: 34822289 
3. Sanjuán R, Domingo-Calap P. Genetic Diversity and Evolution of Viral Populations. Science. 2021;1:53-61.  https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809633-8.20958-8 
4. van der Made CI, Netea MG, van der Veerdonk FL, Hoischen A. Clinical implications of host genetic variation and susceptibility to severe or critical COVID-19. Genome Med. 2022;14(1):96.  https://doi.org/10.1186/s13073-022-01100-3  PMID: 35986347 
5. Rouchka EC, Chariker JH, Alejandro B, Adcock RS, Singhal R, Ramirez J, et al. Induction of interferon response by high viral loads at early stage infection may protect against severe outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):15715.  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95197-y  PMID: 34344959 
6. Zlei M, Sidorov IA, Joosten SA, Heemskerk MHM, Myeni SK, Pothast CR, et al. Immune Determinants of Viral Clearance in Hospitalised COVID-19 Patients: Reduced Circulating Naïve CD4+ T Cell Counts Correspond with Delayed Viral Clearance. Cells. 2022;11(17):2743.  https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11172743  PMID: 36078151 
7. Li IW, Hung IF, To KK, Chan KH, Wong SSY, Chan JF, et al. The natural viral load profile of patients with pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) and the effect of oseltamivir treatment. Chest. 2010;137(4):759-68.  https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.09-3072  PMID: 20061398 
8. Andre M, Lau LS, Pokharel MD, Ramelow J, Owens F, Souchak J, et al. From Alpha to Omicron: How Different Variants of Concern of the SARS-Coronavirus-2 Impacted the World. Biology (Basel). 2023;12(9):1267.  https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12091267  PMID: 37759666 
9. Zhang H. Tissue and host tropism of influenza viruses: importance of quantitative analysis. Sci China C Life Sci. 2009;52(12):1101-10.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-009-0161-x  PMID: 20016966 
10. Puhach O, Meyer B, Eckerle I. SARS-CoV-2 viral load and shedding kinetics. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2023;21(3):147-61. PMID: 36460930