Biomarkers of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and persistent covid (long covid)

Chronic and degenerative disorders derive from complex gene-environment interactions leading to aberrant epigenetic changes. Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) activation has been documented for neurologic and autoimmune diseases, and, more
recently, for fibromyalgia (FM) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
(ME/CFS). Persistent post-COVID syndrome or LONG COVID presents with ME/CFS overlapping symptoms. A correlation with HERV activation has been proposed for COVID patients by some authors. This study intends to identify the specific HERV elements, among the 8% of the human genomic sequences, that are being particularly activated in FM, ME/CFS, and LONG COVID with the purpose of differential diagnosis
(disease-specific “HERV-fingerprints”). This information will add to blood analytes, transcriptomic and proteomic profiles, extracellular vesicle features and clinical phenotyping for the modeling or the refinement of an incipient PLS (Partial Least
Square)-DA (Differential Analysis) model of these diseases. The final goal being to set the molecular basis for a directional therapeutic approach.