In Person & By Zoom

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Stefanos Giannakopoulos, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology
John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Up to 30% of COVID-19 survivors develop persistent pulmonary issues, such as dyspnea and chronic cough collectively known as long COVID. The pathogenesis of PASC is complex and multifactorial, with immune dysregulation playing a key role. Neutrophils release DNA to form neutrophil extracellular traps (NET). While NET combat pathogens, excessive NET formation can drive lung inflammation, coagulation, and fibrosis. Elevated serum levels of NET markers (CitH3, cell-free DNA, MPO-DNA) are linked to severe COVID-19. Importantly, PASC individuals show elevated neutrophil counts and activation, correlating with declining lung function. In our study we investigate the role of neutrophils in the acute and post-acute stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to the development of novel therapeutics .