Post-COVID Syndrome–Associated Immune Deficiencies as a Risk Factor for Postoperative Infections

Status:

ongoing

Aims:

The aim of this project is to investigate how immune defects associated with Post-COVID syndrome influence the risk of postoperative infections. Previous studies, including our own preliminary work, have provided evidence of impaired host defense in individuals with Post-COVID. Building on these findings, the present project seeks to clarify the clinical relevance of these immune alterations for surgical care. To this end, infection models using isolated immune cells and live microorganisms on commonly used implant materials will be employed. The activation and function of blood cell populations that are essential for host defense and wound healing, including peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), granulocytes, and platelets, will be investigated. Complementing ongoing analyses of the humoral immune response using blood serum, the findings are expected to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of Post-COVID and its implications for the medical management of affected patients.

Activities/Methods:

Infection models employing blood cells isolated from Post-COVID participants and healthy controls (PBMCs, PMNs, and platelets) in combination with live microorganisms (E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans) on commonly used implant materials will be established. The activation and functional capacity of these blood cell populations, which are essential for host defense and wound healing, will be investigated on pathogen-infected surfaces by assessing cytokine release (ELISA), the expression of specific activation markers (flow cytometry/FACS and confocal laser scanning microscopy, CLSM), as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and phagocytic activity.

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