Jessica Opie’s talk focused on “Thrombosis in COVID-19”. A/Prof Opie gave an overview of homeostatic properties [coagulation factors (clot formation), coagulation inhibitors (clot controlling) and fibrinolysis (clot-dissolving)] associated with blood vessel injury. She then provided evidence which demonstrated that severe COVID-19 pathology is associated with dysregulation of tissue repair and blood vessel formation of the lung endothelial membrane. She also discussed how cytokine storm and dysregulation of the complement pathway contributes to excessive NETosis and is associated with severe COVID-19 pathologies (such as hypercoagulability, endotheliopathy, macrothromboisis and microthromobisis). She ended her talk describing how targeting either NETosis (using NET inhibitors) and the complement cascade could be potential therapies for severe COVID-19.
Summary by Cheleka Mpande
