Immune dysfunction from SARS-CoV-2
    
Immune dysfunction from SARS-CoV-2 -- Dr Anthony Leonardi, MBBS, PhD
Dr. Anthony Leonardi presented findings on the adverse immunological effects of COVID-19, particularly focusing on T-cell dysfunction and immune system aging. His research highlights that SARS-CoV-2 causes significant lymphopenia (loss of lymphocytes), primarily through apoptosis (programmed cell death), and broad T-cell differentiation. This process results in immune exhaustion, loss of naive T cells, and the creation of antigenic reservoirs, which sustain chronic immune activation. Evidence indicates that these immune alterations increase susceptibility to infections, viral reactivations (such as shingles and Epstein-Barr virus), and possibly autoimmunity. Older adults and individuals with metabolic syndrome are particularly vulnerable due to less regenerative capacity in their immune systems. The presentation also gave compelling evidence, that persistent damage to the immune system years after the pandemic started is due to immune harm, as opposed to the dysfunction observed early in the pandemic, which in part could be explained by immune debt from reduced exposure to pathogens during lockdowns. Dr. Leonardi emphasized the need for ongoing immune monitoring, development of therapies to restore immune health, and further research into long-term immune impacts. He concluded with a call to action for clinicians and researchers to adapt clinical practice to this “new normal” of post-COVID immune dysfunction and to pursue solutions for at-risk populations.  https://youtu.be/8HJI_9rxcNk