Thread by @CovidTownHall

Starting! @AngelaHaczku is joining us for @ucdavisbiology's #CovidTownHall! Dr. Haczku is a physician & co-author on the paper describing the 1st US community transmission of COVID-19 at @UCDavisHealth (Paper: doi.org/10.1093/cid/ci…). Tune in live: facebook.com/watch/live/?v=…

@AngelaHaczku, M.D., Ph.D., is a Professor of #Medicine, Director of the UC Davis #Lung Center, and is Associate Dean of Translational Research for @UCDavisMed. She is internationally recognized expert in pulmonary immunology. #CovidTownHall #Covid19

@AngelaHaczku's research focuses on the effects of environmental exposures (air pollution, cigarette smoke, psychosocial stress) on respiratory health & disease. She’s authored ~100 peer-reviewed papers, has been federally funded for the past 15 years.
#CovidTownHall #Covid19

@AngelaHaczku has received numerous awards, incl the Parker B Francis Pulmonary Fellowship, MRC (Canada) Fellowship Award & American Lung Association (ALA) Career Investigator Award. Holds the Chester Robbins Endowment for Pulmonary Research at @UCDavis. #CovidTownHall #Covid19

More from @AngelaHaczku on #Covid19:
Solving a medical mystery and changing CDC screenings for COVID-19: What we learned from the first known community-acquired coronavirus case in the U.S. UC Davis Health news. March 30, 2020.
health.ucdavis.edu/health-news/ne…
#CovidTownHall

More from @AngelaHaczku on #Covid19:
Solving a COVID-19 mystery: Inside the UC Davis Med Center case. KCRA3.March 31, 2020. kcra.com/article/covid-…
#CovidTownHall

More from @AngelaHaczku on #Covid19:
How One Patient's Battle With COVID-19 Changed U.S. Testing Protocols. US News. April 6, 2020.
usnews.com/news/health-ne…
#CovidTownHall

More from @AngelaHaczku on #Covid19:
Coronavirus Tests Aren’t Hard to Find Everywhere:
In some communities, easy to access thanks to new methods developed by local universities and hospitals. Wall Street Journal. April 1, 2020.
wsj.com/articles/coron…
#CovidTownHall

More from @AngelaHaczku on #Covid19:
California university researchers join the global race to fight coronavirus: With non-essential research on hold, scientists at the @UofCalifornia & private universities focus on COVID-19. April 13. 2020
edsource.org/2020/californi…
#CovidTownHall

@AngelaHaczku: describes the medical mystery around 1st person w/ #Covid19 at @UCDavisHealth. Patient came in sick during flu season. Had no connection w/ China so didn't qualify for testing. Patient's condition was getting worse. Doctors insisted patient be tested
#CovidTownHall

@AngelaHaczku: CDC FINALLY gave the ok. And indeed, person infected with #COVID19. 1st community transition case. Changed the requirements CDC had in place for testing.
#CovidTownHall

@AngelaHaczku goes over how virus works. Binds to cell surface receptor (ACE2) -> triggers endocytosis of the virus into a membrane compartment inside the cell where it can hide from the cells defenses. Result = cytokine storm.
#CovidTownHall #Covid19

@AngelaHaczku Many areas to target! @ucdavis active clinical trails occurring now:
#CovidTownHall #Covid19

@AngelaHaczku on why we need serology - detection of immunoglobulins, important for determining if person has been infected & immunity
#CovidTownHall #Covid19

@AngelaHaczku: Example of trials going on now
#CovidTownHall #Covid19

@AngelaHaczku: Much progress! But for now MUST stay in lockdown. Our best defense!
#CovidTownHall #Covid19

Q: isn't IL-6 an inflammatory cytokine that activates the immune system? Why would inhibiting it be beneficial? @AngelaHaczku: it's all about timing! Cytokines alert immune system. Cells rush to site & induce neutrophilic inflammation (ARDS) in lung.
#CovidTownHall #Covid19

Q: Why do only some patients have cytokine storm?
@AngelaHaczku: many components involved, many variations in immune function, such as sensitivity to IL-6, = many moving parts.
#CovidTownHall #Covid19

@AngelaHaczku: "I can talk about inflammation for 24hr straight!" 😂
#CovidTownHall #Covid19

@AngelaHaczku: When you get immunized against something as a child, effects can last entire lifetime. Some, like flu you have to get every year b/c different strains each year. Situation with #coronavirus? We don't know yet, and yes, this is a scary thing.
#CovidTownHall #Covid19

@AngelaHaczku: As the immune system ages, or you have other comorbidities, you lose immune system's ability to respond. Which is why we see more elderly hurt, as opposed to children, with "iron clad" immune systems
#CovidTownHall #Covid19

@AngelaHaczku: #microbiome plays very important role in immune system.
#CovidTownHall #Covid19

Q: If you are infected, then re-infected, are you immune?
@AngelaHaczku: must remember that humankind has never had a coronavirus pandemic before. So immunity? We just don't know yet.
#CovidTownHall #Covid19

@AngelaHaczku: #remdesivir shows promise as treatment for #Covid19
#CovidTownHall
npr.org/sections/healt…

@AngelaHaczku: "Hey now - this coronavirus hasn't killed us all off... so that's good news" 😂
#CovidTownHall #Covid19

@AngelaHaczku: Much more experimentation needed to discover the real Achille's heel for this coronavirus. Better to prevent infection from happening right now. As much as is sucks to be in lockdown, that's the only real prevention we currently have.
#CovidTownHall #Covid19

@AngelaHaczku: seeing disturbing coagulation problems. Cytokine storm can engage coagulation pathway. Gets used up, then leaves tiny clots that are also inflammatory & can block capillaries, such as in brain, leading to strokes. Why virus does this? Not understood. #CovidTownHall

@AngelaHaczku on getting back to work: Could examine antibody/immunoglobulin levels to gain info on potential for infection/being infected. Will need a gradual phase restoration incl social distancing, examining potential of cluster infections. Must make sure ICUs not overwhelmed

@AngelaHaczku thankful for all the great communication coming out from @ucdavis during this time. Doing a good job of keeping the community informed.
#CovidTownHall #Covid19

@AngelaHaczku recommends following @ucdavis slack channel "UCD-Covid19" to follow UCD experts and timely publications. 650 members, including people like #JenniferDoudna, discoverer of #(CRISPR)-Cas9.
#CovidTownHall #Covid19