Publication date: Aug 03, 2026
The SARS-CoV-2 virus significantly evolved with several new strains identified. Transmissibility has increased with each strain, corresponding with a decrease in mortality. We previously demonstrated novel dysfunctional neutrophil responses in alpha COVID-19 patients compared to community acquired pneumonia controls. We investigated if strain variation altered our previously observed neutrophil dysfunction. Patients with COVID-19 not requiring intensive care were recruited between January 2021 and May 2022 from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham; 41 patients with alpha, 32 delta and 14 omicron. Neutrophils isolated from whole blood were investigated for phagocytosis of labelled Streptococcus pneumoniae, transwell migration towards interleukin-8, neutrophil extracellular (NET) formation and surface phenotype. Neutrophil phagocytosis was significantly increased in delta variant (vs alpha p=0. 0012, vs omicron p=0. 0209). Transwell migration was also significantly reduced in omicron patients (vs alpha p=0. 0002, vs delta p=0. 0129). There was a significant reduction in NET formation from omicron patients (vs alpha p=0. 0031, vs delta p=0. 0231). Compared to alpha patients, neutrophils from omicron patients had reduced expression of CD10 (p=0. 0004), CD54 (p=0. 0015), CD62L (p=0. 0013) and CD11c (p
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| COVID-19 | |
| COVID-19 variant | |
| immunity | |
| neutrophils |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 |
| disease | MESH | infection |
| disease | MESH | strains |
| disease | MESH | community acquired pneumonia |
| disease | MESH | Long Covid |