About

Dimitrios S. Monos, Ph.D., is a Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Patras, Greece, obtained in 1975, and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry/Immunology from Georgetown University, completed in 1981. His research focuses on pathology and laboratory medicine, contributing to the academic and clinical understanding within his department. He is based at the Abramson Research Building at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and is involved in advancing medical research and education through his role at the University of Pennsylvania.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Immunology
• Internal medicine

Selected publications

• Microarray Analysis of Human Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm With Emphasis on Cardiovascular Genes Revealed Differentially Expressed Genes

  In Vivo · 2026-04-28

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND/AIM: . normal aortas by cDNA microarray and real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: P)-labeled cDNA from AAA specimens (mean AAA size 6.65 cm) and normal aortas were hybridized with a 588-gene microarray primarily of the cardiovascular system. The results were validated by qRT-PCR. RESULTS: ) was downregulated. CONCLUSION: . Remaining results confirmed previous reports regarding 21 genes differentially expressed in AAA. qRT-PCR results were in general in agreement with microarray results.

  PublisherDOI

• Assessing different DNA extraction methods for cell-free DNA testing

  Human Immunology · 2025-09-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Genome-wide association study and HLA genotyping for beryllium disease susceptibility in a European descent population

  Gene · 2025-10-10

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Haplotypic resolution of the challenging genomic regions of MHC and KIR using a combination of targeted sequencing and a novel assembly pipeline

  Nucleic Acids Research · 2025-05-22

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Recently long-read sequencing technologies and bioinformatics have enabled the construction of haplotype-resolved genome assemblies. Here, we present the complete and accurate de novo characterization of two challenging genomic regions, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), in phased haplotypic form, using the Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) Adaptive Sampling sequencing, and a newly developed bioinformatics pipeline. These critical regions for our immune response have been notoriously difficult to characterize due to their sequence variability and structural complexity. The key features of our approach are (i) focused sequencing of specific regions, (ii) exclusive use of ONT, and (iii) a unique phasing methodology that integrates sequencing reads, methylation signals, and a reference panel. Ten samples with known MHC and KIR haplotypes were sequenced and assembled, demonstrating the potential of our approach. We achieved efficient target enrichment resulting in 100% coverage and accuracy ranging from 99.95% to 99.99% across the MHC and KIR. Its simplicity, reproducibility, and affordability distinguish this method as a unique and effective approach for the targeted haplotypic characterization of the MHC and KIR without trios and possibly other specific genomic regions. These efforts will in turn facilitate future studies that further advance the functional deconvolution of our genome.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Optimizing the donor matching process in solid organ transplantation

  Human Immunology · 2025-09-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• A case of severe combined immunodeficiency with sticky myeloid cells

  Human Immunology · 2025-09-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• The Nonrandom and Geometric Role of Retroviral DNA in Genome

  Preprints.org · 2025-06-02

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  In this study we analyze the statistical characteristics of the human endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) database focusing on the subcase of positions and lengths of ERVs elements. We show that the positions and sizes of the ERV elements within chromosomes exhibit patterns that can be classified based on their complexity (or nonrandomness) characteristics as prescribed by the convolution of the abstract phase space with the tangible molecular space. A complexity factor, incorporating the Hurst exponent and the Tsallisian q-entropic index (used here as a molecular complexity index), captures evolutionary and physicochemical constraints acting on the geometry of ERV elements, defined by their positions and lengths. This reveals that ERV elements constitute a distinct subsystem that interacts with the entire genome and continuously influences its biological functionality. We found that complexity is more pronounced in positions than in lengths. A machine learning tool clustered the retrieved information to statistically capture chromosome functionality and differentiate between the subsystems of positions and lengths.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Elimination of alloantibody responses using chimeric HLA-II antibody receptor T cells

  Blood · 2025-11-03

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Introduction Anti-HLA antibodies (alloantibodies) pose challenges in the setting of organ or bone marrow transplantation. The presence of pre-existing alloantibodies, which may occur as a result of prior pregnancy, transfusion, or transplantation, can present a barrier to finding a compatible transplant donor, especially in highly-sensitized patients. Additionally, solid organ transplant recipients can form de novo donor-specific alloantibodies (DSAs) after transplantation and these may lead to allograft rejection. Current strategies aimed at eliminating pre-existing alloantibodies (desensitization) such as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), plasmapheresis, rituximab, proteasome inhibitors, and imlifidase have demonstrated inconsistent efficacy or fail to produce sustained reductions in alloantibodies. Moreover, they target circulating antibodies or B cells without specificity, highlighting the need for therapies that can durably and selectively deplete HLA-specific B cells and, in turn, alloantibodies. To this end, T cell engineered to express Chimeric HLA Antibody Receptors (CHARs) have demonstrated efficacy in targeting specific anti-HLA class I-producing B cell clones. However, alloantibodies to HLA class II molecules represent a significant unaddressed challenge. Here, we developed a targeted therapy for anti-HLA class II desensitization by generating T cells expressing class II CHARs (CHAR-II). Methods and Results We expressed the extracellular domains of HLA-DQ or -DR molecules coupled with the 4-1BBζ/CD3ζ domains into human T cells and evaluated them in vitro. Receptor structure optimization studies yielded CHAR-II T cells with high level and stable expression of CHARs. Optimized CHAR-II T cells were effectively activated by immobilized monoclonal antibodies targeting the specific HLA-II molecules and by B cell hybridomas expressing HLA-II-specific B cell receptors, as evidenced by the upregulation of T cell activation markers and cytokine secretion. Next, we assessed the cytotoxic potential of the CHAR-II T cells against B cell hybridomas and demonstrated dose-dependent, antigen-specific target cell lysis. To determine the potential of CHAR-II T cells to target clinically-relevant alloantibodies, we employed serum adsorption assays using sera from sensitized transplant candidates. CHAR-II T cells selectively depleted alloantibodies that were specific or cross-reactive to the HLA alleles expressed on the CHARs. Finally, we modeled targeting of patient's alloantibody-specific B cells in vitro and confirmed that CHAR-II T cells eliminate primary B cell clones, and HLA class-II alloantibodies, with high specificity. Conclusion Overall, our findings provide proof of concept for the use of the CHAR-II platform as an efficient and selective therapeutic strategy for desensitization or treatment of antibody-mediated rejection in the context of transplantation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The complete haplotypic characterization of the swine MHC using Oxford Nanopore Technologiesrsquo; (ONT) adaptive sampling and sequencing. Optimizing the swine xenotransplantation model

  Human Immunology · 2025-09-01 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Targeted and complete genomic sequencing of the major histocompatibility complex in haplotypic form of individual heterozygous samples

  Genome Research · 2024-09-26 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a ∼4 Mb genomic segment on Chromosome 6 that plays a pivotal role in the immune response. Despite its importance in various traits and diseases, its complex nature makes it challenging to accurately characterize on a routine basis. We present a novel approach allowing targeted sequencing and de novo haplotypic assembly of the MHC region in heterozygous samples, using long-read sequencing technologies. Our approach is validated using two reference samples, two family trios, and an African-American sample. We achieved excellent coverage (96.6%-99.9% with at least 30× depth) and high accuracy (99.89%-99.99%) for the different haplotypes. This methodology offers a reliable and cost-effective method for sequencing and fully characterizing the MHC without the need for whole-genome sequencing, facilitating broader studies on this important genomic segment and having significant implications in immunology, genetics, and medicine.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant M01RR000240

  NIH · $6.4M · 2006

• NIH Grant R23DK038011

  NIH · $175k · 1991

• Atopic Dermatitis and High Resolution HLA

  NIH · $2.4M · 2017–2023

Frequent coauthors

• Deborah Ferriola

  97 shared

• Jamie L. Duke

  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  95 shared

• Curt Lind

  69 shared

• Eleni Magira

  National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

  66 shared

• Timothy L. Mosbruger

  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  59 shared

• Milton D. Rossman

  University of Pennsylvania

  57 shared

• Malek Kamoun

  University of Pennsylvania

  55 shared

• Kenneth D. Rosenman

  Michigan State University

  41 shared