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Analysis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 2 Replication in Explant Cultures of the Human Upper Respiratory Tract Reveals Broad Tissue Tropism of Wild-Type and B.1.1.7 Variant Viruses

Authors :
Thorsten Wolff
Anita Balázs
Christin Mache
Christian Drosten
Marcus A. Mall
Heidi Olze
Steffen Dommerich
Doris Frey
Andreas C. Hocke
Daniela Niemeyer
Stefan Hippenstiel
Jessica Schulze
Source :
The Journal of infectious diseases
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Oxford University Press (OUP), 2021.

Abstract

Background The upper respiratory tract (URT) is the primary entry site for severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other respiratory viruses, but its involvement in viral amplification and pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Methods In this study, we investigated primary nasal epithelial cultures, as well as vital explanted tissues, to scrutinize the tropism of wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and the recently emerged B.1.1.7 variant. Results Our analyses revealed a widespread replication competence of SARS-CoV-2 in polarized nasal epithelium as well as in the examined URT and salivary gland tissues, which was also shared by the B.1.1.7 virus. Conclusions In our analyses, we highlighted the active role of these anatomic sites in coronavirus disease 2019.

Details

ISSN :
15376613 and 00221899
Volume :
224
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....b052f4baf4ac240d4bb1f0907db74f43