Do SARS-CoV-2 Variants Differ in Their Neuropathogenicity?
Open Access
- 28 February 2023
- journal article
- editorial
- Published by American Society for Microbiology in mBio
- Vol. 14 (1), e0292022
- https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02920-22
Abstract
Neurological complications associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections are a huge societal problem. Although the neuropathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 is not yet fully understood, there is evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can invade and infect cells of the central nervous system. Kong et al. (https://doi.org/10 .1128/mbio.02308-22) shows that the mechanism of virus entry into astrocytes in brain organoids and primary astrocytes differs from entry into respiratory epithelial cells. However, how SARS-CoV-2 enters susceptible CNS cells and whether there are differences among SARS-CoV-2 variants is still unclear. In vivo and in vitro models are useful to study these important questions and may reveal important differences among SARS-CoV-2 variants in their neuroinvasive, neurotropic, and neurovirulent potential. In this commentary we address how this study contributes to the understanding of the neuropathology of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.Funding Information
- ZonMw (91718308)
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