Neuroinvasion of SARS-CoV-2 in human and mouse brain

Although COVID-19 is considered to be primarily a respiratory disease, SARS-CoV-2 affects multiple organ systems including the central nervous system (CNS). Yet, there is no consensus on the consequences of CNS infections. Here, we used three independent approaches to probe the capacity of SARS-CoV-2 to infect the brain. First, using human brain organoids, we observed clear evidence of infection with accompanying metabolic changes in infected and neighboring neurons. However, no evidence for type I interferon responses was detected. We demonstrate that neuronal infection can be prevented by blocking ACE2 with antibodies or by administering cerebrospinal fluid from a COVID-19 patient. Second, using mice…

• HH
  Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• YU
  Yale University

  Award: T32GM007205
• GH
  G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Foundation
• LF
  Ludwig Family Foundation
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: K23MH118999, R01AI157488, F30CA239444, T32GM007205, R01NS111242, 2T32AI007517