New coronavirus infects intestinal cells

Intestinal organoid infected with coronavirus; organoid cells are colored blue and green, clusters of viral particles are white. (Photo: Joep Beumer / Hubrecht Institue)

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However, all of the above are only indirect evidence that the new coronavirus can affect the intestines. Is it possible to directly see how it penetrates into the intestinal cells and multiplies in them? This is exactly what the researchers from the Hübrecht Institute and other scientific centers of the Netherlands did. In their experiments, they used intestinal organoids – the so-called microstructures grown from stem cells and in their properties resembling a real organ or part of it. For example, there are organoids that mimic the stomach, or nephron, the structural unit of the kidney, or the snake venom gland. Organoids have three-dimensionality, they consist of cells of different types, and therefore it is better to study certain biological processes on them than on a flat homogeneous culture – the reactions of an organoid to a drug or, say, a virus will be more natural.

In article in Science it is said that the virus rather quickly infected intestinal organoids and successfully propagated in them. The virus was seen in the organoid cells with the help of microscopy, and by indirect signs – antiviral defense genes were turned on in the intestinal organoid. So now it is safe to say that SARS-CoV-2 really affects the intestines. Probably, it remains to be understood with the help of clinical data how “intestinal” SARS-CoV-2 infection is more dangerous than “respiratory” infection. But even if intestinal symptoms can be neglected, you still need to remember that the intestine gives the virus, so to speak, new distribution opportunities.

There are other places in our body where SARS-CoV-2 can potentially live and reproduce – for example, testes and eyes. But here again, additional research is needed to understand how much the virus takes advantage of these opportunities, and whether any medical measures are needed.

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