Multiorgan and Vascular Tropism of SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Although the respiratory tract is the main target of SARS-CoV-2, other tissues and organs are permissive to the infection. In this report, we investigated this wide-spectrum tropism by studying the SARS-CoV-2 genetic intra-host variability in multiple tissues. The virological and histological investigation of multiple specimens from a post-mortem COVID-19 patient was performed. SARS-CoV-2 genome was detected in several tissues, including the lower respiratory system, cardio-vascular biopsies, stomach, pancreas, adrenal gland, mediastinal ganglion and testicles. Subgenomic RNA transcripts were also detected, in favor of an active viral replication, especially in testicles. Ultra-deep sequencing allowed us to highlight several SARS-CoV-2 mutations according to tissue distribution. More specifically, mutations of the spike protein, i.e., V341A (18.3%), E654 (44%) and H655R (30.8%), were detected in the inferior vena cava. SARS-CoV-2 variability can contribute to heterogeneous distributions of viral quasispecies, which may affect the COVID-19 pathogeny.

Possible internal viral shedding and interferon production after clinical recovery from COVID-19: Case report

“…Here, we suggest the possibility of persistent viral shedding in the internal circulatory system. Although several postmortem studies of severe cases have been conducted ( 4 ), no studies have been conducted that investigate the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 particles in people who have recovered from non-severe COVID-19. Larger studies are needed to obtain sufficient information on the number of recovered patients who sustain internal viral shedding.…”

“…It may not be a misunderstanding that at least part of this ability may work in humans as well. Actually, post-mortem histological analyses revealed a wide spectrum of tropism of SARS-CoV-2 and its long-term existence in human organs ( 4 ).…”

“…In bats, coronaviruses do not cause any immunoresponses (remain asymptomatic), suggesting that they are tolerated, that is, the viruses can escape the audit of intracellular innate immunity (3) may not be a misunderstanding that at least part of this ability may work in humans as well. Actually, post-mortem histological analyses revealed a wide spectrum of tropism of SARS-CoV-2 and its long-term existence in human organs (4).…”

Lots of long COVID treatment leads, but few are proven

“…There is now ample evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infects diverse tissues throughout the body—far beyond the reach of a nasal swab—and that those infections can last long after obvious respiratory symptoms have cleared ( 9 – 11 ). A study by Stanford University researchers, for example, found that 4% of recovered COVID-19 patients were shedding viral RNA in their feces and reporting gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms 7 months after infection ( 12 ).…”

SARS-CoV-2 Variability in Patients and Wastewaters—Potential Immuno-Modulation during the Shift from Delta to Omicron

“…Thus, due to the co-circulation of various SARS-CoV-2 strains within populations and in infected individual subjects, new variants with advantageous mutations and/or composite mutations can emerge. Subsequent new viral variants might carry new biological properties, such as viral escape from host-related immune response [ 6 ], specific human tissue or animal tropism [ 7 ], and possible modulations in SARS-CoV-2 properties in the environment through the Spike protein influencing viral behavior in samples, such as wastewaters [ 8 ].…”