Berlin:
The novel coronavirus could enter the brain of men and women via the nose, according to a study published on Monday that could assistance clarify some of the neurological symptoms observed in COVID-19 individuals, and inform diagnosis and measures to avoid infection.
The study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, noted that SARS-CoV-2 not only impacts the respiratory tract but also impacts the central nervous program (CNS), resulting in neurological symptoms such as loss of smell, taste, headache, fatigue and nausea.
Although current study has described the presence of viral RNA in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid, it remains unclear exactly where the virus enters and how it is distributed inside the brain.
The researchers from Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Germany examined the nasopharnyx — the upper aspect of the throat that connects to the nasal cavity — a most likely 1st website of viral infection and replication, and the brains of 33 individuals — 22 males and 11 females — who died with COVID-19.
The median age at the time of death was 71.6 years, and the time from onset of COVID-19 symptoms to death was a median of 31 days, they stated.
The researchers stated that they discovered the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, the genetic material of the virus, and protein in the brain and nasopharynx, adding intact virus particles had been also detected in the nasopharynx.
The highest levels of viral RNA had been discovered in the olfactory mucous membrane, they stated.
According to the researchers, the illness duration was inversely correlated with the quantity of detectable virus, indicating that larger SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels had been discovered in situations with shorter illness duration.
The group also discovered SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in particular forms of cells inside the olfactory mucous layer, exactly where it could exploit the proximity of endothelial and nervous tissue to achieve entry to the brain.
In some individuals, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was discovered in cells expressing markers of neurons, suggesting that olfactory sensory neurons could be infected, as effectively as in the brain regions that obtain smell and taste signals, the researchers stated.
SARS-CoV-2 was also discovered in other regions of the nervous program, like the medulla oblongata — the main respiratory and cardiovascular handle centre of the brain, they stated.
The researchers noted that additional COVID-19 autopsy research that include things like a broad variety of sampling are required to determine the precise mechanisms that mediate the virus’s entry into the brain, and examine other prospective ports of entry.