SARS-CoV-2 Productively Infects Human Gut Enterocytes

Lamers, M. M.; Beumer, J.; van der Vaart, J.; Knoops, K.; Puschhof, J.; Breugem, T. I.; Ravelli, R. B. G.; van Schayck, J. P.; Mykytyn, A. Z.; Duimel, H. Q.; van Donselaar, E.; Riesebosch, S.; Kuijpers, H. J. H.; Schipper, D.; van de Wetering, W. J.; de Graaf, M.; Koopmans, M.; Cuppen, E.; Peters, P. J.; Haagmans, B. L.; Clevers, H.

doi:10.1101/2020.04.25.060350

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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.04.25.060350

SARS-CoV-2 Productively Infects Human Gut Enterocytes

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Abstract

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is an influenza-like disease with a respiratory route of transmission, yet clinical evidence suggests that the intestine may present another viral target organ. Indeed, the SARS-CoV-2 receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is highly expressed on differentiated enterocytes. In human small intestinal organoids, enterocytes were readily infected by SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 as demonstrated by confocal- and electron-microscopy. Consequently, significant titers of infectious viral particles were measured. mRNA expression analysis revealed strong induction of a generic viral response program. We conclude that intestinal epithelium supports SARS-CoV-2 replication. One Sentence SummarySARS-CoV-2 infection of enterocytes in human small intestinal organoids

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Lamers, M. M., Beumer, J., van der Vaart, J., Knoops, K., Puschhof, J., Breugem, T. I., Ravelli, R. B. G., van Schayck, J. P., Mykytyn, A. Z., Duimel, H. Q., van Donselaar, E., Riesebosch, S., Kuijpers, H. J. H., Schipper, D., van de Wetering, W. J., de Graaf, M., Koopmans, M., Cuppen, E., Peters, P. J., Haagmans, B. L., Clevers, H.. 2020-04-25. SARS-CoV-2 Productively Infects Human Gut Enterocytes. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.25.060350

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