tissue tropism of coronavirus

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

Investigators

Abstract

The COVID-19 condition caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is an active, existential global health threat. A substantial fraction of those infected exhibit no symptoms, while others progress to severe illness resulting in multi-organ failure and death. The factors dictating whether an infected subject will progress to develop symptoms or will experience asymptomatic infection remains poorly understood. Using experimental models, work that we and others have conducted over the past few years revealed that the ability of a given microbe to cause disease can be highly contextual. Indeed, numerous factors can contribute to pathogen-induced morbidity or mortality including age, microbiota, nutritional status as well as co-infection or previous infections. Our combined laboratories have pioneered the development of murine models of infectious diseases and developed novel tools to track microbial tropism, tissue specific pathologies and immune responses to pathogens. Using models of murine coronavirus infection, our goal is to further understand the circumstances promoting anti-viral immunity and pathogenicity.