SARS-CoV2 infection in the intestine

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

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Abstract

Demonstrating where SARS-CoV-2 infects and replicates in intestinal epithelium in vivo has been difficult to demonstrate conclusively. Therefore, we stained limited intestinal tissues from infected human autopsy samples for SARS-CoV2 both by immunofluorescence using antibodies to the SARS-CoV2 spike and nuclear proteins and in situ hybridization for viral RNA using RNAscope technology. In one patient with high viral loads in other tissues, we found significant viral mRNA in colon epithelial cells, and possibly within other cells in the intestinal LP that appear to be macrophages. Furthermore, we have begun to evaluate intestinal tissues from mouse models of SARS-CoV2 as a collaborator with Dr. Philip Murphys laboratory.