Examination of gene expression in saliva samples from COVID ‐19 patients to study the host defense response against SARS‐CoV‐2 in the oral cavity

AbstractInfection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS ‐CoV‐2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), which presents with respiratory symptoms including fever, sore throat, cough and congestion, suggesting that infection of the oral cavity and nasopharynx (ONP) is an obligate step in its pathogenesis. Consistent with this role in the initial infection, oral and nasopharyngeal epithelial cells express the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein receptor, angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) (1), and RT‐PCR based testing can routinely detect SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA within both the nasal and buccal tissues. Local innate and adaptive immune responses in the oral epithelia are almost certainly involved in the defense against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, yet little is known about these defenses.

Source: Molecular Oral Microbiology - December 8, 2020 Category: Microbiology Authors: Gill Diamond, Erika L. Figgins, Tanya Robinson, Michal Senitko, George E. Abraham, Haley B. Williams, Meredith Sloan, Anna Owings, Hannah Laird, Yilianys Pride, Kenneth J. Wilson, Mohammad Hasan, Adam Parker, Sarah C. Glover Tags: LETTER TO THE EDITOR Source Type: research