This Month in AJP

COVID-19 patients often complain about lack of taste; however, it is unclear if SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect taste receptor cells. Using biopsied fungiform papillae (FP) from a symptomatic SARS-CoV-2+ patient who reported of taste changes and circumvallate papilla from COVID-19 patients who consented to autopsy, Doyle et al (Am J Pathol, AJPA-D-21-00001) studied this possibility. In situ hybridization (ISH) probe and an antibody specific to angiotensin-converting enzyme- 2 (ACE2) —the cell surface receptor facilitating viral entry—confirmed the co-localization of replicating SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 in type II cells in taste buds.

Source: American Journal of Pathology - July 15, 2021 Category: Pathology Authors: Chhavi Chauhan Tags: This Month in AJP Source Type: research