Severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS-CoV-2 is an important cause of lower respiratory tract infection. This case study uses in vitro models of the lungs to elucidate the consequences and cellular targets of the viral infection.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome was inoculated into human bronchial epithelial cells in laboratory settings, in a biosafety level 3 facility. Similarly, the facility had a multiplicity of infection which indicated the ratio of 3:1 virus particles targeting the airway cells. The cells were examined 96 hours after the infection presented using scanning electron microscopy.
Panel A shows an infected ciliated cell with strands of mucus attached to the tips of the cilia. Panel B shows an image at higher magnification with the structure and density of SARS-CoV-2 virions produced by human airway epithelial cells. The production of virus was approximately 3×106 plaque-forming units per culture. The findings showed that a higher number of virions are produced and released per cell.
References
Ehre, C. (2020). SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Airway Cells. New England Journal of Medicine, 383(10), 969-969.