Researchers have shown that the novel coronavirus can infect and multiply in cells of the human intestine, a finding that could explain why many COVID-19 patients experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea.
The scientists, including those from Hubrecht Institute in the Netherlands, successfully propagated the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, in cell culture models of the human intestine, and monitored the response of the cells to the virus.
They said the findings, published in the journal Science, could explain the observation that nearly one third of COVID-19 patients experience symptoms such as diarrhea, and the fact that the virus often can be detected in stool samples. Patients with COVID-19 show a variety of symptoms associated with respiratory organs such as coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath, and fever, and the disease is transmitted via tiny droplets that are spread mainly through coughing and sneezing.
One third of the patients, however, also experience gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and diarrhea, the researchers said. Long after the respiratory symptoms have been resolved, the virus can be detected in human stool, they added, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 can also spread via so-called “fecal-oral transmission”.
Though the respiratory and gastrointestinal organs seem very different, the study noted some key similarities. One observation, it said, is the presence of the ACE2 receptor through which the SARS-CoV-2 virus can enter cells.
The researchers said the inside of the intestine is loaded with these receptors. Until now, they said it was unknown whether intestinal cells could actually get infected and produce virus particles.
So the scientists attempted to culture the viruses in human intestinal organoids, which are tiny versions of the human intestine that can be grown in the lab. “These organoids contain the cells of the human intestinal lining, making them a compelling model to investigate infection by SARS-CoV-2,” said study co-author Hans Clevers. (PTI)
