Morphogenesis and cytopathic effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection in human airway epithelial cells

Na Zhu, Wenling Wang, Zhidong Liu, Chaoyang Liang, Wen Wang, Fei Ye, Baoying Huang, Li Zhao, Huijuan Wang, Weimin Zhou, Yao Deng, Longfei Mao, Chongyu Su, Guangliang Qiang, Taijiao Jiang, Jincun Zhao, Guizhen Wu, Jingdong Song () and Wenjie Tan ()
Additional contact information
Na Zhu: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Wenling Wang: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Zhidong Liu: Capital Medical University (Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute)
Chaoyang Liang: China–Japan Friendship Hospital
Wen Wang: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Fei Ye: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Baoying Huang: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Li Zhao: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Huijuan Wang: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Weimin Zhou: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Yao Deng: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Longfei Mao: Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine
Chongyu Su: Capital Medical University (Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute)
Guangliang Qiang: China–Japan Friendship Hospital
Taijiao Jiang: Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine
Jincun Zhao: The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
Guizhen Wu: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Jingdong Song: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Wenjie Tan: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract SARS-CoV-2, a β-coronavirus, has rapidly spread across the world, highlighting its high transmissibility, but the underlying morphogenesis and pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Here, we characterize the replication dynamics, cell tropism and morphogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 in organotypic human airway epithelial (HAE) cultures. SARS-CoV-2 replicates efficiently and infects both ciliated and secretory cells in HAE cultures. In comparison, HCoV-NL63 replicates to lower titers and is only detected in ciliated cells. SARS-CoV-2 shows a similar morphogenetic process as other coronaviruses but causes plaque-like cytopathic effects in HAE cultures. Cell fusion, apoptosis, destruction of epithelium integrity, cilium shrinking and beaded changes are observed in the plaque regions. Taken together, our results provide important insights into SARS-CoV-2 cell tropism, replication and morphogenesis.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17796-z

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