This study brings direct evidence that replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 can persist in the brainstem of living mammals for at least 80 days after infection!
A major milestone in understanding the biology of long COVID.🧵
A major milestone in understanding the biology of long COVID.🧵
https://twitter.com/atranscendedman/status/1947695000738832759
Researchers infected golden hamsters with Wuhan, Delta, and Omicron/BA.1 variants.
On day 80 - long after symptoms were gone - they sampled the brainstem.
In most animals, they isolated live, infectious virus capable of replication in cell culture.
On day 80 - long after symptoms were gone - they sampled the brainstem.
In most animals, they isolated live, infectious virus capable of replication in cell culture.
This means the brainstem can act as a viral reservoir - even after the virus clears from the lungs.
That challenges the idea that long COVID is just residual inflammation.
Instead, it points to ongoing infection in specific tissues.
That challenges the idea that long COVID is just residual inflammation.
Instead, it points to ongoing infection in specific tissues.
What does that do to the brain?
They found
disrupted dopaminergic and glutamatergic signaling,
gene signatures linked to neurodegeneration (eg mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired proteostasis),
altered expression of genes tied to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
They found
disrupted dopaminergic and glutamatergic signaling,
gene signatures linked to neurodegeneration (eg mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired proteostasis),
altered expression of genes tied to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Behaviorally, these animals developed:
memory problems,
anxiety-like symptoms,
depressive behaviors (in females especially).
No stress, no social context - just the biological effects of the virus.
memory problems,
anxiety-like symptoms,
depressive behaviors (in females especially).
No stress, no social context - just the biological effects of the virus.
The authors’ key message:
SARS-CoV-2 leaves behind a neurodegenerative-like molecular footprint in the brainstem.
That signature persists long after acute infection - and may explain long COVID symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, and mood disorders.
SARS-CoV-2 leaves behind a neurodegenerative-like molecular footprint in the brainstem.
That signature persists long after acute infection - and may explain long COVID symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, and mood disorders.
Coleon at al., Nature Communications. nature.com/articles/s4146…
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