Sars-Cov-2 Targets Neurons Of 3d Human Brain Organoids

COVID-19 pandemic caused bySARS-CoV-2 infection is a public health emergency.COVID-19 typically exhibits respiratory illness. Unexpectedly, emerging clinical reports indicate that neurological symptoms continue to rise, suggesting detrimental effects ofSARS-CoV-2 on the central nervous system (CNS). Here, we show that a Dusseldorf isolate ofSARS-CoV-2 enters 3D human brain organoids within 2 days of exposure. We identified thatSARS-CoV-2 preferably targets neurons of brain organoids. Imaging neurons of organoids reveal thatSARS-CoV-2 exposure is associated with altered distribution of Tau from axons to soma, hyperphosphorylation, and apparent neuronal death. Our studies, therefore, provide initial insights into the potential neurotoxic effect ofSARS-CoV-2 and emphasize that brain organoids could modelCNSpathologies ofCOVID-19.