Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): a Systemic Infection

• Published in: Clinical microbiology reviews Vol. 34; no. 2
• Main Authors: Synowiec, Aleksandra, Szczepański, Artur, Barreto-Duran, Emilia, Lie, Laurensius Kevin, Pyrc, Krzysztof
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society for Microbiology 17.03.2021
• Subjects: China - epidemiology; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - physiopathology; Humans; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus - pathogenicity; Pandemics; Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Infections - physiopathology; Review; SARS-CoV-2 - pathogenicity; China; COVID-19; systemic; SARS-CoV-2; infection; organs; disease; organoids; coronavirus
• ISSN: 0893-8512; 1098-6618
• DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00133-20

To date, seven identified coronaviruses (CoVs) have been found to infect humans; of these, three highly pathogenic variants have emerged in the 21st century. The newest member of this group, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first detected at the end of 2019 in Hubei province, China. Since then, this novel coronavirus has spread worldwide, causing a pandemic; the respiratory disease caused by the virus is called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic to mild respiratory tract infections and influenza-like illness to severe disease with accompanying lung injury, multiorgan failure, and death. Although the lungs are believed to be the site at which SARS-CoV-2 replicates, infected patients often report other symptoms, suggesting the involvement of the gastrointestinal tract, heart, cardiovascular system, kidneys, and other organs; therefore, the following question arises: is COVID-19 a respiratory or systemic disease? This review aims to summarize existing data on the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in different tissues in both patients and models.