Human Coronaviruses and Other Respiratory Viruses: Underestimated Opportunistic Pathogens of the Central Nervous System?

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 14
• Main Authors: Desforges, Marc, Le Coupanec, Alain, Dubeau, Philippe, Bourgouin, Andréanne, Lajoie, Louise, Dubé, Mathieu, Talbot, Pierre J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 20.12.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: animal viruses; Animals; Asthma; at-risk population; Autoimmunity; Central Nervous System; Central Nervous System Viral Diseases; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Coronavirus; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviruses; Disease; disease severity; elderly; Encephalitis; Encephalitis, Viral; Encephalopathy; Etiology; Herpes viruses; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immune response; Infections; Influenza; Influenza A; Invasiveness; Life Sciences; Meningitis; mortality; Neonates; Nervous system; Nervous System Diseases; Neurological diseases; Neurological disorders; neuropathology; Opportunist infection; pandemic; Pandemics; Pathogens; pneumonia; Respiratory diseases; respiratory system; Respiratory tract diseases; Respiratory Tract Infections; Review; secondary infection; Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus; Viral infections; Virus Replication; Viruses; West Nile virus; United States > US; acute and chronic neurological diseases; human coronavirus; encephalitis; respiratory viral infection; neuroinvasion; CNS infection; encephalopathy; human respiratory virus

Respiratory viruses infect the human upper respiratory tract, mostly causing mild diseases. However, in vulnerable populations, such as newborns, infants, the elderly and immune-compromised individuals, these opportunistic pathogens can also affect the lower respiratory tract, causing a more severe...