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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Lyle Armstrong, Dr Joseph Collin, Dr Islam Mostafa, Dr Rachel Queen, Professor Francisco Figueiredo, Professor Majlinda LakoORCiD
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) first emerged in December 2019 and spread quickly causing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Recent single cell RNA-Seq analyses have shown the presence of SARS-CoV-2 entry factors in the human corneal, limbal and conjunctival superficial epithelium, leading to suggestions that the human ocular surface may serve as an additional entry gateway and infection hub for SARS-CoV-2. In this article, we review the ocular clinical presentations of COVID-19 and the features of the ocular surface that may underline the overall low ocular SARS-CoV-2 infection. We critically evaluate the studies performed in non-human primates, ex vivo organ culture ocular models, stem cell derived eye organoids and the differences in infection efficiency observed in different parts of human ocular surface epithelium. Finally, we highlight the additional work that needs to be carried out to understand the immune response of the ocular surface to SARS-CoV-2 infection, which can be translated into prophylactic treatments that may be applied to other organ systems.
Author(s): Armstrong L, Collin J, Mostafa I, Queen R, Figueiredo F, Lako M
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Stem Cells Translational Medicine
Year: 2021
Volume: 10
Issue: 7
Pages: 976-986
Print publication date: 01/07/2021
Online publication date: 21/02/2021
Acceptance date: 30/01/2021
ISSN (print): 2157-6564
ISSN (electronic): 2157-6580
Publisher: Wiley
URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sctm.20-0543
DOI: 10.1002/sctm.20-0543
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