ABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 has infected hundreds of millions of people with over four million dead, resulting in one of the worst global pandemics in recent history. Neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19 include anosmia, ageusia, headaches, confusion, delirium, and strokes. These may manifest due to viral entry into the central nervous system (CNS) through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) by means of ill-defined mechanisms. Here, we summarize the abilities of SARS-CoV-2 and other neurotropic RNA viruses, including Zika virus and Nipah virus, to cross the BBB into the CNS, highlighting the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing presence and severity of brain structural changes in COVID-19 patients. We present new insight into key mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 (P681H) and B.1.617.2 (P681R), which may impact on neuropilin 1 (NRP1) binding and CNS invasion. We postulate that SARS-CoV-2 may infect both peripheral cells capable of crossing the BBB and brain endothelial cells to traverse the BBB and spread into the brain. COVID-19 patients can be followed up with MRI modalities to better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain.
Subject(s)
Blood-Brain Barrier , Henipavirus Infections , Nipah Virus , SARS-CoV-2 , Zika Virus Infection , Zika Virus , Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism , Blood-Brain Barrier/physiopathology , Blood-Brain Barrier/virology , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/genetics , COVID-19/metabolism , COVID-19/physiopathology , Henipavirus Infections/epidemiology , Henipavirus Infections/genetics , Henipavirus Infections/metabolism , Henipavirus Infections/physiopathology , Humans , Mutation , Nipah Virus/genetics , Nipah Virus/metabolism , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/metabolism , Zika Virus/genetics , Zika Virus/metabolism , Zika Virus Infection/epidemiology , Zika Virus Infection/genetics , Zika Virus Infection/metabolism , Zika Virus Infection/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Numerous viruses hijack cellular protein trafficking pathways to mediate cell entry or to rearrange membrane structures thereby promoting viral replication and antagonizing the immune response. Adaptor protein complexes (AP), which mediate protein sorting in endocytic and secretory transport pathways, are one of the conserved viral targets with many viruses possessing AP-interacting motifs. We present here different mechanisms of viral interference with AP complexes and the functional consequences that allow for efficient viral propagation and evasion of host immune defense. The ubiquity of this phenomenon is evidenced by the fact that there are representatives for AP interference in all major viral families, covered in this review. The best described examples are interactions of human immunodeficiency virus and human herpesviruses with AP complexes. Several other viruses, like Ebola, Nipah, and SARS-CoV-2, are pointed out as high priority disease-causative agents supporting the need for deeper understanding of virus-AP interplay which can be exploited in the design of novel antiviral therapies.