Neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 with special focus on anosmia

Simon STARKER

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

In this thesis, I focused on summarizing previous data about neurological features of SARS-CoV-2 infection and trying to explain a possible mechanism. A special focus was put on the neurological symptom anosmia - lost sense of smell. It has been shown that SARS-CoV-2 can invade many different cells throughout the human body because of the distribution of its target receptor, ACE2, which could be explaining the diversity of obtained symptoms. It has been shown that SARS-CoV-2 has a similar entry mechanism when compared to SARS-CoV-2. Neurological involvement can be caused by direct consequences of the virus affecting the neurons, or indirectly by exerting its actions via cytokines. The main target for anosmia is most probably the pericytes and glial cells which are either damaged or transferring virus particles through the transport of the olfactory system. Further research should be done in this field to be able to understand the neurotropic mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2.

Abstract:

In this thesis, I focused on summarizing previous data about neurological features of SARS-CoV-2 infection and trying to explain a possible mechanism. A special focus was put on the neurological symptom anosmia - lost sense of smell. It has been shown that SARS-CoV-2 can invade many different cells throughout the human body because of the distribution of its target receptor, ACE2, which could be explaining the diversity of obtained symptoms. It has been shown that SARS-CoV-2 has a similar entry mechanism when compared to SARS-CoV-2. Neurological involvement can be caused by direct consequences of the virus affecting the neurons, or indirectly by exerting its actions via cytokines. The main target for anosmia is most probably the pericytes and glial cells which are either damaged or transferring virus particles through the transport of the olfactory system. Further research should be done in this field to be able to understand the neurotropic mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2.

Keywords

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, anosmia, neurological manifestations, CNS, coronavirus

Jazyk práce: English

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 13. 8. 2020

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedúci: Mgr. Ján Lopatář, Ph.D.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH BOHEMIA IN ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE

Faculty of Science

Bachelor programme / odbor:
Biochemistry / Biological Chemistry