Characterizing SARS-CoV-2 infection of human taste cells in culture

AbstractRelatedness of Supplement Aim to Parent GrantIn the parent grant, we use cultured human taste (HBO) cells, pioneered at Monell by Co-Investigator HakanOzdener, to probe the metabolic sweet taste signaling pathway. HBO cells provide a useful model for probingtaste signaling in culture, but they have also been shown useful for investigating the pathophysiology of certainneurotrophic viral diseases (e.g. Zika virus; see Ozdener et al., 2020). Using HBO cells to accomplish theSupplement Aim will advance our understanding of the pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses thatadversely affect taste and olfaction. Although many studies have reported taste and olfactory loss in individualswith COVID-19 disease, the underlying mechanisms and cellular effects in taste cells are not well understood.Due to changes in taste function in patients with COVID-19, it will be of particular interest to the parent grant toknow if the subset of sweet taste cells is susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2.