Abstract

CNS Organoid Models for Virus Research

Dasja Pajkrt, Professor of Viral Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Head OrganoVIR Labs

Virus research historically relies on research using cell lines or animal models. Organoid technology is highly applicable in the virology field, yet unexplored. Organoid systems can mimic the in vivo human physiological environment and provide tools to study human host-virus interactions. The pathogenesis of a variety of human viruses, such as picornaviruses, HIV and human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is increasingly being studied using these novel human organoid models. Human airway epithelium (HAE) cultures and lung organoids allow for host-pathogen interaction studies on viral infections in the respiratory tract (RT), while human gut and brain organoids facilitate human gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) and brain studies. We established human RT (using HAE and lung organoids), GIT (using human gut organoids) and brain (using blood-brain- barrier, whole brain and forebrain organoids) 3D models to study virus infections such as SARS-CoV2, picornavirus, CMV and HIV infections. During the presentation I will share results that are derived from these studies.