ABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 infects the respiratory tract, lung and then other organs. However, its pathogenesis remains largely unknown. We used RareScope™ Fluorescence Light Sheet Microscopy (FLSM) and fluorescent in situ hybridization of RNA (RNA-FISH) to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA and dissemination kinetics in mouse blood circulation. By RNA-FISH, we found that SARS-CoV-2 RNA-positive leukocytes, including CD11c cells, appeared as early as one day after infection and continued through day 10 post infection. Our data suggest that SARS-CoV-2-permissive leukocytes contribute to systemic viral dissemination, and RNA-FISH combined with FLSM can be utilized as a sensitive tool for SARS-CoV-2 detection in blood specimens.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Footnotes
Conflict of Interest: T.G. and P.W. declare no competing financial interest. S.K. and T.T. are employed by QCDx LLC.
Funding Source: National Institutes of Health grant R01AI132526 to P.W., University of Connecticut Health Center grant G401894 to P.W.
Previous presentation: None