Neuropilin-1 Mediates SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Astrocytes in Brain Organoids, Inducing Inflammation Leading to Dysfunction and Death of Neurons

To understand how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induced neurological deficits, investigators found that astrocytes were readily infected by SARS-CoV-2, but surprisingly, neuropilin-1, not angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, served as the principal receptor mediating cell entry.