How CO.VID-19 Infection Could Lead To Loss Of Smell

The coronavirus outspread epidemic is making most parts of the world start social distancing except scientists who have been continually working on discovering how the virus infects humans and the damage to the human body. Fortunately, new evidence which has been found after recent weeks showed that COVID-19 infected patients may lose their smelling ability, as known as “anosmia”. 

According to the British Rhinological Society, previous coronaviruses have been proven to cause a loss of smell. As reported by some nations that have suffered seriously from the spread of the virus, their victims’ sense of smell has been recorded to be lost because of the virus’ influence. The fact that this condition is getting more and more popular makes some medical associations suggest it being added to the COVID-19 symptoms. 

In the new research that has not been peer-reviewed and submitted to the bioRxiv repository on March 28 reported the link combing the virus and loss of smell had been explored by a group of scientists from Harvard University through gene examination in the olfactory system - the nose and pathways that transfer ‘smelled’ information to your brain. 

SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to infect cells via the use of its “spike” protein, which helps the virus lock onto the surface of a human cell through the ACE2 receptor. The process that the spike protein opens for the virus is compared with a USB that allows the coronavirus to hijack the cell. Then SARS-CoV-2 is free to replicate itself to damage the cell under the observation of that brazen heist. 

Datta, accompanied by his team, suspected that nerve cells that are responsible for smell might be destroyed by the virus; therefore, they decided to look through datasets to check whether the cells contained ACE2 and other protein enables SARS-CoV-2 enter cells or not. Surprisingly, they have found a new clue. 

As it turns out, not nerve cells help SARS-CoV-2 get inside, but a different subset of “epithelial” cells, which is the one on your nose’s surfaces. A special subset of cells, as known as sustentacular cells, may also be negatively influenced, which could lead to the loss of smell.

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