Anosmia as a research track
The majority of patients suffering from COVID-19 present with fever, cough, fatigue and, especially, difficulty breathing. However, we also see additional neurological forms such as loss of taste (ageusia) and smell (anosmia) in a high number of COVID-19 patients. This may be explained by the ability of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) to infect the olfactory sensory neurons inside the nasal cavity.
The Perception and Memory Laboratory at the Institut Pasteur, led by Professor Pierre-Marie Lledo, seeks to test the virus’ potential ability to infect the brain.
This study could shed new light on the origin of the disease by identifying premature infectious and immune mechanisms which could become targets for new therapeutic agents.
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