Investigation of Extracellular Vesicles From SARS-CoV-2 Infected Specimens: A Safety Perspective

Investigation of Extracellular Vesicles From SARS-CoV-2 Infected Specimens: A Safety Perspective

Yury O. Nunez Lopez, Anna Casu, Richard E. Pratley

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is wreaking havoc around the world. Considering that extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from SARS-CoV-2 infected cells might play a role in a viremic phase contributing to disease progression and that standard methods for EV isolation have been reported to co-isolate viral particles, we would like to recommend the use of heightened laboratory safety measures during the isolation of EVs derived from SARS-CoV-2 infected tissue and blood from COVID-19 patients. Research needs to be conducted to better understand the role of EVs in SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, disease progression, and transmission. EV isolation procedures should include approaches for protection from SARS-CoV-2 contamination. We recommend the EV and virology scientific communities develop collaborative projects where relationships between endogenous EVs and potentially lethal enveloped viruses are addressed to better understand the risks and pathobiology involved.

2021

laboratory safety, covid-19, SARS-CoV-2, extracellular vesicle, Trojan exosome, Trojan EV

10.3389/fimmu.2021.617042

Epidemiology and Health

Korean Society of Epidemiology

Immunologic diseases. Allergy