How coronaviruses infect the nose
Human coronavirus infection of the nasal epithelium
This project uses human nasal cells grown in the lab to compare how different coronaviruses (including SARS‑CoV‑2 and common cold strains) infect the nose and trigger local immune responses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11127490 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers grow nasal epithelial cells from a large bank of over 1,000 genetically characterized donors as air–liquid interface cultures that mimic the human nose. They will expose these cultures to SARS‑CoV‑2 (including variants like Omicron), MERS, and common cold coronaviruses to see which cells are infected, how well each virus replicates, and what immune signals are produced. The team will study effects at different temperatures and look for genetic or cellular features that limit or promote infection. Findings aim to explain why some coronaviruses stay in the upper airway while others progress to severe lung disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation would be people willing to donate a nasal swab or brush sample—whether they had COVID‑19, a common cold coronavirus, or no known recent infection—for use in laboratory studies.
Not a fit: Patients looking for an immediate new treatment or a clinical therapy for COVID‑19 are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify how and why some coronaviruses cause only mild, nasal illness while others lead to severe disease, helping guide better prevention or early treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Lab studies have successfully used nasal air–liquid interface cultures to study SARS‑CoV‑2 and other respiratory viruses, but comparing multiple human coronaviruses across a large, genotyped donor bank is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weiss, Susan R — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Weiss, Susan R
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.