Studying SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity and Therapeutic Responses with Complex Organoids

The review discussed the use of complex organoids, derived from human pluripotent and adult stem cells, to study SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and therapeutic responses. It highlighted the potential of organoids in modeling COVID-19 pathology and aiding drug, antibody, and vaccine development, despite the absence of specific antiviral drugs at the time. Lung organoids were particularly emphasized for their relevance in respiratory infections, and the review noted the potential of remdesivir in reducing viral gene expression. However, organoid models faced challenges such as genomic instability and limited self-renewal capacity. The document concluded with the potential for using organoid-derived lung epithelial cells in regenerative therapies for COVID-19 patients with severe epithelial injury, while also emphasizing the need to integrate genetic and demographic factors into SARS-CoV-2 assays to improve drug screening and predict therapeutic outcomes.