Summary:
- The study found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can infect and replicate in the salivary gland cells, which may contribute to the high viral loads observed in saliva of infected individuals.
- Researchers used single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze the expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry receptors and other relevant genes in human salivary gland cells, and confirmed the ability of the virus to infect these cells.
- The findings suggest that the salivary glands may serve as a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2, potentially contributing to viral transmission and persistence, and highlight the importance of saliva testing for COVID-19 diagnosis and monitoring.