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Mini organs reveal how the coronavirus ravages the body

The virus can damage lung, liver and kidney tissue grown in the lab, which might explain some severe COVID-19 complications in people.
  1. Smriti Mallapaty
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Researchers are growing miniature organs in the laboratory to study how the new coronavirus ravages the body. Studies in these organoids are revealing the virus’s versatility at invading organs, from the lungs to the liver, kidneys and gut. Researchers are also experimenting with drugs in these mini tissues to see whether such therapies might be candidates to treat people.

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Nature 583, 15-16 (2020)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-01864-x

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