Why the study?
The mechanisms by which EV-D68 targets the central nervous system are unknown, and a human model is needed because enteroviruses do not routinely infect other animal species.
Population
Two human spinal cord organoid-based models derived from iPSC lines
Comparison
Contemporary strains vs a historic strain of EV-D68 and echovirus 11
Design
In vitro laboratory study
Follow-up
At least 2 weeks
Key result
Human spinal cord organoids can be productively infected with contemporary EV-D68 strains without appreciable cytopathic effect, unlike echovirus 11 which causes significant structural destruction.
Authors
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EV-D68 infects hSCOs without cytopathy, implicating immune-mediated AFM pathogenesis; leaves open translation to human disease.
Contemporary EV-D68 strains productively infect human spinal cord organoids without causing direct cytopathic effect, suggesting secondary immune responses may drive neuronal cell death in acute flaccid myelitis.
Aguglia et al. (2023) studied Enterovirus D68 infection / Acute flaccid myelitis. Enterovirus D68 (contemporary strains) vs. Historic strain of EV-D68 / Echovirus 11 was evaluated on Productive infection and cytopathic effect. Human spinal cord organoids can be productively infected with contemporary EV-D68 strains without appreciable cytopathic effect, unlike echovirus 11 which causes significant structural destruction.