Development of a new culture system for human coronaviruses using organoids

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K19431
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 49:Pathology, infection/immunology, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Noda Takeshi 京都大学, 医生物学研究所, 教授 (00422410)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 永樂 元次 京都大学, 医生物学研究所, 教授 (40415097)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-06-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: コロナウイルス / オルガノイド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Efficient culturing of human coronaviruses poses a challenge due to the absence of cell lines capable of culturing all four types. Here, we aimed to establish human nasal organoids as a platform for studying these viruses. Initially, we established 2D nasal organoids as a novel culture system of human coronaviruses. Using this system, we demonstrated that 229E, OC43, and NL63 viruses replicated as effectively, if not more so, in nasal organoids compared to conventional cultured cell lines. Notably, HKU1 virus, which failed to replicate in conventional cultured cell lines, showed successful replication in nasal organoids. These results indicate the potential of our 2D nasal organoids as a novel culture system for human coronaviruses.

Free Research Field

ウイルス学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ウイルス培養については、HCoV-229EはHela-ACE2-TMPRSS2細胞で、HCoV-NL63はLLC-MK2細胞で、HVoV-OC43の実験室株はHRT-18細胞で増殖可能であることが報告されているが、すべての風邪コロナウイルスの増殖をサポートする細胞はない。さらにHCoV-HKU1は培養できる細胞株が存在しない。本研究によりヒトに感染する全てのコロナウイルス（SARS-CoV-2含む）が増殖可能な培養系を確立できたことは、コロナウイルスの基礎研究を進展させるだけでなく、地方衛生研究所等における疫学調査の強化にも大きく貢献すると考えられる。