Viral destruction of the olfactory mucosa elicits immune residence, bone metaplasia, and long-term smell loss.

ABSTRACT: The upper airway is comprised of two distinct mucosal surface tissues, the respiratory mucosa (RM) and the olfactory mucosa (OM), both of which are constantly being exposed to airborne pathogens. The olfactory mucosa is responsible for detecting and conveying odorant information into the central nervous system, and infection poses serious neuroinvasion risk. Using vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) as a model of olfactotropic viral infection,¹ we identify long-term cellular and functional changes within the olfactory mucosa following infection. VSV infection rapidly destroys the neuroepithelium causing extensive tissue damage to the olfactory mucosa. Infection drives recruitment of numerous immune cell types to the olfactory mucosa where many continue to reside after viral resolut

SUBMITTER: Tracey SY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12724685 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature