biostudies-literatureUnknown17(4)Pipolo CThe aim of the present study is to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 of patients affected by COVID-19 in olfactory mucosa (OM), sampled with nasal brushing (NB) and biopsy, and to assess whether a non-invasive procedure, such as NB, might be used as a large-scale procedure for demonstrating SARS-CoV-2 presence in olfactory neuroepithelium. Nasal brushings obtained from all the COVID-19 patients resulted positive to SARS-CoV-2 immunocytochemistry while controls were negative. Double immunofluorescence showed that SARS-CoV-2 positive cells included supporting cells as well as olfactory neurons and basal cells. OM biopsies showed an uneven distribution of SARS-CoV-2 positivity along the olfactory neuroepithelium, while OM from controls were negative. SARS-CoV-2 was distinctively found in sustPloS onee0266740https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9004784biostudies-literatureEvidence of SARS-CoV-2 in nasal brushings and olfactory mucosa biopsies of COVID-19 patients.PMC9004784Priori APipolo CFerrari SSpoldi CSaibene AMFelisati GFuccillo EMuttini SCastellani LBulfamante AMBulfamante GPMartinelli CCanevini MPZanusso GBruschi FAronica EBottai DChiumello DTosi DfalseEvidence of SARS-CoV-2 in nasal brushings and olfactory mucosa biopsies of COVID-19 patients.The aim of the present study is to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 of patients affected by COVID-19 in olfactory mucosa (OM), sampled with nasal brushing (NB) and biopsy, and to assess whether a non-invasive procedure, such as NB, might be used as a large-scale procedure for demonstrating SARS-CoV-2 presence in olfactory neuroepithelium. Nasal brushings obtained from all the COVID-19 patients resulted positive to SARS-CoV-2 immunocytochemistry while controls were negative. Double immunofluorescence showed that SARS-CoV-2 positive cells included supporting cells as well as olfactory neurons and basal cells. OM biopsies showed an uneven distribution of SARS-CoV-2 positivity along the olfactory neuroepithelium, while OM from controls were negative. SARS-CoV-2 was distinctively found in sust2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-04-21T17:33:52Z2025-04-05T16:40:47.297ZS-EPMC90047843541307110.1371/journal.pone.0266740