Introduction:

The identification of the wide tropism of SARS-CoV-2 can be critical for viral pathogenesis, and it is therefore relevant to determine the infection mechanisms and identify new therapeutic targets. This study consists of two experimental blocks: a) isolation and characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and b) pathogenesis, tropism, and targets, both molecular and therapeutic.

Methods:

The procedures used were the following: a) clinical samples were obtained from the nasopharyngeal cavity of COVID-19 positive patients, which were inoculated in Vero E6 cells and analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy 72 h after infection. b) They were obtained visceral organ samples (lung, liver, kidney and brain) from patients dyed from COVID-19. Cryocuts were prepared and evaluated by Masson's Trichrome Staining, Electron Microscopy and Confocal Microscopy.

Results:

Results show a) Extensive damage in infected Vero E6 cells where virus particles and extracellular virions are observed, displaying a cytopathic effect; b) They were identified Physio pathological processes using Masson's Trichrome Staining, detecting a predominance of the most advanced stages of Diffuse Alveolar Damage. Using Electron Microscopy, we found a profuse loss of alveolar epithelial cells in the lung. Confocal Microscopy was able to detect the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid co-localized with key molecules such as Fibronectin, Vimentin, and PPARγ, together with NLRP3 Inflammasome in the brain cortical tissues. Conclusions. The isolation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was performed for the first time in Cuba in nasopharyngeal exudates of patients with COVID-19 in the Vero E6 cell line. We identified for the first time novel cellular and pathophysiological processes involved in the infection of SARS-CoV-2, as well as potential therapeutic targets that reveal promising drugs to combat COVID-19 and its sequelae.

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