BALTIMORE — A new study from Johns Hopkins University suggests the coronavirus may infect the brain and replicate in brain cells.<br /><br />The Financial Times reports the journal Altex is in the process of reviewing this paper.<br /><br />Scientists used tiny balls of cultured brain tissue called mini-brains to simulate the virus's effect on human brain tissue.<br /><br />The mini-brains called Brainsphere are utilized for pharmaceutical testing and virus research.<br /><br />Microscopy of the mini-brains shows SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can infect neurons and multiply tenfold in three days.<br /><br />Since mini-brains do not have the blood-brain barrier found in real brains, it is not known if the virus is able to penetrate into the brain on its own.<br /><br />However, severe inflammation — which is observed in COVID patients — can break down the barrier.
