Figure 3.

Infection of the respiratory mucosa by SARS-CoV-2

(A–C) Confocal images of sections through the RM of control #12. FOXJ1 and KRT7 are markers for ciliated cells, and KRT5/6 for basal cells (A). EPCAM is a marker for epithelial cells in the RE and the LP, MUC5AC for goblet cells in the RE, and cells lining a transversely cut gland duct in the LP (B). The ACE2-IR signal caps the surface of the RE, and TMPRSS2 puncta cluster with FOXJ1 puncta in ciliated cells (C).

(D–L) Confocal images of sections through the RM of COVID #7, #27, #51, #39, #29, and #63. Widespread nucleocapsid-IR signal occurs apically within the RE, and orf1ab-sense puncta reflect ongoing viral replication (D). The dashed square in (D) is the area magnified in (E). N-sense puncta cluster with orf1ab-sense puncta in nucleocapsid-IR cells (F) and with orf1ab puncta (G). Ciliated cells harbor N-sense, M, and FOXJ1 puncta (H). An individual ciliated cell harbors orf1ab-sense and FOXJ1 puncta (I). Ciliated cells harbor S-sense and FOXJ1 puncta and contain KRT7-IR signal (J). KRT8-IR cells lining gland ducts in the LP harbor N puncta (K) or orf1ab-sense puncta (L). DAPI served as nuclear stain.

See also Figure S2.