The current COVID-19 outbreak, caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2, has raised the possibility of potential neurotropic properties of this virus. Animal models of SARS and MERS virus, caused by structurally similar coronaviruses during the 2002 and 2012 epidemics, have provided valuable data on nervous system involvement by coronaviruses and the potential for central nervous system spread of SARS-CoV-2. In this very interesting review, Natoli et al., provide a neurological perspective by analysing the main features of these models and point out relevant similarities in comparison to SARS-CoV-2.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ene.14277
by Marialuisa Zedde and Francesco Cavallieri