Journal of Experimental Medicine. Stay informed with live updates on the current COVID-19 outbreak and visit our coronavirus hub for more advice on prevention and treatment.SARS-CoV-2 infects lung tissue by binding to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE 2) receptors on the surfaces of cells.
Once it binds to a cell, the virus can enter it and induce respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath and a dry cough.However, recent studies have shown that the virus can also infect cells in the CNS, which consists of the brain and spinal cord. This helps explain the increasing number of patients with neurological symptoms, including dizziness, confusion, stroke, and coma.