Figure 1
(1) Viral entry depends on the binding of spike (S) viral envelope protein to ACE2 in the host cell surface. TMPRSS2, together with other proteinases, processes S protein and allows viral endocytosis [28]. (2) The digestive system, heart, kidneys, respiratory system and peripheral neurons are tissues/cells where SARS-CoV-2 might infect, generating different symptoms observable in COVID-19 patients [31,32,90,142,196,250–252]. (3) Upon tissue infection, neurons that innervate those tissues could potentially be invaded by SARS-CoV-2 and infect the CNS by trans-synaptic route exchange (via peripheral nerves), thus promoting an interneuronal transfer of SARS-CoV-2, similar to other coronaviruses [183,184]. Nevertheless, other potential routes for CNS infection have also been hypothesized [166,176].
Putative tissues/organs infected by SARS-CoV-2 and related COVID-19 symptoms

(1) Viral entry depends on the binding of spike (S) viral envelope protein to ACE2 in the host cell surface. TMPRSS2, together with other proteinases, processes S protein and allows viral endocytosis [28]. (2) The digestive system, heart, kidneys, respiratory system and peripheral neurons are tissues/cells where SARS-CoV-2 might infect, generating different symptoms observable in COVID-19 patients [31,32,90,142,196,250–252]. (3) Upon tissue infection, neurons that innervate those tissues could potentially be invaded by SARS-CoV-2 and infect the CNS by trans-synaptic route exchange (via peripheral nerves), thus promoting an interneuronal transfer of SARS-CoV-2, similar to other coronaviruses [183,184]. Nevertheless, other potential routes for CNS infection have also been hypothesized [166,176].

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