Neurodegeneration in human brain organoids infected with herpes simplex virus type 1

Rybak-Wolf A, Wyler E, Legnini I, Loewa A, Glažar P, Kim SJ, Pentimalli TM, Martinez AO, Beyersdorf B, Woehler A, Landthaler M and Rajewsky N.

BioRxIV, 2021

Summary:

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection of the brain is known to cause neurodegeneration including a possible cause of Alzheimer's Disease.  Using hiPSC-derived brain organoids, the authors investigate the mechanisms and cellular responses to HSV-1 infection.  Using the Maestro multi-well multielectrode array system, the authors were able to confirm the altered electrophysiological result upon infection. A drastic decrease in the number of spontaneous spikes recorded from infected organoids compared to uninfected organoids.  These results suggest that brain organoids are a potential model for studying the mechanism of neurodegeneration due to HSV-1 infection.