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A novel in-vitro model for COVID-19 virus propagation
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  • Bhagyashree Kulkarni-Gokhale,
  • Mahesh Karandikar,
  • Hemant Deshpande,
  • Chandrashekhar Raut,
  • Ramesh Bhonde
Bhagyashree Kulkarni-Gokhale
Dr D Y Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre

Corresponding Author:bhagyashree.kulkarni@dpu.edu.in

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Mahesh Karandikar
Dr D Y Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre
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Hemant Deshpande
Dr D Y Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre
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Chandrashekhar Raut
Dr D Y Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre
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Ramesh Bhonde
Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth University
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Abstract

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) is cell surface receptor responsible for SARS-CoV-2 entry highly expressed in maternal-fetal interface including placenta cells e.g. stromal cells, prevascular cells of deciduas, cytotrophoblast, syncytotrophoblast. Several studies reported lack of transplacental transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from a COVID-19 positive mother to fetus suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 may not be transmitted from mother to her child due to some placenta barriers but may be replicating inside the placenta. Our earlier studies demonstrated that human placenta organ culture supports the replication of Japanese Encephalitis(JE) virus indicating their susceptibility and possibility to support propagation of other viruses. Based on our previous experience and present work, we propose that human Placental organ culture will be an ideal in vitro model for propagation of COVID-19 as it has the requisite receptors and tissue architecture needed for virus replication and vaccine development.