Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2025

Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection in K18 hACE2 Transgenic Mice Using Reporter-Expressing Recombinant SARS-CoV-2
08:41

Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection in K18 hACE2 Transgenic Mice Using Reporter-Expressing Recombinant SARS-CoV-2

Published on: November 5, 2021

2.8K

Altered expression levels of TAS1R2 and TAS1R3 genes among SARS-CoV-2 variants of concerns

Qendresa Hoti1, Gokce Akan2, Gulten Tuncel2

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Near East University, 99138, Nicosia, Cyprus.

Molecular Biology Reports
|October 10, 2023
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

COVID-19 infection, particularly with the Delta variant, significantly reduces the expression of taste and smell genes (TAS1R2, TAS1R3, TAS2R38). This may explain the temporary taste loss experienced by patients, potentially due to gustatory cell damage.

Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Common COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, joint pain, and loss of smell and taste.
  • Early research suggests a link between smell/taste receptors, pathogen detection, and immunity.
  • Understanding these receptor gene expressions in COVID-19 patients is crucial for correlating symptoms with viral variants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the gene expression profiles of taste, smell, and appetite-related receptors in COVID-19 patients.
  • To investigate the correlation between these gene expressions and specific SARS-CoV-2 variants.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms behind taste dysfunction in COVID-19.

Main Methods:

  • Gene expression levels of TAS1R2, TAS1R3, TAS2R38, OR51E1, LEPR, and GHRL were analyzed.
  • Analysis was performed on 100 COVID-19 patients and 100 individuals negative for SARS-CoV-2 via RT-qPCR.
  • Statistical correlations between gene expression and viral variants were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Significantly decreased expression of TAS1R2 and TAS1R3 genes was observed in COVID-19 patients infected with the Delta variant.
  • TAS2R38 gene expression was significantly lower in COVID-19 patients compared to the control group.
  • Positive correlations were found between TAS1R2 expression and TAS1R3 (p=0.001), and TAS2R38 (p=0.025) genes.

Conclusions:

  • TAS1R2, TAS1R3, and TAS2R38 gene expression levels were lower in the Delta variant compared to the Omicron BA.1 variant.
  • Reduced gene expression provides a significant clue for temporary taste loss, especially in Delta variant infections.
  • Potential mechanism involves ACE2 expression in taste buds, SARS-CoV-2 replication, inflammation, and gustatory cell damage leading to taste malfunction.
Keywords:
Appetite receptorsCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2Smell receptorsTaste receptorsVariants of concern

More Related Videos

Visualization of SARS-CoV-2 using Immuno RNA-Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization05:23

Visualization of SARS-CoV-2 using Immuno RNA-Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization

Published on: December 23, 2020

6.1K
Quantification and Whole Genome Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater and Air Samples09:26

Quantification and Whole Genome Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater and Air Samples

Published on: June 30, 2023

1.2K

Related Concept Videos

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs01:05

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs

A single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP is a single nucleotide variation at a specific genomic position in a large population. It is the most prevalent type of sequence variation found in the human genome. Point mutations that occur in more than 1% of the population qualify as SNPs. These are present once every 1000 nucleotides on an average in the human genome. Replacement of a purine with another purine (A/G) or a pyrimidine with another pyrimidine (C/T) is known as a transition. In contrast,...
15.2K
Leaky Scanning02:28

Leaky Scanning

During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA.  Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R...
5.2K