Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

44.4K
The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
44.4K
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

9.3K
The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
9.3K
Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

8.5K
Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
8.5K
Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens01:29

Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens

789
The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
789

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

CCR6 is essential for effective immunity against <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> infection in mice.

Infection and immunity·2026
Same author

Viral destruction of the olfactory mucosa elicits immune residence, bone metaplasia, and long-term smell loss.

Mucosal immunology·2025
Same author

A protective and broadly binding antibody class engages the influenza virus hemagglutinin head at its stem interface.

mBio·2025
Same author

Therapeutic glycan-specific antibody binding mediates protection during primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.

Infection and immunity·2024
Same author

Distinct olfactory mucosal macrophage populations mediate neuronal maintenance and pathogen defense.

Mucosal immunology·2024
Same author

Help me help you: emerging concepts in T follicular helper cell differentiation, identity, and function.

Current opinion in immunology·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2025

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies using High-Throughput Fluorescent Imaging of Pseudovirus Infection
10:25

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies using High-Throughput Fluorescent Imaging of Pseudovirus Infection

Published on: June 5, 2021

4.7K

Olfactory immune response to SARS-CoV-2.

Sebastian A Wellford1, E Ashley Moseman2

  • 1Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.

Cellular & Molecular Immunology
|December 24, 2023
PubMed
Summary

The olfactory mucosa is a key immune barrier directly exposed to airborne pathogens like SARS-CoV-2. Understanding its unique immune response is crucial for developing vaccines and therapeutics against such infections.

Keywords:
Infectious DiseaseMucosal immunologyNeuroimmunologySars-CoV-2

More Related Videos

Visualization of SARS-CoV-2 using Immuno RNA-Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization
05:23

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

Published on: December 23, 2020

6.1K
Infection of Primary Nasal Epithelial Cells Grown at an Air-Liquid Interface to Characterize Human Coronavirus-Host Interactions
09:02

Infection of Primary Nasal Epithelial Cells Grown at an Air-Liquid Interface to Characterize Human Coronavirus-Host Interactions

Published on: September 22, 2023

1.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 7, 2025

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies using High-Throughput Fluorescent Imaging of Pseudovirus Infection
10:25

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies using High-Throughput Fluorescent Imaging of Pseudovirus Infection

Published on: June 5, 2021

4.7K
Visualization of SARS-CoV-2 using Immuno RNA-Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization
05:23

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

Published on: December 23, 2020

6.1K
Infection of Primary Nasal Epithelial Cells Grown at an Air-Liquid Interface to Characterize Human Coronavirus-Host Interactions
09:02

Infection of Primary Nasal Epithelial Cells Grown at an Air-Liquid Interface to Characterize Human Coronavirus-Host Interactions

Published on: September 22, 2023

1.5K

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Neuroscience
  • Infectious Disease

Background:

  • The olfactory mucosa, located in nasal passages, acts as a direct portal for pathogens to enter the central nervous system (CNS).
  • The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic highlighted the olfactory mucosa's role as an immune barrier and a potential route for viral entry into the brain.
  • Olfactotropic infections can lead to olfactory dysfunction, CNS invasion, respiratory issues, and human-to-human transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the olfactory mucosa.
  • To review the immune responses elicited by SARS-CoV-2 within the olfactory system.
  • To identify future research directions for enhancing olfactory immunity against infectious agents.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on SARS-CoV-2 and olfactory tract infections.
  • Analysis of immune responses in olfactory mucosa following infection.
  • Identification of knowledge gaps in olfactory immunity.

Main Results:

  • SARS-CoV-2 infection of the olfactory mucosa has significant ramifications, including potential CNS invasion.
  • A distinct immune response is required to protect the olfactory neuronal and mucosal tissues.
  • Understanding innate, adaptive, and structural immunity is vital for combating olfactotropic pathogens.

Conclusions:

  • Effective therapeutics and vaccines against olfactotropic microbes like SARS-CoV-2 necessitate a deeper understanding of olfactory mucosal immunity.
  • Further research into the specific immune mechanisms of the olfactory system is critical for public health.
  • Protecting the olfactory mucosa is essential for preventing CNS invasion and pathogen transmission.