Analysing olfactory dysfunction mechanisms in COVID-19

Impairment of gustatory and olfactory function is common among adults can be attributable to a variety of causes, such as neurologic disorders, metabolic disturbances, infectious or inflammatory conditions, trauma and even normal aging. During the course of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, smell and taste disorders have been found to be frequently associated with COVID-19. Remarkably, the mechanisms of olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 remain entirely unknown. Olfactory and/or gustatory dysfunction in COVID-19 can be of sudden onset and can also occur as an isolated symptom or a presenting symptom prior to the development of other symptoms of COVID-19. In this regard, the anosmia seen in COVID-19 appears to differ from classical (post)viral anosmia, of which the exact pathogenesis isn’t fully elucidated either. This PhD project aims to investigate the mechanisms of olfactory dysfunction through a comprehensive histological and molecular investigation of postmortem tissues of the olfactory system from COVID-19 patients and influenza patients. Knowledge at molecular and tissue level allows new insights into the pathogenesis of olfactory dysfunction.