Videos

Co-Cultured U2OS cells expressing either SARS-CoV-2 spike (green) or its human receptor protein, ACE2 (magenta). Neighboring cells form highly stable synapse-like structures, which precede fusion pore dilation and cell-cell fusion. This stepwise process may contribute to the formation of pathological multinucleated syncytia in COVID-19 patient lungs.

Co-cultured ACE2-mCherry (red) and SARS-CoV-2 Spike-GFP (green) cells fuse to form a multi-nucleated syncytium. Time lapse = 30 minutes. Human U2OS cell background.

ACE2-mCherry (red) cell fuses with SARS-CoV-2 Spike-GFP (green) cell. (both = human U2OS) Some ACE2-labeled lysosomes think they are the Kool-Aid dude or something, crashing through membranes and all. They wish

Time lapse two cells fusing upon the meeting of a single ACE2-mCherry cell (magenta) with a SARS-CoV-2 spike-GFP cell (green). Video courtesy of Dan Bracha.

5-hour time lapse of a syncytium forming upon addition of a single ACE2-mCherry cell (magenta) to a lawn of SARS-CoV-2 spike-GFP cells (green). Credit: Dan Bracha.