SARS-CoV-2 spike protein functionally interacts with primary human conjunctival epithelial cells to induce a pro-inflammatory response

Affiliations

• ¹ Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 8, Graz, Austria.
• ² Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz Auenbruggerplatz 4, Graz, Austria.
• ³ Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Centre for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
• ⁴ Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 8, Graz, Austria. vijaykumar.patra@medunigraz.at.
• ⁵ Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Lyon, France. vijaykumar.patra@medunigraz.at.
• ⁶ Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz Auenbruggerplatz 4, Graz, Austria. david.merle@medunigraz.at.
• ⁷ Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Centre for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. david.merle@medunigraz.at.
• ⁸ University Eye Hospital, Centre for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. david.merle@medunigraz.at.