Differentiated human airway organoids to assess infectivity of emerging influenza virus

Zhou, Jie; Li, Cun; Sachs, Norman; Chiu, Man Chun; Wong, Bosco Ho-Yin; Chu, Hin; Poon, Vincent Kwok-Man; Wang, Dong; Zhao, Xiaoyu; Wen, Lei; Song, Wenjun; Yuan, Shuofeng; Wong, Kenneth Kak-Yuen; Chan, Jasper Fuk-Woo; To, Kelvin Kai-Wang; Chen, Honglin; Clevers, Hans; Yuen, Kwok-Yung

In summary, we believe that these differentiated AOs significantly extend the current armamentaria of the influenza research toolbox. ASC-derived organoids, once established, can be expanded indefinitely while displaying remarkable phenotypic and genotype stability. They thus overcome the limitations in reproducibility and availability of the current in vitro model systems. AOs can be easily established from human bronchiolar lavage material, allowing interindividual comparisons; AOs can also be readily modified by lentiviruses and CRISPR technologies and can be single-cell cloned (14) . In combination with the molecular toolbox of the influenza virologist, the human differentiated AO model system offers great opportunities for studying virus and host factors that define the characteristics of this major animal and human pathogen.