Respiratory Organoids and Organoid-Based Investigations of Respiratory Viruses

Respiratory viral infectious diseases pose a significant threat to global public health, yet traditional cell lines and animal models exhibit limitations in simulating infection mechanisms and drug evaluation. This review systematically elaborates on adult stem cell-derived respiratory organoids, including the establishment of nasal, airway, and alveolar organoids, as well as their groundbreaking applications in virus research. Respiratory organoids, established through three-dimensional culture and cocktail medium supplemented with niche factors, adequately recapitulate the cellular composition and most functions of the respiratory epithelium. They have been successfully applied to investigate the infection and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and HRV-C (human rhinovirus C), which have revealed the transmission potential of viral variants, host immune response, and the application for antiviral screening of antiviral agents. This review also discusses the challenges and prospects of using organoids to study infectious diseases.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2025.09.0016