Applications of human lung organoids to human respiratory virus research: advances, limitations and future directions.

Human respiratory viruses (HRVs) can cause a spectrum of respiratory infections, which pose a significant challenge to global public health and are associated with a substantial economic impact. Traditional studies have often relied on in vitro culture systems utilizing transformed cell lines and animal models. However, there has been a shift towards emerging research models. Organoids are three-dimensional cell cultures that self-organize and differentiate into functional cell types, closely mimicking the structure and function of organs in vivo. Increasing evidence suggests that human lung organoids serve as reliable and effective models for studying HRVs. In this review, we compare common research models for HRVs, outline the establishment of human lung organoids, and explore their applications in HRV studies.