Comparative study of Wuhan-like and omicron-like variants of SARS-CoV-2 in experimental animal models

INTRODUCTION: The variability of SARS-CoV-2 appeared to be higher than expected, the emergence of new variants raises concerns. The aim of the work was to compare the pathogenicity of the Wuhan and BA.1.1/Omicron variants in BALB/c mice and Syrian hamsters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study used strains of SARS-CoV-2: Dubrovka phylogenetically close to Wuhan-Hu-1, and LIA phylogenetically close to Omicron, BALB/c mice, transgenic mice B6.Cg-Tg(K18-ACE2)2Prlmn/HEMI Hemizygous for Tg(K18-ACE2)2Prlmn, Syrian golden hamsters. Animals were infected intranasally, pathogenicity was estimated by a complex of clinical, pathomorphological and virological methods.

RESULTS: Comparative studies of SARS-CoV-2 Dubrovka and LIA strains on animal models demonstrated their heterogeneous pathogenicity. In parallel infection of BALB/c mice with Dubrovka and LIA variants, the infection proceeded without serious clinical signs and lung damage. Infection with the LIA strain resulted to a systemic disease with a high concentration of viral RNA in the lungs and brain tissues of animals. The presence of viral RNA in mice infected with the Dubrovka strain was transient and undetectable in the lungs by day 7 post-infection. Unlike the mouse model, in hamsters, the Dubrovka strain had a greater pathogenicity than the LIA strain. In hamsters infected with the Dubrovka strain lung lesions were more significant, and the virus spread through organs, in particular in brain tissue, was observed. In hamsters infected with the LIA strain virus was not detected in brain tissue.

CONCLUSION: The study of various variants of SARS-CoV-2 in species initially unsusceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection is important for monitoring zoonotic reservoirs that increase the risk of spread of new variants in humans.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2022

Erschienen:

2022

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:67

Enthalten in:

Voprosy virusologii - 67(2022), 5 vom: 19. Nov., Seite 439-449

Sprache:

Russisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Leneva, I A [VerfasserIn]
Smirnova, D I [VerfasserIn]
Kartashova, N P [VerfasserIn]
Gracheva, A V [VerfasserIn]
Ivanina, A V [VerfasserIn]
Glubokova, E A [VerfasserIn]
Korchevaya, E R [VerfasserIn]
Pancratov, A A [VerfasserIn]
Trunova, G V [VerfasserIn]
Khokhlova, V A [VerfasserIn]
Svitich, O A [VerfasserIn]
Zverev, V V [VerfasserIn]
Faizuloev, E B [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
BALB/c mice
Comparative Study
EC 3.4.17.23
English Abstract
Journal Article
K-18 conjugate
RNA, Viral
SARS-CoV-2 animal models
SARS-CoV-2 variants
Syrian golden hamsters
Transgenic B6.Cg-Tg(K18-ACE2)2Prlmn/HEMI Hemizygous for Tg(K18-ACE2)2Prlmn mice

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 29.12.2022

Date Revised 13.01.2023

published: Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.36233/0507-4088-135

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM350272905