Comparison of the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in K18-hACE2 mouse and Syrian golden hamster models

초록

SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agentofCOVID-19, causeslife-threatening disease. This novel coronavirusenters host cellsvia the respiratory tract,promoting the formation ofsevere pulmonary lesions andsystemic disease. Few animal models can simulate the clinical signs and pathology ofCOVID-19patients.Diverse preclinical studies using K18-hACE2 mice and Syrian golden hamsters, which are highly permissive toSARS-CoV-2 in therespiratory tract, are emerging; however, the systemic pathogenesis and cellular tropism of these models remain obscure. We intranasally infected K18-hACE2 mice and Syrian golden hamsterswith SARS-CoV-2, and compared the clinical features, pathogenesis, cellular tropism,and infiltrated immune-cellsubsets. In K18-hACE2 mice, SARS-CoV-2 persistently replicated inalveolar cells and causedpulmonary and extra-pulmonary disease, resulting in fataloutcomes. Conversely, in Syrian golden hamsters, transient SARS-CoV-2infectioninbronchial cells causedreversible pulmonary disease,without mortality. Our findings provide comprehensive insightsinto thepathogenic spectrum of COVID-19 using pre-clinical models. © 2022. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

키워드