Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 variant is lethal in aged BALB/c mice.
Sci Rep
; 12(1): 4150, 2022 03 09.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1735291
ABSTRACT
Models of animals that are susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can usefully evaluate the efficacy of vaccines and therapeutics. In this study, we demonstrate that infection with the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 variant (TY8-612 strain) induces bodyweight loss and inflammatory cytokine/chemokine production in wild-type laboratory mice (BALB/c and C57BL/6 J mice). Furthermore, compared to their counterparts, BALB/c mice had a higher viral load in their lungs and worse symptoms. Importantly, infecting aged BALB/c mice (older than 6 months) with the TY8-612 strain elicited a massive and sustained production of multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and led to universal mortality. These results indicated that the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 variant-infected mice exhibited symptoms ranging from mild to fatal depending on their strain and age. Our data provide insights into the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and may be useful in developing prophylactics and therapeutics.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Vaccines
/
Variants
Limits:
Animals
Language:
English
Journal:
Sci Rep
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S41598-022-08104-4
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