Immunological and cardio-vascular pathologies associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in golden syrian hamster (preprint)

ABSTRACT

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 infection in golden Syrian hamster (GSH) causes lungs pathology and resembles to human corona virus disease (Covid-19). Extra-pulmonary pathologies and immunological parameters of SARS-CoV-2 infection remained undefined in GSH. Using in silico modelling, we identified the similarities between human and hamster angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2), neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) that bind to receptor-binding domain (RBD) and S1 fragment of spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 infection led to lung pathologies, and cardiovascular complications (CVC) marked by interstitial coronary fibrosis and acute inflammatory response. Serum lipidomic and metabolomic profile of SARS-CoV-2-infected GSH revealed changes in serum triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and alterations in metabolites that correlated with Covid19. Together, we propose GSH as an animal model to study SARS-CoV-2 infection and its therapy associated with pulmonary and extra-pulmonary pathologies.