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Kirk NM, Liang Y, Ly H. Pathogenesis and virulence of coronavirus disease: Comparative pathology of animal models for COVID-19. Virulence 2024; 15:2316438. [PMID: 38362881 PMCID: PMC10878030 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2024.2316438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal models that can replicate clinical and pathologic features of severe human coronavirus infections have been instrumental in the development of novel vaccines and therapeutics. The goal of this review is to summarize our current understanding of the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the pathologic features that can be observed in several currently available animal models. Knowledge gained from studying these animal models of SARS-CoV-2 infection can help inform appropriate model selection for disease modelling as well as for vaccine and therapeutic developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie M. Kirk
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Yuying Liang
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Hinh Ly
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
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2
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Zhang Z, Zhou L, Liu Q, Zheng Y, Tan X, Huang Z, Guo M, Wang X, Chen X, Liang S, Li W, Song K, Yan K, Li J, Li Q, Zhang Y, Yang S, Cai Z, Dai M, Xian Q, Shi ZL, Xu K, Lan K, Chen Y. The lethal K18-hACE2 knock-in mouse model mimicking the severe pneumonia of COVID-19 is practicable for antiviral development. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2353302. [PMID: 38753462 PMCID: PMC11132709 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2353302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Animal models of COVID-19 facilitate the development of vaccines and antivirals against SARS-CoV-2. The efficacy of antivirals or vaccines may differ in different animal models with varied degrees of disease. Here, we introduce a mouse model expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). In this model, ACE2 with the human cytokeratin 18 promoter was knocked into the Hipp11 locus of C57BL/6J mouse by CRISPR - Cas9 (K18-hACE2 KI). Upon intranasal inoculation with high (3 × 105 PFU) or low (2.5 × 102 PFU) dose of SARS-CoV-2 wildtype (WT), Delta, Omicron BA.1, or Omicron BA.2 variants, all mice showed obvious infection symptoms, including weight loss, high viral loads in the lung, and interstitial pneumonia. 100% lethality was observed in K18-hACE2 KI mice infected by variants with a delay of endpoint for Delta and BA.1, and a significantly attenuated pathogenicity was observed for BA.2. The pneumonia of infected mice was accompanied by the infiltration of neutrophils and pulmonary fibrosis in the lung. Compared with K18-hACE2 Tg mice and HFH4-hACE2 Tg mice, K18-hACE2 KI mice are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. In the antivirals test, REGN10933 and Remdesivir had limited antiviral efficacies in K18-hACE2 KI mice upon the challenge of SARS-CoV-2 infections, while Nirmatrelvir, monoclonal antibody 4G4, and mRNA vaccines potently protected the mice from death. Our results suggest that the K18-hACE2 KI mouse model is lethal and stable for SARS-CoV-2 infection, and is practicable and stringent to antiviral development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
- Institute for Vaccine Research, Animal Bio-Safety Level III Laboratory / Center for Animal Experiment, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
- Institute for Vaccine Research, Animal Bio-Safety Level III Laboratory / Center for Animal Experiment, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qianyun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yucheng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xue Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhixiang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
- Institute for Vaccine Research, Animal Bio-Safety Level III Laboratory / Center for Animal Experiment, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ming Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xianying Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Simeng Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenkang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kun Song
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kun Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiali Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiaohong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
- Institute for Vaccine Research, Animal Bio-Safety Level III Laboratory / Center for Animal Experiment, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuzhen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
- Institute for Vaccine Research, Animal Bio-Safety Level III Laboratory / Center for Animal Experiment, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shimin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zeng Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
- Institute for Vaccine Research, Animal Bio-Safety Level III Laboratory / Center for Animal Experiment, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ming Dai
- Institute for Vaccine Research, Animal Bio-Safety Level III Laboratory / Center for Animal Experiment, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiaoyang Xian
- Institute for Vaccine Research, Animal Bio-Safety Level III Laboratory / Center for Animal Experiment, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zheng-Li Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ke Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
- Institute for Vaccine Research, Animal Bio-Safety Level III Laboratory / Center for Animal Experiment, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ke Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
- Institute for Vaccine Research, Animal Bio-Safety Level III Laboratory / Center for Animal Experiment, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center and RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
- Institute for Vaccine Research, Animal Bio-Safety Level III Laboratory / Center for Animal Experiment, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
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Myrzakhmetova BS, Zhapparova GA, Bisenbayeva KB, Toytanova AS, Tuyskanova MS, Zhugunissov KD, Kutumbetov LB. Immune reactivity of two biological models to vaccination with inactivated vaccine QazVac against coronavirus infection COVID-19. Vopr Virusol 2024; 69:219-230. [PMID: 38996371 DOI: 10.36233/0507-4088-222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Specific prevention of a number of infectious diseases has been introduced into the vaccination schedule. The production of immunoprophylactic drugs, in order to establish standard properties, including safety and specific effectiveness, requires strict adherence to manufacturing regulations, and the reliability of the results obtained requires monitoring of these parameters. The specific effectiveness of vaccine preparations is standardized according to the indicators of stimulation of specific antibody response formed in the body of vaccinated model biological objects. OBJECTIVE Determination of the immune reactivity of white mice to vaccination with the QazVac vaccine to establish the possibility of using them as a biological model in assessing the immunogenicity of the vaccine instead of Syrian hamsters. MATERIALS AND METHODS The immune reactivity of model animals was assessed by the seroconversion rate, dynamics of antibody titers to the SARS-CoV-2 virus formed in the body after vaccination with the test vaccine. In the case of seropositivity of animals before administration of vaccine or placebo, the level of immune reactivity was calculated by the difference in antibody titers between control and vaccinated animals or by the difference in antibody titers before and after immunization. Specific antibodies were detected and their titer was determined using a neutralization reaction. RESULTS The research results showed that the tested biological models had approximately the same immune reactivity to the administration of the QazVac vaccine, confirmed by the level and dynamics of antibody titers. When analyzing the fold increase in antibody titers in comparison to those of control animals, Syrian hamsters were more reactive compared to mice. But SPF white mice were standardized in their lack of the immune reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 virus before the immunization. CONCLUSION The data obtained indicate that the immune reactivity of white mice to the administration of the QazVac vaccine in terms of the rate and dynamics of the formation of virus-neutralizing antibodies is approximately equivalent to the immune reactivity of Syrian hamsters. Before immunization with the vaccine, SPF white mice, in contrast to Syrian hamsters, do not have humoral immunity specific to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The immune reactivity equivalent to that observed of Syrian hamsters and the absence of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus at a baseline indicate the superiority of the use of white mice in assessing the immunogenicity of vaccines against COVID-19 and/or obtaining specific factors of humoral immunity.
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Martin-Lopez E, Brennan B, Mao T, Spence N, Meller SJ, Han K, Yahiaoui N, Wang C, Iwasaki A, Greer CA. Inflammatory Response and Defects on Myelin Integrity in the Olfactory System of K18hACE2 Mice Infected with SARS-CoV-2. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0106-24.2024. [PMID: 38834299 PMCID: PMC11185043 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0106-24.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Viruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), use respiratory epithelial cells as an entry point for infection. Within the nasal cavity, the olfactory epithelium (OE) is particularly sensitive to infections which may lead to olfactory dysfunction. In patients suffering from coronavirus disease 2019, deficits in olfaction have been characterized as a distinctive symptom. Here, we used the K18hACE2 mice to study the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection and inflammation in the olfactory system (OS) after 7 d of infection. In the OE, we found that SARS-CoV-2 selectively targeted the supporting/sustentacular cells (SCs) and macrophages from the lamina propria. In the brain, SARS-CoV-2 infected some microglial cells in the olfactory bulb (OB), and there was a widespread infection of projection neurons in the OB, piriform cortex (PC), and tubular striatum (TuS). Inflammation, indicated by both elevated numbers and morphologically activated IBA1+ cells (monocyte/macrophage lineages), was preferentially increased in the OE septum, while it was homogeneously distributed throughout the layers of the OB, PC, and TuS. Myelinated OS axonal tracts, the lateral olfactory tract, and the anterior commissure, exhibited decreased levels of 2',3'-cyclic-nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase, indicative of myelin defects. Collectively, our work supports the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 infected SC and macrophages in the OE and, centrally, microglia and subpopulations of OS neurons. The observed inflammation throughout the OS areas and central myelin defects may account for the long-lasting olfactory deficit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Martin-Lopez
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8082
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8001
| | - Bowen Brennan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8082
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8001
| | - Tianyang Mao
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, The Anlyan Center, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8043
- Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-0834
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815
| | - Natalie Spence
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8082
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8001
| | - Sarah J Meller
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8082
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8001
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8074
| | - Kimberly Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8082
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8001
| | - Nawal Yahiaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8082
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8001
| | - Chelsea Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8082
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8001
| | - Akiko Iwasaki
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, The Anlyan Center, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8043
- Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-0834
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815
| | - Charles A Greer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8082
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8001
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8074
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Dwivedi V, Shivanna V, Gautam S, Delgado J, Hicks A, Argonza M, Meredith R, Turner J, Martinez-Sobrido L, Torrelles JB, Kulkarni V. Age associated susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in the K18-hACE2 transgenic mouse model. GeroScience 2024; 46:2901-2913. [PMID: 38388916 PMCID: PMC11009211 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01102-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is still an ongoing global health crisis. Clinical data indicate that the case fatality rate (CFR) is age dependent, with a higher CFR percentage in the elderly population. We compared the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 in young and aged K18-hACE2 transgenic mice. We evaluated morbidity, mortality, viral titers, immune responses, and histopathology in SARS-CoV-2-infected young and old K18-hACE2 transgenic mice. Within the limitation of having a low number of mice per group, our results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection resulted in slightly higher morbidity, mortality, and viral replication in the lungs of old mice, which was associated with an impaired IgM response and altered cytokine and chemokine profiles. Results of this study increase our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and immuno-pathogenesis in the elderly population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varun Dwivedi
- Disease Intervention & Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, 78227, USA
| | - Vinay Shivanna
- Population Health Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, 78227, USA
| | - Shalini Gautam
- Population Health Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, 78227, USA
| | - Jennifer Delgado
- Disease Intervention & Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, 78227, USA
| | - Amberlee Hicks
- Disease Intervention & Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, 78227, USA
| | - Marco Argonza
- Disease Intervention & Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, 78227, USA
| | - Reagan Meredith
- Disease Intervention & Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, 78227, USA
| | - Joanne Turner
- Host Pathogen Interactions Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, 78227, USA.
| | - Luis Martinez-Sobrido
- Disease Intervention & Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, 78227, USA.
| | - Jordi B Torrelles
- Population Health Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, 78227, USA.
- International Center for the Advancement of Research & Education (I•CARE), Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA.
| | - Viraj Kulkarni
- Disease Intervention & Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, 78227, USA.
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Valleriani F, Di Pancrazio C, Spedicato M, Di Teodoro G, Malatesta D, Petrova T, Profeta F, Colaianni ML, Berjaoui S, Puglia I, Caporale M, Rossi E, Marcacci M, Luciani M, Sacchini F, Portanti O, Bencivenga F, Decaro N, Bonfante F, Lorusso A. A cell-adapted SARS-CoV-2 mutant, showing a deletion in the spike protein spanning the furin cleavage site, has reduced virulence at the lung level in K18-hACE2 mice. Virology 2024; 592:109997. [PMID: 38324940 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.109997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Here we investigated the virulence properties of a unique cell-adapted SARS-CoV-2 mutant showing a ten-amino acid deletion encompassing the furin cleavage site of the spike protein (Δ680SPRAARSVAS689; Δ680-689-B.1) in comparison to its parental strain (wt-B.1) and two Delta variants (AY.122 and AY.21) of concern. After intranasal inoculation, transgenic K18-hACE2 mice were monitored for 14 days for weight change, lethality, and clinical score; oral swabs were daily collected and tested for the presence of N protein subgenomic RNA. At 3 and 7 dpi mice were also sacrificed and organs collected for molecular, histopathological, and immune response profile investigations. The Δ680-689-B.1-infected mice exhibited reduced shedding, lower virulence at the lung level, and milder pulmonary lesions. In the lung, infection with Δ680-689-B.1 was associated with a significant lower expression of some cytokines at 3 dpi (IL-4, IL-27, and IL-28) and 7 dpi (IL-4, IL-27, IL-28, IFN-γ and IL-1α).
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizia Valleriani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Chiara Di Pancrazio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Massimo Spedicato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Giovanni Di Teodoro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Daniela Malatesta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Tetyana Petrova
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Francesca Profeta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | | | - Shadia Berjaoui
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Ilaria Puglia
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Marialuigia Caporale
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Emanuela Rossi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Maurilia Marcacci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Mirella Luciani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Flavio Sacchini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Ottavio Portanti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | | | - Nicola Decaro
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano-Italy
| | - Francesco Bonfante
- IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy; Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro-Italy
| | - Alessio Lorusso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy.
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Chen M, Pekosz A, Villano JS, Shen W, Zhou R, Kulaga H, Li Z, Smith A, Gurung A, Beck SE, Witwer KW, Mankowski JL, Ramanathan M, Rowan NR, Lane AP. Evolution of nasal and olfactory infection characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 variants. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e174439. [PMID: 38483537 PMCID: PMC11014658 DOI: 10.1172/jci174439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection of the upper airway and the subsequent immune response are early, critical factors in COVID-19 pathogenesis. By studying infection of human biopsies in vitro and in a hamster model in vivo, we demonstrated a transition in nasal tropism from olfactory to respiratory epithelium as the virus evolved. Analyzing each variant revealed that SARS-CoV-2 WA1 or Delta infect a proportion of olfactory neurons in addition to the primary target sustentacular cells. The Delta variant possessed broader cellular invasion capacity into the submucosa, while Omicron displayed enhanced nasal respiratory infection and longer retention in the sinonasal epithelium. The olfactory neuronal infection by WA1 and the subsequent olfactory bulb transport via axon were more pronounced in younger hosts. In addition, the observed viral clearance delay and phagocytic dysfunction in aged olfactory mucosa were accompanied by a decline of phagocytosis-related genes. Further, robust basal stem cell activation contributed to neuroepithelial regeneration and restored ACE2 expression postinfection. Together, our study characterized the nasal tropism of SARS-CoV-2 strains, immune clearance, and regeneration after infection. The shifting characteristics of viral infection at the airway portal provide insight into the variability of COVID-19 clinical features, particularly long COVID, and may suggest differing strategies for early local intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfei Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew Pekosz
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jason S. Villano
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Wenjuan Shen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ruifeng Zhou
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Heather Kulaga
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Zhexuan Li
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Amy Smith
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Asiana Gurung
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah E. Beck
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kenneth W. Witwer
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph L. Mankowski
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Murugappan Ramanathan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Nicholas R. Rowan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew P. Lane
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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8
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Powers JM, Leist SR, Mallory ML, Yount BL, Gully KL, Zweigart MR, Bailey AB, Sheahan TP, Harkema JR, Baric RS. Divergent pathogenetic outcomes in BALB/c mice following Omicron subvariant infection. Virus Res 2024; 341:199319. [PMID: 38224840 PMCID: PMC10835285 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Following the emergence of B.1.1.529 Omicron, the SARS-CoV-2 virus evolved into a significant number of sublineage variants that possessed numerous mutations throughout the genome, but particularly within the spike glycoprotein (S) gene. For example, the BQ.1.1 and the XBB.1 and XBB.1.5 subvariants contained 34 and 41 mutations in S, respectively. However, these variants elicited largely replication only or mild disease phenotypes in mice. To better model pathogenic outcomes and measure countermeasure performance, we developed mouse adapted versions (BQ.1.1 MA; XBB.1 MA; XBB.1.5 MA) that reflect more pathogenic acute phase pulmonary disease symptoms of SARS-CoV-2, as well as derivative strains expressing nano-luciferase (nLuc) in place of ORF7 (BQ.1.1 nLuc; XBB.1 nLuc; XBB.1.5 nLuc). Amongst the mouse adapted (MA) viruses, a wide range of disease outcomes were observed including mortality, weight loss, lung dysfunction, and tissue viral loads in the lung and nasal turbinates. Intriguingly, XBB.1 MA and XBB.1.5 MA strains, which contained identical mutations throughout except at position F486S/P in S, exhibited divergent disease outcomes in mice (Ao et al., 2023). XBB.1.5 MA infection was associated with significant weight loss and ∼45 % mortality across two independent studies, while XBB.1 MA infected animals suffered from mild weight loss and only 10 % mortality across the same two independent studies. Additionally, the development and use of nanoluciferase expressing strains provided moderate throughput for live virus neutralization assays. The availability of small animal models for the assessment of Omicron VOC disease potential will enable refined capacity to evaluate the efficacy of on market and pre-clinical therapeutics and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Powers
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Sarah R Leist
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Michael L Mallory
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Boyd L Yount
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kendra L Gully
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Mark R Zweigart
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Alexis B Bailey
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Timothy P Sheahan
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jack R Harkema
- Department of Pathobiology & Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Ralph S Baric
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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9
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van Huizen M, Bloeme - ter Horst JR, de Gruyter HLM, Geurink PP, van der Heden van Noort GJ, Knaap RCM, Nelemans T, Ogando NS, Leijs AA, Urakova N, Mark BL, Snijder EJ, Myeni SK, Kikkert M. Deubiquitinating activity of SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease does not influence virus replication or innate immune responses in vivo. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012100. [PMID: 38527094 PMCID: PMC10994560 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus papain-like protease (PLpro) is crucial for viral replicase polyprotein processing. Additionally, PLpro can subvert host defense mechanisms by its deubiquitinating (DUB) and deISGylating activities. To elucidate the role of these activities during SARS-CoV-2 infection, we introduced mutations that disrupt binding of PLpro to ubiquitin or ISG15. We identified several mutations that strongly reduced DUB activity of PLpro, without affecting viral polyprotein processing. In contrast, mutations that abrogated deISGylating activity also hampered viral polyprotein processing and when introduced into the virus these mutants were not viable. SARS-CoV-2 mutants exhibiting reduced DUB activity elicited a stronger interferon response in human lung cells. In a mouse model of severe disease, disruption of PLpro DUB activity did not affect lethality, virus replication, or innate immune responses in the lungs. This suggests that the DUB activity of SARS-CoV-2 PLpro is dispensable for virus replication and does not affect innate immune responses in vivo. Interestingly, the DUB mutant of SARS-CoV replicated to slightly lower titers in mice and elicited a diminished immune response early in infection, although lethality was unaffected. We previously showed that a MERS-CoV mutant deficient in DUB and deISGylating activity was strongly attenuated in mice. Here, we demonstrate that the role of PLpro DUB activity during infection can vary considerably between highly pathogenic coronaviruses. Therefore, careful considerations should be taken when developing pan-coronavirus antiviral strategies targeting PLpro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariska van Huizen
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Jonna R. Bloeme - ter Horst
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Heidi L. M. de Gruyter
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Paul P. Geurink
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Division of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Gerbrand J. van der Heden van Noort
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Division of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Robert C. M. Knaap
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Tessa Nelemans
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Natacha S. Ogando
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Anouk A. Leijs
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Nadya Urakova
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Brian L. Mark
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Eric J. Snijder
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sebenzile K. Myeni
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Kikkert
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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10
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Bradshaw CM, Georgieva T, Tankersley TN, Taylor-Doyle T, Johnson L, Uhrlaub JL, Besselsen D, Nikolich JŽ. Cutting Edge: Characterization of Low Copy Number Human Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2-Transgenic Mice as an Improved Model of SARS-CoV-2 Infection. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:523-528. [PMID: 38197714 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
A popular mouse model of COVID-19, the K18-hACE2 mouse, expresses the SARS-coronavirus entry receptor, human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) driven by the keratin-18 promoter. SARS-CoV-2-infected K18-hACE2 mice exhibit neuropathology not representative of human infection. They contain eight transgene (Tg) copies, leading to excess hACE2 expression and rampant viral replication. We generated two new lines of K18-hACE2 mice encoding one and two copies of hACE2 (1-hACE2-Tg and 2-hACE2-Tg, respectively). Relative to the original strain (called 8-hACE2-Tg in this study), 2-hACE2-Tg mice exhibited lower mortality, with less viral replication in the lung and brain. Furthermore, 1-hACE2-Tg mice exhibited no mortality and had no detectable virus in the brain; yet, they exhibited clear viral replication in the lung. All three strains showed SARS-CoV-2-related weight loss commensurate with the mortality rates. 1-hACE2-Tg mice mounted detectable primary and memory T effector cell and Ab responses. We conclude that these strains provide improved models to study hACE2-mediated viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M Bradshaw
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson, Tucson, AZ
- Arizona Center on Aging, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson, Tucson, AZ
| | - Teodora Georgieva
- Genetically Engineered Mouse Model (GEMM) Core, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
| | - Trevor N Tankersley
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson, Tucson, AZ
- Arizona Center on Aging, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson, Tucson, AZ
| | - Tama Taylor-Doyle
- Genetically Engineered Mouse Model (GEMM) Core, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
| | - Larry Johnson
- Genetically Engineered Mouse Model (GEMM) Core, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
| | - Jennifer L Uhrlaub
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson, Tucson, AZ
- Arizona Center on Aging, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson, Tucson, AZ
| | - David Besselsen
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- Arizona Animal Care, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
| | - Janko Ž Nikolich
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson, Tucson, AZ
- Arizona Center on Aging, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson, Tucson, AZ
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- Aegis Consortium for Pandemic-Free Future, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ
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11
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Liu G, Zhang M, Wu B, Zhang C, Wang Y, Han X, Wang R, Li L, Wei Y, Sun Y, Cao X, Wang Y, Li Y, Li M, Zhao G, Ke Y, Guo Z, Yin Q, Sun Y. A highly susceptible hACE2-transgenic mouse model for SARS-CoV-2 research. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1348405. [PMID: 38389533 PMCID: PMC10883650 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1348405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Several animal models have been used to assist the development of vaccines and therapeutics since the COVID-19 outbreak. Due to the lack of binding affinity of mouse angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) to the S protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), increasing the susceptibility of mice to SARS-CoV-2 infection was considered in several ways. Here, we generated a COVID-19 mouse model expressing human ACE2 (hACE2) under the control of the CAG promoter. Overexpression of hACE2 did not pose a significant effect on weight growth. After SARS-CoV-2 inoculation, mice showed obvious viral replication and production of inflammation within 7 days, with a gradual decrease in body weight until death. Virological testing found that the virus can replicate in the respiratory system, small intestine, and brain. Additionally, this mouse model was applied to compare two antibody drug candidates, the anti-RBD antibody (MW06) and the mouse CD24-conjugated anti-RBD antibody (mCD24-MW06). Differences in antiviral effects between these two antibodies can be demonstrated in this mouse model when a challenge dose that invalidates the anti-RBD antibody treatment was used. This study provided a new mouse model for studying SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and evaluating potential interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Min Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Baolei Wu
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Changchun, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Yan Wang
- SPF (Beijing) Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Baoding, China
| | - Xuelian Han
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rongjuan Wang
- Beijing Kohnoor Science & Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Li Li
- SPF (Beijing) Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Baoding, China
| | - Yuwei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yali Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Public Health School, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, China
| | - Xiangwen Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Public Health School, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yalan Li
- Beijing Kohnoor Science & Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Min Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guangyu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Public Health School, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, China
| | - Yuehua Ke
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Zhendong Guo
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Changchun, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Qi Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yansong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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12
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Cianfarini C, Hassler L, Wysocki J, Hassan A, Nicolaescu V, Elli D, Gula H, Ibrahim AM, Randall G, Henkin J, Batlle D. Soluble Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Protein Improves Survival and Lowers Viral Titers in Lethal Mouse Model of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 2 Infection with the Delta Variant. Cells 2024; 13:203. [PMID: 38334597 PMCID: PMC10854654 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) utilizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as its main receptor for cell entry. We bioengineered a soluble ACE2 protein termed ACE2 618-DDC-ABD that has increased binding to SARS-CoV-2 and prolonged duration of action. Here, we investigated the protective effect of this protein when administered intranasally to k18-hACE2 mice infected with the aggressive SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. k18-hACE2 mice were infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant by inoculation of a lethal dose (2 × 104 PFU). ACE2 618-DDC-ABD (10 mg/kg) or PBS was administered intranasally six hours prior and 24 and 48 h post-viral inoculation. All animals in the PBS control group succumbed to the disease on day seven post-infection (0% survival), whereas, in contrast, there was only one casualty in the group that received ACE2 618-DDC-ABD (90% survival). Mice in the ACE2 618-DDC-ABD group had minimal disease as assessed using a clinical score and stable weight, and both brain and lung viral titers were markedly reduced. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of a bioengineered soluble ACE2 decoy with an extended duration of action in protecting against the aggressive Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant. Together with previous work, these findings underline the universal protective potential against current and future emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosimo Cianfarini
- Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 710 North Fairbanks Court, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Luise Hassler
- Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 710 North Fairbanks Court, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jan Wysocki
- Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 710 North Fairbanks Court, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Abdelsabour Hassan
- Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 710 North Fairbanks Court, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Vlad Nicolaescu
- Howard Taylor Ricketts Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Lemont, IL 60637, USA
| | - Derek Elli
- Howard Taylor Ricketts Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Lemont, IL 60637, USA
| | - Haley Gula
- Howard Taylor Ricketts Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Lemont, IL 60637, USA
| | - Amany M. Ibrahim
- Howard Taylor Ricketts Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Lemont, IL 60637, USA
| | - Glenn Randall
- Howard Taylor Ricketts Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Lemont, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jack Henkin
- Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Daniel Batlle
- Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 710 North Fairbanks Court, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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13
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Li H, Zhao X, Peng S, Li Y, Li J, Zheng H, Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Tian Y, Yang J, Wang Y, Zhang X, Liu L. The Abundant Distribution and Duplication of SARS-CoV-2 in the Cerebrum and Lungs Promote a High Mortality Rate in Transgenic hACE2-C57 Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:997. [PMID: 38256071 PMCID: PMC10815841 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with COVID-19 have been reported to experience neurological complications, although the main cause of death in these patients was determined to be lung damage. Notably, SARS-CoV-2-induced pathological injuries in brains with a viral presence were also found in all fatal animal cases. Thus, an appropriate animal model that mimics severe infections in the lungs and brain needs to be developed. In this paper, we compared SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics and pathological injuries between C57BL/6Smoc-Ace2em3(hACE2-flag-Wpre-pA)Smoc transgenic hACE2-C57 mice and Syrian hamsters. Importantly, the greatest viral distribution in mice occurred in the cerebral cortex neuron area, where pathological injuries and cell death were observed. In contrast, in hamsters, viral replication and distribution occurred mainly in the lungs but not in the cerebrum, although obvious ACE2 expression was validated in the cerebrum. Consistent with the spread of the virus, significant increases in IL-1β and IFN-γ were observed in the lungs of both animals. However, in hACE2-C57 mice, the cerebrum showed noticeable increases in IL-1β but only mild increases in IFN-γ. Notably, our findings revealed that both the cerebrum and the lungs were prominent infection sites in hACE2 mice infected with SARS-CoV-2 with obvious pathological damage. Furthermore, hamsters exhibited severe interstitial pneumonia from 3 dpi to 5 dpi, followed by gradual recovery. Conversely, all the hACE2-C57 mice experienced severe pathological injuries in the cerebrum and lungs, leading to mortality before 5 dpi. According to these results, transgenic hACE2-C57 mice may be valuable for studying SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and clearance in the cerebrum. Additionally, a hamster model could serve as a crucial resource for exploring the mechanisms of recovery from infection at different dosage levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Longding Liu
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; (H.L.); (X.Z.); (S.P.); (Y.L.); (J.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.T.); (J.Y.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.)
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14
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Choi CY, Gadhave K, Villano J, Pekosz A, Mao X, Jia H. Generation and characterization of a humanized ACE2 mouse model to study long-term impacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29349. [PMID: 38185937 PMCID: PMC10783855 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has officially ended, the persistent challenge of long-COVID or post-acute COVID sequelae (PASC) continues to impact societies globally, highlighting the urgent need for ongoing research into its mechanisms and therapeutic approaches. Our team has recently developed a novel humanized ACE2 mouse model (hACE2ki) designed explicitly for long-COVID/PASC research. This model exhibits human ACE2 expression in tissue and cell-specific patterns akin to mouse Ace2. When we exposed young adult hACE2ki mice (6 weeks old) to various SARS-CoV-2 lineages, including WA, Delta, and Omicron, at a dose of 5 × 105 PFU/mouse via nasal instillation, the mice demonstrated distinctive phenotypes characterized by differences in viral load in the lung, trachea, and nasal turbinate, weight loss, and changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune cell profiles in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Notably, no mortality was observed in this age group. Further, to assess the model's relevance for long-COVID studies, we investigated tau protein pathologies, which are linked to Alzheimer's disease, in the brains of these mice post SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings revealed the accumulation and longitudinal propagation of tau, confirming the potential of our hACE2ki mouse model for preclinical studies of long-COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Yong Choi
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School, of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Kundlik Gadhave
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jason Villano
- Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Andrew Pekosz
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Xiaobo Mao
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Department of Material Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Hongpeng Jia
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School, of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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15
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He Y, Henley J, Sell P, Comai L. Differential Outcomes of Infection by Wild-Type SARS-CoV-2 and the B.1.617.2 and B.1.1.529 Variants of Concern in K18-hACE2 Transgenic Mice. Viruses 2023; 16:60. [PMID: 38257760 PMCID: PMC10820160 DOI: 10.3390/v16010060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory virus with neurological complications including the loss of smell and taste, headache, and confusion that can persist for months or longer. Severe neuronal cell damage has also been reported in some cases. The objective of this study was to compare the infectivity of the wild-type virus, Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529) variants in transgenic mice that express the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) receptor under the control of the keratin 18 promoter (K18) and characterize the progression of infection and inflammatory response in the lungs, brain, medulla oblongata, and olfactory bulbs of these animals. We hypothesized that wild type, Delta and Omicron differentially infect K18-hACE2 mice, thereby inducing distinct cellular responses. METHODS K18-hACE2 female mice were intranasally infected with wild-type, Delta, or Omicron variants and euthanized either at 3 days post-infection (dpi) or at the humane endpoint. None of the animals infected with the Omicron variant reached the humane endpoint and were euthanized at day 8 dpi. Virological and immunological analyses were performed in the lungs, brains, medulla oblongata and olfactory bulbs isolated from infected mice. RESULTS At 3 dpi, mice infected with wild type and Delta displayed significantly higher levels of viral RNA in the lungs than mice infected with Omicron, while in the brain, Delta and Omicron resulted in higher levels of viral RNA than with the wild type. Viral RNA was also detected in the medulla oblongata of mice infected by all these virus strains. At this time point, the mice infected with wild type and Delta displayed a marked upregulation of many inflammatory markers in the lungs. On the other hand, the upregulation of inflammatory markers was observed only in the brains of mice infected with Delta and Omicron. At the humane endpoint, we observed a significant increase in the levels of viral RNA in the lungs and brains of mice infected with wild type and Delta, which was accompanied by the elevated expression of many inflammatory markers. In contrast, mice which survived infection with the Omicron variant showed high levels of viral RNA and the upregulation of cytokine and chemokine expression only in the lungs at 8 dpi, suggesting that infection and inflammatory response by this variant is attenuated in the brain. Reduced RNA levels and the downregulation of inflammatory markers was also observed in the medulla oblongata and olfactory bulbs of mice infected with Omicron at 8 dpi as compared with mice infected with wild-type and Delta at the humane end point. Collectively, these data demonstrate that wild-type, Delta, and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 induce distinct levels of infection and inflammatory responses in K18-hACE2 mice. Notably, sustained brain infection accompanied by the upregulation of inflammatory markers is a critical outcome in mice infected with wild type and Delta but not Omicron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yicheng He
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, 2011 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Jill Henley
- Hastings Foundation and Wright Foundation BSL3 Laboratory, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Philip Sell
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, 2011 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Hastings Foundation and Wright Foundation BSL3 Laboratory, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Lucio Comai
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, 2011 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Hastings Foundation and Wright Foundation BSL3 Laboratory, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
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16
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Saturday T, van Doremalen N. Pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 in nonhuman primates. Curr Opin Virol 2023; 63:101375. [PMID: 37826865 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2023.101375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
The continued pressure of COVID-19 on public health worldwide underlines the need for a better understanding of the mechanisms of disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. Though many animal models are readily available for use, the nonhuman primate (NHP) models are considered the gold standard in recapitulating disease progression in humans. In this review, we highlight the relevant research since the beginning of the pandemic to critically evaluate the importance of this model. We characterize the disease's clinical manifestations, aspects of viral replication and shedding, induction of the host's immune response, and pathological findings that broaden our understanding of the importance of NHPs in research to strengthen our public health approach to the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Saturday
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Neeltje van Doremalen
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA.
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17
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Kim J, Youn D, Choi S, Lee YW, Sumberzul D, Yoon J, Lee H, Bae JW, Noh H, On D, Hong SM, An SH, Jang HJ, Kim SY, Kim YB, Hwang JY, Lee HJ, Bin Kim H, Park JW, Yun JW, Shin JS, Seo JY, Nam KT, Choi KS, Lee HY, Chang H, Seong JK, Cho J. SARS-CoV-2 infection engenders heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein interactions to impede translation elongation in the lungs. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:2541-2552. [PMID: 37907741 PMCID: PMC10767024 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-01110-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Translational regulation in tissue environments during in vivo viral pathogenesis has rarely been studied due to the lack of translatomes from virus-infected tissues, although a series of translatome studies using in vitro cultured cells with viral infection have been reported. In this study, we exploited tissue-optimized ribosome profiling (Ribo-seq) and severe-COVID-19 model mice to establish the first temporal translation profiles of virus and host genes in the lungs during SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. Our datasets revealed not only previously unknown targets of translation regulation in infected tissues but also hitherto unreported molecular signatures that contribute to tissue pathology after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Specifically, we observed gradual increases in pseudoribosomal ribonucleoprotein (RNP) interactions that partially overlapped the trails of ribosomes, being likely involved in impeding translation elongation. Contemporaneously developed ribosome heterogeneity with predominantly dysregulated 5 S rRNP association supported the malfunction of elongating ribosomes. Analyses of canonical Ribo-seq reads (ribosome footprints) highlighted two obstructive characteristics to host gene expression: ribosome stalling on codons within transmembrane domain-coding regions and compromised translation of immunity- and metabolism-related genes with upregulated transcription. Our findings collectively demonstrate that the abrogation of translation integrity may be one of the most critical factors contributing to pathogenesis after SARS-CoV-2 infection of tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junsoo Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioinformatics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Daehwa Youn
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Seunghoon Choi
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center (KMPC), Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Genomics, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, and BK 21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Youn Woo Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Dulguun Sumberzul
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongeun Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hanju Lee
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioinformatics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Woo Bae
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyuna Noh
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center (KMPC), Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dain On
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center (KMPC), Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Genomics, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, and BK 21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Min Hong
- Laboratory of Avian Diseases, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, and BK 21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Hee An
- Laboratory of Avian Diseases, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, and BK 21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hui Jeong Jang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Seo Yeon Kim
- Preclinical Research Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Been Kim
- Preclinical Research Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Yeon Hwang
- Preclinical Research Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Jung Lee
- Department of Periodontology, Section of Dentistry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong Bin Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Won Park
- Division of Biomedical Convergence, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, ChunCheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun-Won Yun
- Laboratory of Veterinary Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeon-Soo Shin
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun-Young Seo
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Taek Nam
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kang-Seuk Choi
- Laboratory of Avian Diseases, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, and BK 21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho-Young Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyeshik Chang
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioinformatics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Je Kyung Seong
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioinformatics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center (KMPC), Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Genomics, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, and BK 21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Interdisciplinary Program and BIO MAX Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jun Cho
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
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18
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Undi RB, Ahsan N, Larabee JL, Darlene-Reuter N, Papin J, Dogra S, Hannafon BN, Bronze MS, Houchen CW, Huycke MM, Ali N. Blocking of doublecortin-like kinase 1-regulated SARS-CoV-2 replication cycle restores cell signaling network. J Virol 2023; 97:e0119423. [PMID: 37861336 PMCID: PMC10688311 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01194-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Severe COVID-19 and post-acute sequelae often afflict patients with underlying co-morbidities. There is a pressing need for highly effective treatment, particularly in light of the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants. In a previous study, we demonstrated that DCLK1, a protein associated with cancer stem cells, is highly expressed in the lungs of COVID-19 patients and enhances viral production and hyperinflammatory responses. In this study, we report the pivotal role of DCLK1-regulated mechanisms in driving SARS-CoV-2 replication-transcription processes and pathogenic signaling. Notably, pharmacological inhibition of DCLK1 kinase during SARS-CoV-2 effectively impedes these processes and counteracts virus-induced alternations in global cell signaling. These findings hold significant potential for immediate application in treating COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram Babu Undi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Nagib Ahsan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Mass Spectrometry, Proteomics and Metabolomics Core Facility, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Jason L. Larabee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Nicole Darlene-Reuter
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - James Papin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Samrita Dogra
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Bethany N. Hannafon
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Michael S. Bronze
- Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Courtney W. Houchen
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Mark M. Huycke
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Naushad Ali
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
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19
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Chauhan NR, Kundu S, Bal R, Chattopadhyay D, Sahu R, Mehto S, Yadav R, Krishna S, Jena KK, Satapathy S, Pv A, Murmu KC, Singh B, Patnaik S, Jena S, Harshan KH, Syed GH, Idris MM, Prasad P, Chauhan S. Transgenic mouse models support a protective role of type I IFN response in SARS-CoV-2 infection-related lung immunopathology and neuroinvasion. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113275. [PMID: 37874678 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Type I interferon (IFN-I) response is the first line of host defense against invading viruses. In the absence of definite mouse models, the role of IFN-I in SARS-CoV-2 infection remains perplexing. Here, we develop two mouse models, one with constitutively high IFN-I response (hACE2; Irgm1-/-) and the other with dampened IFN-I response (hACE2; Ifnar1-/-), to comprehend the role of IFN-I response. We report that hACE2; Irgm1-/- mice are resistant to lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection. In contrast, a severe SARS-CoV-2 infection along with immune cell infiltration, cytokine storm, and enhanced pathology is observed in the lungs and brain of hACE2; Ifnar1-/- mice. The hACE2; Irgm1-/-Ifnar1-/- double-knockout mice display loss of the protective phenotype observed in hACE2; Irgm1-/- mice, suggesting that heightened IFN-I response accounts for the observed immunity. Taking the results together, we demonstrate that IFN-I protects from lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection, and Irgm1 (IRGM) could be an excellent therapeutic target against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishant Ranjan Chauhan
- Cell Biology and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Infectious Disease Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751023, India.
| | - Soumya Kundu
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India
| | - Ramyasingh Bal
- Cell Biology and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Infectious Disease Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751023, India; School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Diya Chattopadhyay
- Cell Biology and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Infectious Disease Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751023, India
| | - Rinku Sahu
- Cell Biology and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Infectious Disease Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751023, India; Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Subhash Mehto
- Cell Biology and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Infectious Disease Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751023, India
| | - Rina Yadav
- Cell Biology and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Infectious Disease Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751023, India; Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Sivaram Krishna
- Cell Biology and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Infectious Disease Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751023, India; Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Kautilya Kumar Jena
- Cell Biology and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Infectious Disease Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751023, India
| | - Sameekshya Satapathy
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India
| | - Anusha Pv
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India
| | - Krushna C Murmu
- Epigenetic and Chromatin Biology Unit, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751023, India
| | - Bharati Singh
- Virus-Host Interactions Lab, Department of Infectious Disease Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | | | - Sarita Jena
- Experimental Animal Facility, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751023, India
| | - Krishnan H Harshan
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India
| | - Gulam Hussain Syed
- Virus-Host Interactions Lab, Department of Infectious Disease Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Mohammed M Idris
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India
| | - Punit Prasad
- Epigenetic and Chromatin Biology Unit, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751023, India
| | - Santosh Chauhan
- Cell Biology and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Infectious Disease Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751023, India; CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India.
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20
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van Bergen J, Camps MG, Pardieck IN, Veerkamp D, Leung WY, Leijs AA, Myeni SK, Kikkert M, Arens R, Zondag GC, Ossendorp F. Multiantigen pan-sarbecovirus DNA vaccines generate protective T cell immune responses. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e172488. [PMID: 37707962 PMCID: PMC10721273 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.172488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the third zoonotic coronavirus to cause a major outbreak in humans in recent years, and many more SARS-like coronaviruses with pandemic potential are circulating in several animal species. Vaccines inducing T cell immunity against broadly conserved viral antigens may protect against hospitalization and death caused by outbreaks of such viruses. We report the design and preclinical testing of 2 T cell-based pan-sarbecovirus vaccines, based on conserved regions within viral proteins of sarbecovirus isolates of human and other carrier animals, like bats and pangolins. One vaccine (CoVAX_ORF1ab) encoded antigens derived from nonstructural proteins, and the other (CoVAX_MNS) encoded antigens from structural proteins. Both multiantigen DNA vaccines contained a large set of antigens shared across sarbecoviruses and were rich in predicted and experimentally validated human T cell epitopes. In mice, the multiantigen vaccines generated both CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses to shared epitopes. Upon encounter of full-length spike antigen, CoVAX_MNS-induced CD4+ T cells were responsible for accelerated CD8+ T cell and IgG Ab responses specific to the incoming spike, irrespective of its sarbecovirus origin. Finally, both vaccines elicited partial protection against a lethal SARS-CoV-2 challenge in human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2-transgenic mice. These results support clinical testing of these universal sarbecovirus vaccines for pandemic preparedness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcel G.M. Camps
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Iris N. Pardieck
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Dominique Veerkamp
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Wing Yan Leung
- Immunetune BV, Leiden, Netherlands
- Synvolux BV, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Anouk A. Leijs
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sebenzile K. Myeni
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Kikkert
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Ramon Arens
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Gerben C. Zondag
- Immunetune BV, Leiden, Netherlands
- Synvolux BV, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Ferry Ossendorp
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
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21
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Rasmussen HB, Hansen PR. Molnupiravir Revisited-Critical Assessment of Studies in Animal Models of COVID-19. Viruses 2023; 15:2151. [PMID: 38005828 PMCID: PMC10675540 DOI: 10.3390/v15112151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Molnupiravir, a prodrug known for its broad antiviral activity, has demonstrated efficacy in animal models of COVID-19, prompting clinical trials, in which initial results indicated a significant effect against the disease. However, subsequent clinical studies did not confirm these findings, leading to the refusal of molnupiravir for permanent market authorization in many countries. This report critically assessed 22 studies published in 18 reports that investigated the efficacy of molnupiravir in animal models of COVID-19, with the purpose of determining how well the design of these models informed human studies. We found that the administered doses of molnupiravir in most studies involving animal COVID-19 models were disproportionately higher than the dose recommended for human use. Specifically, when adjusted for body surface area, over half of the doses of molnupiravir used in the animal studies exceeded twice the human dose. Direct comparison of reported drug exposure across species after oral administration of molnupiravir indicated that the antiviral efficacy of the dose recommended for human use was underestimated in some animal models and overestimated in others. Frequently, molnupiravir was given prophylactically or shortly after SARS-CoV-2 inoculation in these models, in contrast to clinical trials where such timing is not consistently achieved. Furthermore, the recommended five-day treatment duration for humans was exceeded in several animal studies. Collectively, we suggest that design elements in the animal studies under examination contributed to a preference favoring molnupiravir, and thus inflated expectations for its efficacy against COVID-19. Addressing these elements may offer strategies to enhance the clinical efficacy of molnupiravir for the treatment of COVID-19. Such strategies include dose increment, early treatment initiation, administration by inhalation, and use of the drug in antiviral combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Berg Rasmussen
- Institute of Biological Psychiatry, Mental Health Centre Sct. Hans, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Peter Riis Hansen
- Department of Cardiology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark;
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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22
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Gilliland T, Dunn M, Liu Y, Alcorn MD, Terada Y, Vasilatos S, Lundy J, Li R, Nambulli S, Larson D, Duprex P, Wu H, Luke T, Bausch C, Egland K, Sullivan E, Wang Z, Klimstra WB. Transchromosomic bovine-derived anti-SARS-CoV-2 polyclonal human antibodies protects hACE2 transgenic hamsters against multiple variants. iScience 2023; 26:107764. [PMID: 37736038 PMCID: PMC10509298 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Pandemic SARS-CoV-2 has undergone rapid evolution resulting in the emergence of many variants with mutations in the spike protein, some of which appear to evade antibody neutralization, transmit more efficiently, and/or exhibit altered virulence. This raises significant concerns regarding the efficacy of anti-S monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics which have failed against variant SARS-CoV-2 viruses. To address this concern, SAB-185, a human anti-SARS-CoV-2 polyclonal antibody was generated in the DiversitAb platform. SAB-185 exhibited equivalent, robust in vitro neutralization for Munich, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Δ144-146 variants and, although diminished, retained PRNT50 and PRNT80 neutralization endpoints for Delta and Omicron variants. Human ACE2 transgenic Syrian hamsters, which exhibit lethal SARS-CoV-2 disease, were protected from mortality after challenge with the Munich, Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Δ144-146 variants and clinical signs after non-lethal Omicron BA.1 infection. This suggests that SAB-185 may be an effective immunotherapy even in the presence of ongoing viral mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theron Gilliland
- Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Matthew Dunn
- Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Yanan Liu
- Department of Animal Dairy, Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84341, USA
| | - Maria D.H. Alcorn
- Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Yutaka Terada
- Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Shauna Vasilatos
- Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Jeneveve Lundy
- Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Rong Li
- Department of Animal Dairy, Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84341, USA
| | - Sham Nambulli
- Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Deanna Larson
- Department of Animal Dairy, Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84341, USA
| | - Paul Duprex
- Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Hua Wu
- SAb Biotherapeutics, Inc, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Thomas Luke
- SAb Biotherapeutics, Inc, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | | | - Kristi Egland
- SAb Biotherapeutics, Inc, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | | | - Zhongde Wang
- Department of Animal Dairy, Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84341, USA
| | - William B. Klimstra
- Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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23
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Sriramula S, Theobald D, Parekh RU, Akula SM, O’Rourke DP, Eells JB. Emerging Role of Kinin B1 Receptor in Persistent Neuroinflammation and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Mice Following Recovery from SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Cells 2023; 12:2107. [PMID: 37626917 PMCID: PMC10453171 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence suggests that patients with long COVID can experience neuropsychiatric, neurologic, and cognitive symptoms. However, these clinical data are mostly associational studies complicated by confounding variables, thus the mechanisms responsible for persistent symptoms are unknown. Here we establish an animal model of long-lasting effects on the brain by eliciting mild disease in K18-hACE2 mice. Male and female K18-hACE2 mice were infected with 4 × 103 TCID50 of SARS-CoV-2 and, following recovery from acute infection, were tested in the open field, zero maze, and Y maze, starting 30 days post infection. Following recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection, K18-hACE2 mice showed the characteristic lung fibrosis associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, which correlates with increased expression of the pro-inflammatory kinin B1 receptor (B1R). These mice also had elevated expression of B1R and inflammatory markers in the brain and exhibited behavioral alterations such as elevated anxiety and attenuated exploratory behavior. Our data demonstrate that K18-hACE2 mice exhibit persistent effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on brain tissue, revealing the potential for using this model of high sensitivity to SARS-CoV-2 to investigate mechanisms contributing to long COVID symptoms in at-risk populations. These results further suggest that elevated B1R expression may drive the long-lasting inflammatory response associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinivas Sriramula
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA; (D.T.); (R.U.P.)
| | - Drew Theobald
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA; (D.T.); (R.U.P.)
| | - Rohan Umesh Parekh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA; (D.T.); (R.U.P.)
| | - Shaw M. Akula
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA;
| | - Dorcas P. O’Rourke
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA;
| | - Jeffrey B. Eells
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
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24
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Ewart G, Bobardt M, Bentzen BH, Yan Y, Thomson A, Klumpp K, Becker S, Rosenkilde MM, Miller M, Gallay P. Post-infection treatment with the E protein inhibitor BIT225 reduces disease severity and increases survival of K18-hACE2 transgenic mice infected with a lethal dose of SARS-CoV-2. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011328. [PMID: 37549173 PMCID: PMC10434922 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The Coronavirus envelope (E) protein is a small structural protein with ion channel activity that plays an important role in virus assembly, budding, immunopathogenesis and disease severity. The viroporin E is also located in Golgi and ER membranes of infected cells and is associated with inflammasome activation and immune dysregulation. Here we evaluated in vitro antiviral activity, mechanism of action and in vivo efficacy of BIT225 for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. BIT225 showed broad-spectrum direct-acting antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in Calu3 and Vero cells with similar potency across 6 different virus strains. BIT225 inhibited ion channel activity of E protein but did not inhibit endogenous currents or calcium-induced ion channel activity of TMEM16A in Xenopus oocytes. BIT225 administered by oral gavage for 12 days starting 12 hours before infection completely prevented body weight loss and mortality in SARS-CoV-2 infected K18 mice (100% survival, n = 12), while all vehicle-dosed animals reached a mortality endpoint by Day 9 across two studies (n = 12). When treatment started at 24 hours after infection, body weight loss, and mortality were also prevented (100% survival, n = 5), while 4 of 5 mice maintained and increased body weight and survived when treatment started 48 hours after infection. Treatment efficacy was dependent on BIT225 dose and was associated with significant reductions in lung viral load (3.5 log10), virus titer (4000 pfu/ml) and lung and serum cytokine levels. These results validate viroporin E as a viable antiviral target and support the clinical study of BIT225 for treatment and prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Ewart
- Biotron Limited, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michael Bobardt
- The Scripps Institute, Immunology and Microbiology, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Bo Hjorth Bentzen
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yannan Yan
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Klaus Klumpp
- Biotron Limited, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Mette M. Rosenkilde
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Philippe Gallay
- The Scripps Institute, Immunology and Microbiology, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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25
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Ulbegi Polat H, Abaci I, Tas Ekiz A, Aksoy O, Oktelik FB, Yilmaz V, Tekin S, Okyar A, Oncul O, Deniz G. Therapeutic Effect of C-Vx Substance in K18-hACE2 Transgenic Mice Infected with SARS-CoV-2. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11957. [PMID: 37569331 PMCID: PMC10418837 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241511957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
C-Vx is a bioprotective product designed to boost the immune system. This study aimed to determine the antiviral activity of the C-Vx substance against SARS-CoV-2 infection. The effect of C-Vx in K18-hACE2 transgenic mice against the SARS-CoV-2 virus was investigated. For this purpose, ten mice were separated into experimental and control groups. Animals were infected with SARS-CoV-2 prior to the administration of the product to determine whether the product has a therapeutic effect similar to that demonstrated in previous human studies, at a histopathological and molecular level. C-Vx-treated mice survived the challenge, whereas the control mice became ill and/or died. The cytokine-chemokine panel with blood samples taken during the critical days of the disease revealed detailed immune responses. Our findings showed that C-Vx presented 90% protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus-infected mice. The challenge results and cytokine responses of K18-hACE2 transgenic mice matched previous scientific studies, demonstrating the C-Vx's antiviral efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hivda Ulbegi Polat
- TUBITAK Marmara Research Center, Kocaeli 41470, Türkiye; (H.U.P.); (I.A.); (A.T.E.); (O.A.)
| | - Irem Abaci
- TUBITAK Marmara Research Center, Kocaeli 41470, Türkiye; (H.U.P.); (I.A.); (A.T.E.); (O.A.)
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Gebze Technical University, Kocaeli 41400, Türkiye
| | - Arzu Tas Ekiz
- TUBITAK Marmara Research Center, Kocaeli 41470, Türkiye; (H.U.P.); (I.A.); (A.T.E.); (O.A.)
| | - Ozge Aksoy
- TUBITAK Marmara Research Center, Kocaeli 41470, Türkiye; (H.U.P.); (I.A.); (A.T.E.); (O.A.)
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Institute of Sciences, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul 34220, Türkiye
| | - Fatma Betul Oktelik
- Department of Immunology, Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul 34452, Türkiye;
| | - Vuslat Yilmaz
- Department of Neuroscience, Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul 34452, Türkiye;
| | - Saban Tekin
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul 34865, Türkiye;
| | - Alper Okyar
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Istanbul University, Istanbul 34452, Türkiye;
| | - Oral Oncul
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul 34452, Türkiye;
| | - Gunnur Deniz
- Department of Immunology, Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul 34452, Türkiye;
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26
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Hassler L, Wysocki J, Ahrendsen JT, Ye M, Gelarden I, Nicolaescu V, Tomatsidou A, Gula H, Cianfarini C, Forster P, Khurram N, Singer BD, Randall G, Missiakas D, Henkin J, Batlle D. Intranasal soluble ACE2 improves survival and prevents brain SARS-CoV-2 infection. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202301969. [PMID: 37041017 PMCID: PMC10098141 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202301969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
A soluble ACE2 protein bioengineered for long duration of action and high affinity to SARS-CoV-2 was administered either intranasally (IN) or intraperitoneally (IP) to SARS-CoV-2-inoculated k18hACE2 mice. This decoy protein (ACE2 618-DDC-ABD) was given either IN or IP, pre- and post-inoculation, or IN, IP, or IN + IP but only post-inoculation. Survival by day 5 was 0% in untreated mice, 40% in the IP-pre, and 90% in the IN-pre group. In the IN-pre group, brain histopathology was essentially normal and lung histopathology significantly improved. Consistent with this, brain SARS-CoV-2 titers were undetectable and lung titers reduced in the IN-pre group. When ACE2 618-DDC-ABD was administered only post-inoculation, survival was 30% in the IN + IP, 20% in the IN, and 20% in the IP group. We conclude that ACE2 618-DDC-ABD results in markedly improved survival and provides organ protection when given intranasally as compared with when given either systemically or after viral inoculation, and that lowering brain titers is a critical determinant of survival and organ protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luise Hassler
- Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Wysocki
- Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jared T Ahrendsen
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Minghao Ye
- Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ian Gelarden
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Vlad Nicolaescu
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Ricketts Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Chicago, Lemont, IL, USA
| | - Anastasia Tomatsidou
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Ricketts Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Chicago, Lemont, IL, USA
| | - Haley Gula
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Ricketts Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Chicago, Lemont, IL, USA
| | - Cosimo Cianfarini
- Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Peter Forster
- Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Nigar Khurram
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Benjamin D Singer
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Glenn Randall
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Ricketts Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Chicago, Lemont, IL, USA
| | - Dominique Missiakas
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Ricketts Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Chicago, Lemont, IL, USA
| | - Jack Henkin
- Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Daniel Batlle
- Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
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27
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Elder E, Bangalore Revanna C, Johansson C, Wallin RPA, Sjödahl J, Winqvist O, Mirazimi A. Protective immunity induced by an inhaled SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine. Vaccine 2023:S0264-410X(23)00684-9. [PMID: 37353452 PMCID: PMC10242152 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Targeting the site of infection is a promising strategy for improving vaccine effectivity. To date, licensed COVID-19 vaccines have been administered intramuscularly despite the fact that SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory virus. Here, we aim to induce local protective mucosal immune responses with an inhaled subunit vaccine candidate, ISR52, based on the SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 protein. When tested in a lethal challenge hACE2 transgenic SARS-CoV-2 mouse model, intranasal and intratracheal administration of ISR52 provided superior protection against severe infection, compared to the subcutaneous injection of the vaccine. Interestingly for a protein-based vaccine, inhaled ISR52 elicited both CD4 and CD8 T-cell Spike-specific responses that were maintained for at least 6 months in wild-type mice. Induced IgG and IgA responses cross-reacting with several SARS- CoV-2 variants of concern were detected in the lung and in serum and protected animals displayed neutralizing antibodies. Based on our results, we are developing ISR52 as a dry powder formulation for inhalation, that does not require cold-chain distribution or the use of needle administration, for evaluation in a Phase I/II clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ali Mirazimi
- National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden; Clinical Microbiology, LABMED, Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
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28
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da Silva Santos Y, Gamon THM, de Azevedo MSP, Telezynski BL, de Souza EE, de Oliveira DBL, Dombrowski JG, Rosa-Fernandes L, Palmisano G, de Moura Carvalho LJ, Luvizotto MCR, Wrenger C, Covas DT, Curi R, Marinho CRF, Durigon EL, Epiphanio S. Virulence Profiles of Wild-Type, P.1 and Delta SARS-CoV-2 Variants in K18-hACE2 Transgenic Mice. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040999. [PMID: 37112979 PMCID: PMC10146242 DOI: 10.3390/v15040999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Since December 2019, the world has been experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and we now face the emergence of several variants. We aimed to assess the differences between the wild-type (Wt) (Wuhan) strain and the P.1 (Gamma) and Delta variants using infected K18-hACE2 mice. The clinical manifestations, behavior, virus load, pulmonary capacity, and histopathological alterations were analyzed. The P.1-infected mice showed weight loss and more severe clinical manifestations of COVID-19 than the Wt and Delta-infected mice. The respiratory capacity was reduced in the P.1-infected mice compared to the other groups. Pulmonary histological findings demonstrated that a more aggressive disease was generated by the P.1 and Delta variants compared to the Wt strain of the virus. The quantification of the SARS-CoV-2 viral copies varied greatly among the infected mice although it was higher in P.1-infected mice on the day of death. Our data revealed that K18-hACE2 mice infected with the P.1 variant develop a more severe infectious disease than those infected with the other variants, despite the significant heterogeneity among the mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin da Silva Santos
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunopathology of Malaria, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
- Laboratory of Malaria Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Thais Helena Martins Gamon
- Laboratory of Clinical and Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Marcela Santiago Pacheco de Azevedo
- Laboratory of Clinical and Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunoparasitology, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Bruna Larotonda Telezynski
- Laboratory of Clinical and Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Edmarcia Elisa de Souza
- Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Danielle Bruna Leal de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Clinical and Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo 05652-900, Brazil
| | - Jamille Gregório Dombrowski
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunoparasitology, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Livia Rosa-Fernandes
- Laboratory of Clinical and Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, ICB, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Giuseppe Palmisano
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, ICB, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia
| | | | | | - Carsten Wrenger
- Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Dimas Tadeu Covas
- Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05508-040, Brazil
- Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Rui Curi
- Interdisciplinary Program of Health Sciences, Cruzeiro do Sul University, São Paulo 08060-070, Brazil
- Immunobiological Production Section, Bioindustrial Center, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
| | - Claudio Romero Farias Marinho
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunoparasitology, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Edison Luiz Durigon
- Laboratory of Clinical and Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
- Scientific Plataform Pasteur/USP, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-020, Brazil
| | - Sabrina Epiphanio
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunopathology of Malaria, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
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29
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Pastor-Fernández A, Bertos AR, Sierra-Ramírez A, Del Moral-Salmoral J, Merino J, de Ávila AI, Olagüe C, Villares R, González-Aseguinolaza G, Rodríguez MÁ, Fresno M, Gironés N, Bustos M, Smerdou C, Fernandez-Marcos PJ, von Kobbe C. Treatment with the senolytics dasatinib/quercetin reduces SARS-CoV-2-related mortality in mice. Aging Cell 2023; 22:e13771. [PMID: 36704839 PMCID: PMC10014049 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The enormous societal impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly harsh for some social groups, such as the elderly. Recently, it has been suggested that senescent cells could play a central role in pathogenesis by exacerbating the pro-inflammatory immune response against SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, the selective clearance of senescent cells by senolytic drugs may be useful as a therapy to ameliorate the symptoms of COVID-19 in some cases. Using the established COVID-19 murine model K18-hACE2, we demonstrated that a combination of the senolytics dasatinib and quercetin (D/Q) significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2-related mortality, delayed its onset, and reduced the number of other clinical symptoms. The increase in senescent markers that we detected in the lungs in response to SARS-CoV-2 may be related to the post-COVID-19 sequelae described to date. These results place senescent cells as central targets for the treatment of COVID-19, and make D/Q a new and promising therapeutic tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Pastor-Fernández
- Metabolic Syndrome Group-BIOPROMET, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies-IMDEA Food, CEI UAM+CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio R Bertos
- Department of Internal Medicine and Surgical Animal, Faculty of Veterinary/VISAVET Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Arantzazu Sierra-Ramírez
- Metabolic Syndrome Group-BIOPROMET, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies-IMDEA Food, CEI UAM+CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Del Moral-Salmoral
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Merino
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana I de Ávila
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd) del Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Olagüe
- Division of Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression, CIMA Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ricardo Villares
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - María Ángeles Rodríguez
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), University of Seville, Virgen del Rocio University Hospital, Seville, Spain
| | - Manuel Fresno
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Gironés
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Matilde Bustos
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), University of Seville, Virgen del Rocio University Hospital, Seville, Spain
| | - Cristian Smerdou
- Division of Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression, CIMA Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Pablo Jose Fernandez-Marcos
- Metabolic Syndrome Group-BIOPROMET, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies-IMDEA Food, CEI UAM+CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cayetano von Kobbe
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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30
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Zhao D, Qin Y, Liu J, Tang K, Lu S, Liu Z, Lin Y, Zhang C, Huang F, Chang J, Li C, Tian M, Ma Y, Li X, Zhou C, Li X, Peng X, Jin N, Jiang C. Orally administered BZL-sRNA-20 oligonucleotide targeting TLR4 effectively ameliorates acute lung injury in mice. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2023:10.1007/s11427-022-2219-0. [PMID: 36808291 PMCID: PMC9938506 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2219-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
The global COVID-19 pandemic emerged at the end of December 2019. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute lung injury (ALI) are common lethal outcomes of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), avian influenza virus, and SARS-CoV-2. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a key target in the pathological pathway of ARDS and ALI. Previous studies have reported that herbal small RNAs (sRNAs) are a functional medical component. BZL-sRNA-20 (Accession number: B59471456; Family ID: F2201.Q001979.B11) is a potent inhibitor of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, BZL-sRNA-20 reduces intracellular levels of cytokines induced by lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly (I:C)). We found that BZL-sRNA-20 rescued the viability of cells infected with avian influenza H5N1, SARS-CoV-2, and several of its variants of concern (VOCs). Acute lung injury induced by LPS and SARS-CoV-2 in mice was significantly ameliorated by the oral medical decoctosome mimic (bencaosome; sphinganine (d22:0)+BZL-sRNA-20). Our findings suggest that BZL-sRNA-20 could be a pan-anti-ARDS ALI drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Zhao
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005 China
| | - Yuhao Qin
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005 China
| | - Jiaqi Liu
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005 China
| | - Kegong Tang
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005 China
| | - Shuaiyao Lu
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Kunming, 650031 China
| | - Zirui Liu
- grid.410727.70000 0001 0526 1937Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130122 China
| | - Yexuan Lin
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005 China
| | - Cong Zhang
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005 China ,grid.59053.3a0000000121679639Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027 China
| | - Fengming Huang
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005 China
| | - Jiahui Chang
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005 China
| | - Chang Li
- grid.410727.70000 0001 0526 1937Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130122 China
| | - Mingyao Tian
- grid.410727.70000 0001 0526 1937Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130122 China
| | - Yiming Ma
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005 China
| | - Xiaoyun Li
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005 China
| | - Congzhao Zhou
- grid.59053.3a0000000121679639Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027 China
| | - Xiao Li
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130122, China.
| | - Xiaozhong Peng
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Kunming, 650031, China.
| | - Ningyi Jin
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130122, China.
| | - Chengyu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China.
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31
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Dillard JA, Martinez SA, Dearing JJ, Montgomery SA, Baxter AK. Animal Models for the Study of SARS-CoV-2-Induced Respiratory Disease and Pathology. Comp Med 2023; 73:72-90. [PMID: 36229170 PMCID: PMC9948904 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-cm-22-000089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Emergence of the betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in a historic pandemic, with millions of deaths worldwide. An unprecedented effort has been made by the medical, scientific, and public health communities to rapidly develop and implement vaccines and therapeutics to prevent and reduce hospitalizations and deaths. Although SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to disease in many organ systems, the respiratory system is its main target, with pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome as the hallmark features of severe disease. The large number of patients who have contracted COVID-19 infections since 2019 has permitted a detailed characterization of the clinical and pathologic features of the disease in humans. However, continued progress in the development of effective preventatives and therapies requires a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of infection. Studies using animal models are necessary to complement in vitro findings and human clinical data. Multiple animal species have been evaluated as potential models for studying the respiratory disease caused by SARSCoV-2 infection. Knowing the similarities and differences between animal and human responses to infection is critical for effective translation of animal data into human medicine. This review provides a detailed summary of the respiratory disease and associated pathology induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans and compares them with the disease that develops in 3 commonly used models: NHP, hamsters, and mice. The effective use of animals to study SARS-CoV-2-induced respiratory disease will enhance our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, allow the development of novel preventatives and therapeutics, and aid in the preparation for the next emerging virus with pandemic potential.
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Key Words
- ace2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
- agm, african green monkey
- ali, acute lung injury
- ards, acute respiratory distress syndrome
- balf, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
- cards, covid-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome
- dad, diffuse alveolar damage
- dpi, days postinfection
- ggo, ground glass opacities
- s, spike glycoprotein
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A Dillard
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Sabian A Martinez
- Division of Comparative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Justin J Dearing
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, Office of Graduate Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Stephanie A Montgomery
- Division of Comparative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Andvictoria K Baxter
- Division of Comparative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina;,
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Carpenter KC, Yang J, Xu JJ. Animal Models for the Study of Neurologic Manifestations Of COVID-19. Comp Med 2023; 73:91-103. [PMID: 36744556 PMCID: PMC9948905 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-cm-22-000073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of the worldwide coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, has infected an estimated 525 million people with over 6 million deaths. Although COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory disease, an escalating number of neurologic symptoms have been reported in humans. Some neurologic symptoms, such as loss of smell or taste, are mild. However, other symptoms, such as meningoencephalitis or stroke, are potentially fatal. Along with surveys and postmortem evaluations on humans, scientists worked with several animal species to try to elucidate the causes of neurologic symptoms. Neurologic sequelae remain challenging to study due to the complexity of the nervous system and difficulties in identification and quantification of neurologic signs. We reviewed animal models used in the study of neurologic COVID-19, specifically research in mice, hamsters, ferrets, and nonhuman primates. We summarized findings on the presence and pathologic effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the nervous system. Given the need to increase understanding of COVID-19 and its effects on the nervous system, scientists must strive to obtain new information from animals to reduce mortality and morbidity with neurologic complications in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey C Carpenter
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan;,
| | - Jibing Yang
- Center for Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jiajie J Xu
- Division of Animal Resources, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois
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The GABA and GABA-Receptor System in Inflammation, Anti-Tumor Immune Responses, and COVID-19. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020254. [PMID: 36830790 PMCID: PMC9953446 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
GABA and GABAA-receptors (GABAA-Rs) play major roles in neurodevelopment and neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS). There has been a growing appreciation that GABAA-Rs are also present on most immune cells. Studies in the fields of autoimmune disease, cancer, parasitology, and virology have observed that GABA-R ligands have anti-inflammatory actions on T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APCs), while also enhancing regulatory T cell (Treg) responses and shifting APCs toward anti-inflammatory phenotypes. These actions have enabled GABAA-R ligands to ameliorate autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes (T1D), multiple sclerosis (MS), and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as type 2 diabetes (T2D)-associated inflammation in preclinical models. Conversely, antagonism of GABAA-R activity promotes the pro-inflammatory responses of T cells and APCs, enhancing anti-tumor responses and reducing tumor burden in models of solid tumors. Lung epithelial cells also express GABA-Rs, whose activation helps maintain fluid homeostasis and promote recovery from injury. The ability of GABAA-R agonists to limit both excessive immune responses and lung epithelial cell injury may underlie recent findings that GABAA-R agonists reduce the severity of disease in mice infected with highly lethal coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2 and MHV-1). These observations suggest that GABAA-R agonists may provide off-the-shelf therapies for COVID-19 caused by new SARS-CoV-2 variants, as well as novel beta-coronaviruses, which evade vaccine-induced immune responses and antiviral medications. We review these findings and further advance the notions that (1) immune cells possess GABAA-Rs to limit inflammation in the CNS, and (2) this natural "braking system" on inflammatory responses may be pharmacologically engaged to slow the progression of autoimmune diseases, reduce the severity of COVID-19, and perhaps limit neuroinflammation associated with long COVID.
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Thangavel H, Dhanyalayam D, Lizardo K, Oswal N, Dolgov E, Perlin DS, Nagajyothi JF. Susceptibility of Fat Tissue to SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Female hACE2 Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:1314. [PMID: 36674830 PMCID: PMC9863100 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly contagious viral illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 has had a catastrophic effect globally causing millions of deaths worldwide and causing long-lasting health complications in COVID-19 survivors. Recent studies including ours have highlighted that adipose tissue can act as a reservoir where SARS-CoV-2 can persist and cause long-term health problems. Here, we evaluated the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on adipose tissue physiology and the pathogenesis of fat loss in a murine COVID-19 model using humanized angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) mice. Since epidemiological studies reported a higher mortality rate of COVID-19 in males than in females, we examined hACE2 mice of both sexes and performed a comparative analysis. Our study revealed for the first time that: (a) viral loads in adipose tissue and the lungs differ between males and females in hACE2 mice; (b) an inverse relationship exists between the viral loads in the lungs and adipose tissue, and it differs between males and females; and (c) CoV-2 infection alters immune signaling and cell death signaling differently in SARS-CoV-2 infected male and female mice. Overall, our data suggest that adipose tissue and loss of fat cells could play important roles in determining susceptibility to CoV-2 infection in a sex-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jyothi F. Nagajyothi
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA
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Targeting neutrophils extracellular traps (NETs) reduces multiple organ injury in a COVID-19 mouse model. Respir Res 2023; 24:66. [PMID: 36864506 PMCID: PMC9978286 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-023-02336-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 is characterized by severe acute lung injury, which is associated with neutrophil infiltration and the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). COVID-19 treatment options are scarce. Previous work has shown an increase in NETs release in the lung and plasma of COVID-19 patients suggesting that drugs that prevent NETs formation or release could be potential therapeutic approaches for COVID-19 treatment. METHODS Here, we report the efficacy of NET-degrading DNase I treatment in a murine model of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2-infected K18-hACE2 mice were performed for clinical sickness scores and lung pathology. Moreover, the levels of NETs were assessed and lung injuries were by histopathology and TUNEL assay. Finally, the injury in the heart and kidney was assessed by histopathology and biochemical-specific markers. RESULTS DNase I decreased detectable levels of NETs, improved clinical disease, and reduced lung, heart, and kidney injuries in SARS-CoV-2-infected K18-hACE2 mice. Furthermore, our findings indicate a potentially deleterious role for NETs lung tissue in vivo and lung epithelial (A549) cells in vitro, which might explain part of the pathophysiology of severe COVID-19. This deleterious effect was diminished by the treatment with DNase I. CONCLUSIONS Together, our results support the role of NETs in COVID-19 immunopathology and highlight NETs disruption pharmacological approaches as a potential strategy to ameliorate COVID-19 clinical outcomes.
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36
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Kwon HJ, Kosikova M, Tang W, Ortega-Rodriguez U, Radvak P, Xiang R, Mercer KE, Muskhelishvili L, Davis K, Ward JM, Kosik I, Holly J, Kang I, Yewdell JW, Plant EP, Chen WH, Shriver MC, Barnes RS, Pasetti MF, Zhou B, Wentworth DE, Xie H. Enhanced virulence and waning vaccine-elicited antibodies account for breakthrough infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 delta and beyond. iScience 2022; 25:105507. [PMID: 36373096 PMCID: PMC9635945 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we interrogate the factors responsible for SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections in a K18-hACE2 transgenic mouse model. We show that Delta and the closely related Kappa variant cause viral pneumonia and severe lung lesions in K18-hACE2 mice. Human COVID-19 mRNA post-vaccination sera after the 2nd dose are significantly less efficient in neutralizing Delta/Kappa than early 614G virus in vitro and in vivo. By 5 months post-vaccination, ≥50% of donors lack detectable neutralizing antibodies against Delta and Kappa and all mice receiving 5-month post-vaccination sera die after the lethal challenges. Although a 3rd vaccine dose can boost antibody neutralization against Delta in vitro and in vivo, the mean log neutralization titers against the latest Omicron subvariants are 1/3-1/2 of those against the original 614D virus. Our results suggest that enhanced virulence, greater immune evasion, and waning of vaccine-elicited protection account for SARS-CoV-2 variants caused breakthrough infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyung-Joon Kwon
- Laboratory of Pediatric and Respiratory Viral Diseases, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Martina Kosikova
- Laboratory of Pediatric and Respiratory Viral Diseases, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Weichun Tang
- Laboratory of Pediatric and Respiratory Viral Diseases, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Uriel Ortega-Rodriguez
- Laboratory of Pediatric and Respiratory Viral Diseases, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Peter Radvak
- Laboratory of Pediatric and Respiratory Viral Diseases, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Ruoxuan Xiang
- Division of Biostatistics, Office of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Kelly E. Mercer
- Biomarkers and Alternative Models Branch, National Center for Toxicological Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | | | - Kelly Davis
- Toxicologic Pathology Associates, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | | | - Ivan Kosik
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jaroslav Holly
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Insung Kang
- Laboratory of Pediatric and Respiratory Viral Diseases, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Jonathan W. Yewdell
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ewan P. Plant
- Laboratory of Pediatric and Respiratory Viral Diseases, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Wilbur H. Chen
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mallory C. Shriver
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robin S. Barnes
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marcela F. Pasetti
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bin Zhou
- CDC COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David E. Wentworth
- CDC COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Hang Xie
- Laboratory of Pediatric and Respiratory Viral Diseases, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
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Hassler L, Wysocki J, Ahrendsen JT, Ye M, Gelarden I, Nicolaescu V, Tomatsidou A, Gula H, Cianfarini C, Khurram N, Kanwar Y, Singer BD, Randall G, Missiakas D, Henkin J, Batlle D. Superiority of intranasal over systemic administration of bioengineered soluble ACE2 for survival and brain protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.12.05.519032. [PMID: 36523403 PMCID: PMC9753780 DOI: 10.1101/2022.12.05.519032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate the effects of a soluble ACE2 protein termed ACE2 618-DDC-ABD, bioengineered to have long duration of action and high binding affinity to SARS-CoV-2, when administered either intranasally (IN) or intraperitoneally (IP) and before or after SARS-CoV-2 inoculation. K18hACE2 mice permissive for SARS-CoV-2 infection were inoculated with 2Ã-10 4 PFU wildtype SARS-CoV-2. In one protocol, ACE2 618-DDC-ABD was given either IN or IP, pre- and post-viral inoculation. In a second protocol, ACE2 618-DDC-ABD was given either IN, IP or IN+IP but only post-viral inoculation. In addition, A549 and Vero E6 cells were used to test neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants by ACE2 618-DDC-ABD at different concentrations. Survival by day 5 was 0% in infected untreated mice, and 40% in mice from the ACE2 618-DDC-ABD IP-pre treated group. By contrast, in the IN-pre group survival was 90%, histopathology of brain and kidney was essentially normal and markedly improved in the lungs. When ACE2 618-DDC-ABD was administered only post viral inoculation, survival was 30% in the IN+IP group, 20% in the IN and 0% in the IP group. Brain SARS-CoV-2 titers were high in all groups except for the IN-pre group where titers were undetectable in all mice. In cells permissive for SARS-CoV-2 infection, ACE2 618-DDC-ABD neutralized wildtype SARS-CoV-2 at high concentrations, whereas much lower concentrations neutralized omicron BA. 1. We conclude that ACE2 618-DDC-ABD provides much better survival and organ protection when administered intranasally than when given systemically or after viral inoculation and that lowering brain titers is a critical determinant of survival and organ protection.
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38
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Characterization of Three Variants of SARS-CoV-2 In Vivo Shows Host-Dependent Pathogenicity in Hamsters, While Not in K18-hACE2 Mice. Viruses 2022; 14:v14112584. [PMID: 36423193 PMCID: PMC9693146 DOI: 10.3390/v14112584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models are used in preclinical trials to test vaccines, antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, and immunomodulatory drug therapies against SARS-CoV-2. However, these drugs often do not produce equivalent results in human clinical trials. Here, we show how different animal models infected with some of the most clinically relevant SARS-CoV-2 variants, WA1/2020, B.1.617.2/Delta, B.1.1.529/Omicron, and BA5.2/Omicron, have independent outcomes. We show that in K18-hACE2 mice, B.1.617.2 is more pathogenic, followed by WA1, while B.1.1.529 showed an absence of clinical signs. Only B.1.1.529 was able to infect C57BL/6J mice, which lack the human ACE2 receptor. B.1.1.529-infected C57BL/6J mice had different T cell profiles compared to infected K18-hACE2 mice, while viral shedding profiles and viral titers in lungs were similar between the K18-hACE2 and the C57BL/6J mice. These data suggest B.1.1.529 virus adaptation to a new host and shows that asymptomatic carriers can accumulate and shed virus. Next, we show how B.1.617.2, WA1 and BA5.2/Omicron have similar viral replication kinetics, pathogenicity, and viral shedding profiles in hamsters, demonstrating that the increased pathogenicity of B.1.617.2 observed in mice is host-dependent. Overall, these findings suggest that small animal models are useful to parallel human clinical data, but the experimental design places an important role in interpreting the data. Importance: There is a need to investigate SARS-CoV-2 variant phenotypes in different animal models due to the lack of reproducible outcomes when translating experiments to the human population. Our findings highlight the correlation of clinically relevant SARS-CoV-2 variants in animal models with human infections. Experimental design and understanding of correct animal models are essential to interpreting data to develop antivirals, vaccines, and other therapeutic compounds against COVID-19.
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Kim SH, Kim J, Jang JY, Noh H, Park J, Jeong H, Jeon D, Uhm C, Oh H, Cho K, Jeon Y, On D, Yoon S, Lim SY, Kim SP, Lee YW, Jang HJ, Park IH, Oh J, Seo JS, Kim JJ, Seok SH, Lee YJ, Hong SM, An SH, Kim SY, Kim YB, Hwang JY, Lee HJ, Kim HB, Choi KS, Park JW, Seo JY, Yun JW, Shin JS, Lee HY, Kim K, Lee D, Lee H, Nam KT, Seong JK. Mouse models of lung-specific SARS-CoV-2 infection with moderate pathological traits. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1055811. [PMID: 36457995 PMCID: PMC9706212 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1055811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a global health concern since 2019. The viral spike protein infects the host by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expressed on the cell surface, which is then processed by type II transmembrane serine protease. However, ACE2 does not react to SARS-CoV-2 in inbred wild-type mice, which poses a challenge for preclinical research with animal models, necessitating a human ACE2 (hACE2)-expressing transgenic mouse model. Cytokeratin 18 (K18) promoter-derived hACE2 transgenic mice [B6.Cg-Tg(K18-ACE2)2Prlmn/J] are widely used for research on SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. However, SARS-CoV-2 infection is lethal at ≥105 PFU and SARS-CoV-2 target cells are limited to type-1 alveolar pneumocytes in K18-hACE2 mice, making this model incompatible with infections in the human lung. Hence, we developed lung-specific SARS-CoV-2 infection mouse models with surfactant protein B (SFTPB) and secretoglobin family 1a member 1 (Scgb1a1) promoters. After inoculation of 105 PFU of SARS-CoV-2 to the K18-hACE2, SFTPB-hACE2, and SCGB1A1-hACE2 models, the peak viral titer was detected at 2 days post-infection and then gradually decreased. In K18-hACE2 mice, the body temperature decreased by approximately 10°C, body weight decreased by over 20%, and the survival rate was reduced. However, SFTPB-hACE2 and SCGB1A1-hACE2 mice showed minimal clinical signs after infection. The virus targeted type I pneumocytes in K18-hACE2 mice; type II pneumocytes in SFTPB-hACE2 mice; and club, goblet, and ciliated cells in SCGB1A1-hACE2 mice. A time-dependent increase in severe lung lesions was detected in K18-hACE2 mice, whereas mild lesions developed in SFTPB-hACE2 and SCGB1A1-hACE2 mice. Spleen, small intestine, and brain lesions developed in K18-hACE2 mice but not in SFTPB-hACE2 and SCGB1A1-hACE2 mice. These newly developed SFTPB-hACE2 and SCGB1A1-hACE2 mice should prove useful to expand research on hACE2-mediated respiratory viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Hee Kim
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jiseon Kim
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ji Yun Jang
- Division of Cancer Biology, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyuna Noh
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jisun Park
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Haengdueng Jeong
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Donghun Jeon
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Chanyang Uhm
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Heeju Oh
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyungrae Cho
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yoon Jeon
- Division of Cancer Biology, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea
| | - Dain On
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Genomics, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, and BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Suhyeon Yoon
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Soo-Yeon Lim
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sol Pin Kim
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Youn Woo Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Hui Jeong Jang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - In Ho Park
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Institute of Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jooyeon Oh
- Department of Microbiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jung Seon Seo
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jeong Jin Kim
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sang-Hyuk Seok
- Division of Biomedical Convergence, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea
| | - Yu Jin Lee
- Division of Biomedical Convergence, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea
| | - Seung-Min Hong
- Laboratory of Avian Diseases, BK21 plus Program for Veterinary Science and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Se-Hee An
- Laboratory of Avian Diseases, BK21 plus Program for Veterinary Science and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seo Yeon Kim
- Preclinical Research Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Young Been Kim
- Preclinical Research Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Ji-Yeon Hwang
- Preclinical Research Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Hyo-Jung Lee
- Department of Periodontology, Section of Dentistry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Hong Bin Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Kang-Seuk Choi
- Laboratory of Avian Diseases, BK21 plus Program for Veterinary Science and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jun Won Park
- Division of Biomedical Convergence, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea
| | - Jun-Young Seo
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jun-Won Yun
- Laboratory of Veterinary Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jeon-Soo Shin
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Institute of Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ho-Young Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyoungmi Kim
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Daekee Lee
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ho Lee
- Division of Cancer Biology, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea
- Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea
| | - Ki Taek Nam
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Je Kyung Seong
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Genomics, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, and BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- BIO-MAX Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program for Bioinformatics, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
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40
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Liu S, Stauft CB, Selvaraj P, Chandrasekaran P, D’Agnillo F, Chou CK, Wu WW, Lien CZ, Meseda CA, Pedro CL, Starost MF, Weir JP, Wang TT. Intranasal delivery of a rationally attenuated SARS-CoV-2 is immunogenic and protective in Syrian hamsters. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6792. [PMID: 36357440 PMCID: PMC9648440 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34571-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Few live attenuated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines are in pre-clinical or clinical development. We seek to attenuate SARS-CoV-2 (isolate WA1/2020) by removing the polybasic insert within the spike protein and the open reading frames (ORFs) 6-8, and by introducing mutations that abolish non-structural protein 1 (Nsp1)-mediated toxicity. The derived virus (WA1-ΔPRRA-ΔORF6-8-Nsp1K164A/H165A) replicates to 100- to 1000-fold-lower titers than the ancestral virus and induces little lung pathology in both K18-human ACE2 (hACE2) transgenic mice and Syrian hamsters. Immunofluorescence and transcriptomic analyses of infected hamsters confirm that three-pronged genetic modifications attenuate the proinflammatory pathways more than the removal of the polybasic cleavage site alone. Finally, intranasal administration of just 100 PFU of the WA1-ΔPRRA-ΔORF6-8-Nsp1K164A/H165A elicits robust antibody responses in Syrian hamsters and protects against SARS-CoV-2-induced weight loss and pneumonia. As a proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate that live but sufficiently attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines may be attainable by rational design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shufeng Liu
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Charles B. Stauft
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Prabhuanand Selvaraj
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Prabha Chandrasekaran
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institutes of Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, USA
| | - Felice D’Agnillo
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Laboratory of Biochemistry and Vascular Biology, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Chao-Kai Chou
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Facility for Biotechnology Resources, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Wells W. Wu
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Facility for Biotechnology Resources, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Christopher Z. Lien
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Clement A. Meseda
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Cyntia L. Pedro
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Matthew F. Starost
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Division of Veterinary Resources, Diagnostic and Research Services Branch, National Institutes of Health, Rockville Pike, USA
| | - Jerry P. Weir
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Tony T. Wang
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
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Péricat D, Leon-Icaza SA, Sanchez Rico M, Mühle C, Zoicas I, Schumacher F, Planès R, Mazars R, Gros G, Carpinteiro A, Becker KA, Izopet J, Strub-Wourgaft N, Sjö P, Neyrolles O, Kleuser B, Limosin F, Gulbins E, Kornhuber J, Meunier E, Hoertel N, Cougoule C. Antiviral and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Fluoxetine in a SARS-CoV-2 Infection Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13623. [PMID: 36362409 PMCID: PMC9657171 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Since a large portion of the world's population is currently unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated and has limited access to approved treatments against COVID-19, there is an urgent need to continue research on treatment options, especially those at low cost and which are immediately available to patients, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Prior in vitro and observational studies have shown that fluoxetine, possibly through its inhibitory effect on the acid sphingomyelinase/ceramide system, could be a promising antiviral and anti-inflammatory treatment against COVID-19. In this report, we evaluated the potential antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities of fluoxetine in a K18-hACE2 mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and against variants of concern in vitro, i.e., SARS-CoV-2 ancestral strain, Alpha B.1.1.7, Gamma P1, Delta B1.617 and Omicron BA.5. Fluoxetine, administrated after SARS-CoV-2 infection, significantly reduced lung tissue viral titres and expression of several inflammatory markers (i.e., IL-6, TNFα, CCL2 and CXCL10). It also inhibited the replication of all variants of concern in vitro. A modulation of the ceramide system in the lung tissues, as reflected by the increase in the ratio HexCer 16:0/Cer 16:0 in fluoxetine-treated mice, may contribute to explain these effects. Our findings demonstrate the antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties of fluoxetine in a K18-hACE2 mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and its in vitro antiviral activity against variants of concern, establishing fluoxetine as a very promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Péricat
- Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology (IPBS), University of Toulouse, CNRS, 31000 Toulouse, France
| | - Stephen Adonai Leon-Icaza
- Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology (IPBS), University of Toulouse, CNRS, 31000 Toulouse, France
| | - Marina Sanchez Rico
- Faculté de Santé, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
- Département de Psychiatrie et d’Addictologie de l’Adulte et du Sujet Agé, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), DMU Psychiatrie et Addictologie, Hôpital Corentin-Celton, 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
- INSERM, Institut de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences de Paris (IPNP), UMR_S1266, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Christiane Mühle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Iulia Zoicas
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fabian Schumacher
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2-4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rémi Planès
- Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology (IPBS), University of Toulouse, CNRS, 31000 Toulouse, France
| | - Raoul Mazars
- Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology (IPBS), University of Toulouse, CNRS, 31000 Toulouse, France
| | - Germain Gros
- Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology (IPBS), University of Toulouse, CNRS, 31000 Toulouse, France
| | - Alexander Carpinteiro
- Institute for Molecular Biology, University Medicine Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
| | - Katrin Anne Becker
- Institute for Molecular Biology, University Medicine Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
| | - Jacques Izopet
- Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases (INFINITy), Université Toulouse, CNRS, INSERM, UPS, 31300 Toulouse, France
- Laboratoire de Virologie, CHU Toulouse, Hôpital Purpan, 31300 Toulouse, France
| | | | - Peter Sjö
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Neyrolles
- Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology (IPBS), University of Toulouse, CNRS, 31000 Toulouse, France
| | - Burkhard Kleuser
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2-4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Frédéric Limosin
- Faculté de Santé, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
- Département de Psychiatrie et d’Addictologie de l’Adulte et du Sujet Agé, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), DMU Psychiatrie et Addictologie, Hôpital Corentin-Celton, 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
- INSERM, Institut de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences de Paris (IPNP), UMR_S1266, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Erich Gulbins
- Institute for Molecular Biology, University Medicine Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Etienne Meunier
- Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology (IPBS), University of Toulouse, CNRS, 31000 Toulouse, France
| | - Nicolas Hoertel
- Faculté de Santé, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
- Département de Psychiatrie et d’Addictologie de l’Adulte et du Sujet Agé, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), DMU Psychiatrie et Addictologie, Hôpital Corentin-Celton, 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
- INSERM, Institut de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences de Paris (IPNP), UMR_S1266, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Céline Cougoule
- Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology (IPBS), University of Toulouse, CNRS, 31000 Toulouse, France
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Bernard-Raichon L, Venzon M, Klein J, Axelrad JE, Zhang C, Sullivan AP, Hussey GA, Casanovas-Massana A, Noval MG, Valero-Jimenez AM, Gago J, Putzel G, Pironti A, Wilder E, Thorpe LE, Littman DR, Dittmann M, Stapleford KA, Shopsin B, Torres VJ, Ko AI, Iwasaki A, Cadwell K, Schluter J. Gut microbiome dysbiosis in antibiotic-treated COVID-19 patients is associated with microbial translocation and bacteremia. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5926. [PMID: 36319618 PMCID: PMC9626559 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33395-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Although microbial populations in the gut microbiome are associated with COVID-19 severity, a causal impact on patient health has not been established. Here we provide evidence that gut microbiome dysbiosis is associated with translocation of bacteria into the blood during COVID-19, causing life-threatening secondary infections. We first demonstrate SARS-CoV-2 infection induces gut microbiome dysbiosis in mice, which correlated with alterations to Paneth cells and goblet cells, and markers of barrier permeability. Samples collected from 96 COVID-19 patients at two different clinical sites also revealed substantial gut microbiome dysbiosis, including blooms of opportunistic pathogenic bacterial genera known to include antimicrobial-resistant species. Analysis of blood culture results testing for secondary microbial bloodstream infections with paired microbiome data indicates that bacteria may translocate from the gut into the systemic circulation of COVID-19 patients. These results are consistent with a direct role for gut microbiome dysbiosis in enabling dangerous secondary infections during COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Bernard-Raichon
- Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine at the Skirball Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mericien Venzon
- Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine at the Skirball Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jon Klein
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jordan E Axelrad
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chenzhen Zhang
- Institute for Systems Genetics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexis P Sullivan
- Institute for Systems Genetics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Grant A Hussey
- Institute for Systems Genetics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arnau Casanovas-Massana
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Maria G Noval
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ana M Valero-Jimenez
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Juan Gago
- Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gregory Putzel
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alejandro Pironti
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Evan Wilder
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Lorna E Thorpe
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dan R Littman
- Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine at the Skirball Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Meike Dittmann
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kenneth A Stapleford
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bo Shopsin
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Victor J Torres
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Albert I Ko
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Akiko Iwasaki
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Ken Cadwell
- Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine at the Skirball Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Jonas Schluter
- Institute for Systems Genetics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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43
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Qi F, Qin C. Characteristics of animal models for COVID-19. Animal Model Exp Med 2022; 5:401-409. [PMID: 36301011 PMCID: PMC9610135 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the most consequential pandemic of this century, threatening human health and public safety. SARS-CoV-2 has been continuously evolving through mutation of its genome and variants of concern have emerged. The World Health Organization R&D Blueprint plan convened a range of expert groups to develop animal models for COVID-19, a core requirement for the prevention and control of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The animal model construction techniques developed during the SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV pandemics were rapidly deployed and applied in the establishment of COVID-19 animal models. To date, a large number of animal models for COVID-19, including mice, hamsters, minks and nonhuman primates, have been established. Infectious diseases produce unique manifestations according to the characteristics of the pathogen and modes of infection. Here we classified animal model resources around the infection route of SARS-CoV-2, and summarized the characteristics of the animal models constructed via transnasal, localized, and simulated transmission routes of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Qi
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine CenterPeking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina,National Center of Technology Innovation for Animal ModelBeijingChina
| | - Chuan Qin
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine CenterPeking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina,National Center of Technology Innovation for Animal ModelBeijingChina
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44
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Tian J, Dillion BJ, Henley J, Comai L, Kaufman DL. A GABA-receptor agonist reduces pneumonitis severity, viral load, and death rate in SARS-CoV-2-infected mice. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1007955. [PMID: 36389819 PMCID: PMC9640739 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1007955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and GABA-receptors (GABA-Rs) form a major neurotransmitter system in the brain. GABA-Rs are also expressed by 1) cells of the innate and adaptive immune system and act to inhibit their inflammatory activities, and 2) lung epithelial cells and GABA-R agonists/potentiators have been observed to limit acute lung injuries. These biological properties suggest that GABA-R agonists may have potential for treating COVID-19. We previously reported that GABA-R agonist treatments protected mice from severe disease induced by infection with a lethal mouse coronavirus (MHV-1). Because MHV-1 targets different cellular receptors and is biologically distinct from SARS-CoV-2, we sought to test GABA therapy in K18-hACE2 mice which develop severe pneumonitis with high lethality following SARS-CoV-2 infection. We observed that GABA treatment initiated immediately after SARS-CoV-2 infection, or 2 days later near the peak of lung viral load, reduced pneumonitis severity and death rates in K18-hACE2 mice. GABA-treated mice had reduced lung viral loads and displayed shifts in their serum cytokine/chemokine levels that are associated with better outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Thus, GABA-R activation had multiple effects that are also desirable for the treatment of COVID-19. The protective effects of GABA against two very different beta coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2 and MHV-1) suggest that it may provide a generalizable off-the-shelf therapy to help treat diseases induced by new SARS-CoV-2 variants and novel coronaviruses that evade immune responses and antiviral medications. GABA is inexpensive, safe for human use, and stable at room temperature, making it an attractive candidate for testing in clinical trials. We also discuss the potential of GABA-R agonists for limiting COVID-19-associated neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jide Tian
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Barbara J. Dillion
- High Containment Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jill Henley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Lucio Comai
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Daniel L. Kaufman
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Ueha R, Ito T, Ueha S, Furukawa R, Kitabatake M, Ouji-Sageshima N, Uranaka T, Tanaka H, Nishijima H, Kondo K, Yamasoba T. Evidence for the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and olfactory cell lineage impairment in close-contact infection Syrian hamster models. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1019723. [PMCID: PMC9634532 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1019723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Close contact with patients with COVID-19 is speculated to be the most common cause of viral transmission, but the pathogenesis of COVID-19 by close contact remains to be elucidated. In addition, despite olfactory impairment being a unique complication of COVID-19, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the olfactory cell lineage has not been fully validated. This study aimed to elucidate close-contact viral transmission to the nose and lungs and to investigate the temporal damage in the olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) lineage caused by SARS-CoV-2. Methods Syrian hamsters were orally administered SARS-CoV-2 nonvariant nCoV-19/JPN/TY/WK521/2020 as direct-infection models. On day 3 after inoculation, infected and uninfected hamsters were housed in the same cage for 30 minutes. These uninfected hamsters were subsequently assigned to a close-contact group. First, viral presence in the nose and lungs was verified in the infection and close-contact groups at several time points. Next, the impacts on the olfactory epithelium, including olfactory progenitors, immature ORNs, and mature ORNs were examined histologically. Then, the viral transmission status and chronological changes in tissue damage were compared between the direct-infection and close-contact groups. Results In the close-contact group, viral presence could not be detected in both the nose and lungs on day 3, and the virus was identified in both tissues on day 7. In the direct-infection group, the viral load was highest in the nose and lungs on day 3, decreased on day 7, and was no longer detectable on day 14. Histologically, in the direct-infection group, mature ORNs were most depleted on day 3 (p <0.001) and showed a recovery trend on day 14, with similar trends for olfactory progenitors and immature ORNs. In the close-contact group, there was no obvious tissue damage on day 3, but on day 7, the number of all ORN lineage cells significantly decreased (p <0.001). Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 was transmitted even after brief contact and subsequent olfactory epithelium and lung damage occurred more than 3 days after the trigger of infection. The present study also indicated that SARS-CoV-2 damages all ORN lineage cells, but this damage can begin to recover approximately 14 days post infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rumi Ueha
- Swallowing Center, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- *Correspondence: Rumi Ueha, ;
| | - Toshihiro Ito
- Department of Immunology, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ueha
- Division of Molecular Regulation of Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Tsukasa Uranaka
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Tanaka
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hironobu Nishijima
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji Kondo
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Yamasoba
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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46
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Lee KS, Russ BP, Wong TY, Horspool AM, Winters MT, Barbier M, Bevere JR, Martinez I, Damron FH, Cyphert HA. Obesity and metabolic dysfunction drive sex-associated differential disease profiles in hACE2-mice challenged with SARS-CoV-2. iScience 2022; 25:105038. [PMID: 36068847 PMCID: PMC9436780 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection are highly associated with preexisting comorbid conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. We utilized the diet-induced obesity (DIO) model of metabolic dysfunction in K18-hACE2 transgenic mice to model obesity as a COVID-19 comorbidity. Female DIO, but not male DIO mice challenged with SARS-CoV-2 were observed to have shortened time to morbidity compared to controls. Increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 in female DIO was associated with increased viral RNA burden and interferon production compared to males. Transcriptomic analysis of the lungs from all mouse cohorts revealed sex- and DIO-associated differential gene expression profiles. Male DIO mice after challenge had decreased expression of antibody-related genes compared to controls, suggesting antibody producing cell localization in the lung. Collectively, this study establishes a preclinical comorbidity model of COVID-19 in mice where we observed sex- and diet-specific responses that begin explaining the effects of obesity and metabolic disease on COVID-19 pathology. Transcriptomic analysis of infected lungs revealed unique sex-dependent differences Obese female mice have high viral RNA burden and interferon production in the lung Male mice have altered antibody and T cell response gene profiles after viral challenge Metabolic dysfunction comorbidity can be studied in the hACE2 mouse model of COVID-19
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine S. Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Brynnan P. Russ
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Ting Y. Wong
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Alexander M. Horspool
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Michael T. Winters
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Mariette Barbier
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Justin R. Bevere
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Ivan Martinez
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
- West Virginia University Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - F. Heath Damron
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Vaccine Development Center at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Holly A. Cyphert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
- Corresponding author
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Liu S, Selvaraj P, Sangare K, Luan B, Wang TT. Spike protein-independent attenuation of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in laboratory mice. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111359. [PMID: 36075211 PMCID: PMC9420700 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite being more transmissible, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant only causes milder diseases in laboratory animals, often accompanied by a lower viral load compared with previous variants of concern. In this study, we report the structural basis for a robust interaction between the receptor-binding domain of the Omicron spike protein and mouse ACE2. We show that pseudovirus bearing the Omicron spike protein efficiently utilizes mouse ACE2 for entry. By comparing viral load and disease severity among laboratory mice infected by a natural Omicron variant or recombinant ancestral viruses bearing either the entire Omicron spike or only the N501Y/Q493R mutations in its spike, we find that mutations outside the spike protein in the Omicron variant may be responsible for the observed lower viral load. Together, our results imply that a post-entry block to the Omicron variant exists in laboratory mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shufeng Liu
- Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Prabhuanand Selvaraj
- Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Kotou Sangare
- Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Binquan Luan
- Computational Biological Center, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, USA.
| | - Tony T Wang
- Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA.
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Chen F, Chen Y, Wang Y, Ke Q, Cui L. The COVID-19 pandemic and Alzheimer’s disease: mutual risks and mechanisms. Transl Neurodegener 2022; 11:40. [PMID: 36089575 PMCID: PMC9464468 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-022-00316-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a life-threatening disease, especially in elderly individuals and those with comorbidities. The predominant clinical manifestation of COVID-19 is respiratory dysfunction, while neurological presentations are increasingly being recognized. SARS-CoV-2 invades host cells primarily via attachment of the spike protein to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor expressed on cell membranes. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and prone to severe clinical outcomes. Recent studies have revealed some common risk factors for AD and COVID-19. An understanding of the association between COVID-19 and AD and the potential related mechanisms may lead to the development of novel approaches to treating both diseases. In the present review, we first summarize the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 invades the central nervous system (CNS) and then discuss the associations and potential shared key factors between COVID-19 and AD, with a focus on the ACE2 receptor, apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype, age, and neuroinflammation.
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Brosseau LM, Escandón K, Ulrich AK, Rasmussen AL, Roy CJ, Bix GJ, Popescu SV, Moore KA, Osterholm MT. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Dose, Infection, and Disease Outcomes for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Review. Clin Infect Dis 2022; 75:e1195-e1201. [PMID: 34651164 PMCID: PMC8524637 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The relationship between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) dose, infection, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes remains poorly understood. This review summarizes the existing literature regarding this issue, identifies gaps in current knowledge, and suggests opportunities for future research. In humans, host characteristics, including age, sex, comorbidities, smoking, and pregnancy, are associated with severe COVID-19. Similarly, in animals, host factors are strong determinants of disease severity, although most animal infection models manifest clinically with mild to moderate respiratory disease. The influence of variants of concern as it relates to infectious dose, consequence of overall pathogenicity, and disease outcome in dose-response remains unknown. Epidemiologic data suggest a dose-response relationship for infection contrasting with limited and inconsistent surrogate-based evidence between dose and disease severity. Recommendations include the design of future infection studies in animal models to investigate inoculating dose on outcomes and the use of better proxies for dose in human epidemiology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Brosseau
- Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kevin Escandón
- School of Medicine, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
- Grupo de Investigación en Virus Emergentes y Enfermedad (VIREM), Department of Microbiology, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Angela K Ulrich
- Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Angela L Rasmussen
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Chad J Roy
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Division of Microbiology, Covington, Louisiana, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Gregory J Bix
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Departments of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USAand
| | - Saskia V Popescu
- Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security, Washington, D.C., USA
- Biodefense Program, Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, Arlington, Virginia, USA
| | - Kristine A Moore
- Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Michael T Osterholm
- Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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50
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Sheikh‐Mohamed S, Sanders EC, Gommerman JL, Tal MC. Guardians of the oral and nasopharyngeal galaxy: IgA and protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Immunol Rev 2022; 309:75-85. [PMID: 35815463 PMCID: PMC9349649 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In early 2020, a global emergency was upon us in the form of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. While horrific in its health, social and economic devastation, one silver lining to this crisis has been a rapid mobilization of cross-institute, and even cross-country teams that shared common goals of learning as much as we could as quickly as possible about the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and how the immune system would respond to both the virus and COVID-19 vaccines. Many of these teams were formed by women who quickly realized that the classical model of "publish first at all costs" was maladaptive for the circumstances and needed to be supplanted by a more collaborative solution-focused approach. This review is an example of a collaboration that unfolded in separate countries, first Canada and the United States, and then also Israel. Not only did the collaboration allow us to cross-validate our results using different hands/techniques/samples, but it also took advantage of different vaccine types and schedules that were rolled out in our respective home countries. The result of this collaboration was a new understanding of how mucosal immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection vs COVID-19 vaccination can be measured using saliva as a biofluid, what types of vaccines are best able to induce (limited) mucosal immunity, and what are potential correlates of protection against breakthrough infection. In this review, we will share what we have learned about the mucosal immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and to COVID-19 vaccines and provide a perspective on what may be required for next-generation pan-sarbecoronavirus vaccine approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erin C. Sanders
- Department of Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Michal Caspi Tal
- Department of Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and the Ludwig Cancer CenterStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCaliforniaUSA
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