1
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Krishna VD, Chang A, Korthas H, Var SR, Seelig DM, Low WC, Li L, Cheeran MCJ. Impact of age and sex on neuroinflammation following SARS-CoV-2 infection in a murine model. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1404312. [PMID: 39077737 PMCID: PMC11284165 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1404312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of COVID-19, is known to infect people of all ages and both sexes. Senior populations have the greatest risk of severe COVID-19, and sexual dimorphism in clinical outcomes has been reported. Neurological symptoms are widely observed in COVID-19 patients, with many survivors exhibiting persistent neurological and cognitive impairment. The present study aims to investigate the impact of age and sex on the neuroinflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection using a mouse model. Wild-type C57BL/6J mice were intranasally inoculated with SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.351, a variant known to infect mice. Older male mice exhibited a significantly greater weight loss and higher viral loads in the lung at 3 days post infection. Notably, no viral RNA was detected in the brains of infected mice. Nevertheless, expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and CCL-2 in the lung and brain increased with viral infection. RNA-seq transcriptomic analysis of brains showed that SARS-CoV-2 infection caused significant changes in gene expression profiles, implicating innate immunity, defense response to virus, and cerebrovascular and neuronal functions. These findings demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers a neuroinflammatory response, despite the lack of detectable virus in the brain. Aberrant activation of innate immune response, disruption of blood-brain barrier and endothelial cell integrity, and suppression of neuronal activity and axonogenesis underlie the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the brain. Understanding the role of these affected pathways in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis helps identify appropriate points of therapeutic interventions to alleviate neurological dysfunction observed during COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkatramana D. Krishna
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United States
| | - Allison Chang
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Holly Korthas
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Susanna R. Var
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Davis M. Seelig
- Comparative Pathology Shared Resource, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Walter C. Low
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Ling Li
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Maxim C. -J. Cheeran
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United States
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2
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Lee LKF, Himsworth CG, Prystajecky N, Dibernardo A, Lindsay LR, Albers TM, Dhawan R, Henderson K, Mulder G, Atwal HK, Beattie I, Wobeser BK, Parsons MH, Byers KA. SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance of Wild Mice and Rats in North American Cities. ECOHEALTH 2024; 21:1-8. [PMID: 38748281 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-024-01679-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
From July 2020 to June 2021, 248 wild house mice (Mus musculus), deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), and black rats (Rattus rattus) from Texas and Washington, USA, and British Columbia, Canada, were tested for SARS-CoV-2 exposure and infection. Two brown rats and 11 house mice were positive for neutralizing antibodies using a surrogate virus neutralization test, but negative or indeterminate with the Multiplexed Fluorometric ImmunoAssay COVID-Plex, which targets full-length spike and nuclear proteins. Oro-nasopharyngeal swabs and fecal samples tested negative by RT-qPCR, with an indeterminate fecal sample in one house mouse. Continued surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in wild rodents is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa K F Lee
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative British Columbia, Abbotsford, BC, Canada.
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada.
| | - Chelsea G Himsworth
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative British Columbia, Abbotsford, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Natalie Prystajecky
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Antonia Dibernardo
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - L Robbin Lindsay
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Theresa M Albers
- Research Models and Services, Charles River, Wilmington, MA, USA
| | - Rajeev Dhawan
- Research Models and Services, Charles River, Wilmington, MA, USA
| | - Ken Henderson
- Research Models and Services, Charles River, Wilmington, MA, USA
| | - Guy Mulder
- Research Models and Services, Charles River, Wilmington, MA, USA
| | - Harveen K Atwal
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative British Columbia, Abbotsford, BC, Canada
| | - Imara Beattie
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative British Columbia, Abbotsford, BC, Canada
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Bruce K Wobeser
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Michael H Parsons
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
- Centre for Urban Ecological Solutions, LLC, Spring, TX, USA
| | - Kaylee A Byers
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative British Columbia, Abbotsford, BC, Canada
- Pacific Institute On Pathogens, Pandemics and Society, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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3
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Hilligan KL, Namasivayam S, Clancy CS, Baker PJ, Old SI, Peluf V, Amaral EP, Oland SD, O'Mard D, Laux J, Cohen M, Garza NL, Lafont BAP, Johnson RF, Feng CG, Jankovic D, Lamiable O, Mayer-Barber KD, Sher A. Bacterial-induced or passively administered interferon gamma conditions the lung for early control of SARS-CoV-2. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8229. [PMID: 38086794 PMCID: PMC10716133 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43447-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Type-1 and type-3 interferons (IFNs) are important for control of viral replication; however, less is known about the role of Type-2 IFN (IFNγ) in anti-viral immunity. We previously observed that lung infection with Mycobacterium bovis BCG achieved though intravenous (iv) administration provides strong protection against SARS-CoV-2 in mice yet drives low levels of type-1 IFNs but robust IFNγ. Here we examine the role of ongoing IFNγ responses to pre-established bacterial infection on SARS-CoV-2 disease outcomes in two murine models. We report that IFNγ is required for iv BCG induced reduction in pulmonary viral loads, an outcome dependent on IFNγ receptor expression by non-hematopoietic cells. Importantly, we show that BCG infection prompts pulmonary epithelial cells to upregulate IFN-stimulated genes with reported anti-viral activity in an IFNγ-dependent manner, suggesting a possible mechanism for the observed protection. Finally, we confirm the anti-viral properties of IFNγ by demonstrating that the recombinant cytokine itself provides strong protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge when administered intranasally. Together, our data show that a pre-established IFNγ response within the lung is protective against SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting that concurrent or recent infections that drive IFNγ may limit the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and supporting possible prophylactic uses of IFNγ in COVID-19 management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry L Hilligan
- Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, 6012, New Zealand.
| | - Sivaranjani Namasivayam
- Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Chad S Clancy
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Paul J Baker
- Inflammation and Innate Immunity Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Samuel I Old
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, 6012, New Zealand
| | - Victoria Peluf
- Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Immunoparasitology Unit, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Eduardo P Amaral
- Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Sandra D Oland
- Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Danielle O'Mard
- Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Julie Laux
- Flow Cytometry Section, Research Technologies Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Melanie Cohen
- Flow Cytometry Section, Research Technologies Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Nicole L Garza
- SARS-CoV2- Virology Core, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Bernard A P Lafont
- SARS-CoV2- Virology Core, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Reed F Johnson
- SARS-CoV2- Virology Core, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Carl G Feng
- Immunology and Host Defense Group, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Dragana Jankovic
- Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Immunoparasitology Unit, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Olivier Lamiable
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, 6012, New Zealand
| | - Katrin D Mayer-Barber
- Inflammation and Innate Immunity Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Alan Sher
- Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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4
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Apaa T, Withers AJ, Mackenzie L, Staley C, Dessi N, Blanchard A, Bennett M, Bremner-Harrison S, Chadwick EA, Hailer F, Harrison SWR, Lambin X, Loose M, Mathews F, Tarlinton R. Lack of detection of SARS-CoV-2 in British wildlife 2020-21 and first description of a stoat ( Mustela erminea) Minacovirus. J Gen Virol 2023; 104:001917. [PMID: 38059490 PMCID: PMC10770931 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Repeat spillover of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) into new hosts has highlighted the critical role of cross-species transmission of coronaviruses and establishment of new reservoirs of virus in pandemic and epizootic spread of coronaviruses. Species particularly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 spillover include Mustelidae (mink, ferrets and related animals), cricetid rodents (hamsters and related animals), felids (domestic cats and related animals) and white-tailed deer. These predispositions led us to screen British wildlife with sarbecovirus-specific quantitative PCR and pan coronavirus PCR assays for SARS-CoV-2 using samples collected during the human pandemic to establish if widespread spillover was occurring. Fourteen wildlife species (n=402) were tested, including: two red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 101 badgers (Meles meles), two wild American mink (Neogale vison), 41 pine marten (Martes martes), two weasels (Mustela nivalis), seven stoats (Mustela erminea), 108 water voles (Arvicola amphibius), 39 bank voles (Myodes glareolous), 10 field voles (Microtus agrestis), 15 wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus), one common shrew (Sorex aranaeus), two pygmy shrews (Sorex minutus), two hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and 75 Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra). No cases of SARS-CoV-2 were detected in any animals, but a novel minacovirus related to mink and ferret alphacoronaviruses was detected in stoats recently introduced to the Orkney Islands. This group of viruses is of interest due to pathogenicity in ferrets. The impact of this virus on the health of stoat populations remains to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ternenge Apaa
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, Surrey, UK
| | - Amy J. Withers
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, Surrey, UK
| | - Laura Mackenzie
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Ceri Staley
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
| | - Nicola Dessi
- National Wildlife Management Centre, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Sand Hutton, York, UK
| | - Adam Blanchard
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
| | - Malcolm Bennett
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
| | - Samantha Bremner-Harrison
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, UK
- Vincent Wildlife Trust, Eastnor, Ledbury, UK
| | | | - Frank Hailer
- Organisms and Environment, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Stephen W. R. Harrison
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, UK
| | - Xavier Lambin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Matthew Loose
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Fiona Mathews
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Sussex, UK
| | - Rachael Tarlinton
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
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5
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Krishna VD, Chang A, Korthas H, Var SR, Low WC, Li L, Cheeran MCJ. Impact of age and sex on neuroinflammation following SARS-CoV-2 infection in a murine model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.11.552998. [PMID: 37645925 PMCID: PMC10462071 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.11.552998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent for the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, is known to infect people of all ages and both sexes. Senior populations have the greatest risk of severe disease, and sexual dimorphism in clinical outcomes has been reported in COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans can cause damage to multiple organ systems, including the brain. Neurological symptoms are widely observed in patients with COVID-19, with many survivors suffering from persistent neurological and cognitive impairment, potentially accelerating Alzheimer's disease. The present study aims to investigate the impact of age and sex on the neuroinflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection using a mouse model. Wild-type C57BL/6 mice were inoculated, by intranasal route, with SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.351 variant known to infect mice. Older animals and in particular males exhibited a significantly greater weight loss starting at 4 dpi. In addition, male animals exhibited higher viral RNA loads and higher titers of infectious virus in the lung, which was particularly evident in males at 16 months of age. Notably, no viral RNA was detected in the brains of infected mice, regardless of age or sex. Nevertheless, expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and CCL-2 in the lung and brain was increased with viral infection. An unbiased brain RNA-seq/transcriptomic analysis showed that SARS-CoV-2 infection caused significant changes in gene expression profiles in the brain, with innate immunity, defense response to virus, cerebravascular and neuronal functions, as the major molecular networks affected. The data presented in this study show that SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers a neuroinflammatory response despite the lack of detectable virus in the brain. Age and sex have a modifying effect on this pathogenic process. Aberrant activation of innate immune response, disruption of blood-brain barrier and endothelial cell integrity, and supression of neuronal activity and axonogenesis underlie the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the brain. Understanding the role of these affected pathways in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis helps identify appropriate points of therapeutic interventions to alleviate neurological dysfunction observed during COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkatramana D. Krishna
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | | | - Holly Korthas
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology
| | - Susanna R. Var
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Walter C. Low
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Ling Li
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology
| | - Maxim C-J. Cheeran
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
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6
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Abstract
Millions of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) inhabit New York City (NYC), presenting the potential for transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from humans to rats. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2 exposure among 79 rats captured from NYC during the fall of 2021. Our results showed that 13 of the 79 rats (16.5%) tested IgG- or IgM-positive, and partial SARS-CoV-2 genomes were recovered from all 4 rats that were qRT-PCR (reverse transcription-quantitative PCR)-positive. Genomic analyses suggest these viruses were associated with genetic lineage B, which was predominant in NYC in the spring of 2020 during the early pandemic period. To further investigate rat susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 variants, we conducted a virus challenge study and showed that Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants can cause infections in wild-type Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, including high replication levels in the upper and lower respiratory tracts and induction of both innate and adaptive immune responses. Additionally, the Delta variant resulted in the highest infectivity. In summary, our results indicate that rats are susceptible to infection with Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants, and wild Norway rats in the NYC municipal sewer systems have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Our findings highlight the need for further monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in urban rat populations and for evaluating the potential risk of secondary zoonotic transmission from these rat populations back to humans. IMPORTANCE The host tropism expansion of SARS-CoV-2 raises concern for the potential risk of reverse-zoonotic transmission of emerging variants into rodent species, including wild rat species. In this study, we present both genetic and serological evidence for SARS-CoV-2 exposure to the New York City wild rat population, and these viruses may be linked to the viruses that were circulating during the early stages of the pandemic. We also demonstrated that rats are susceptible to additional variants (i.e., Alpha, Delta, and Omicron) that have been predominant in humans and that susceptibility to infection varies by variant. Our findings highlight the reverse zoonosis of SARS-CoV-2 to urban rats and the need for further monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in rat populations for potential secondary zoonotic transmission to humans.
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7
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SARS-CoV-2 exposure in Norway rats ( Rattus norvegicus) from New York City. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.11.18.517156. [PMID: 36451891 PMCID: PMC9709794 DOI: 10.1101/2022.11.18.517156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Millions of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) inhabit New York City (NYC), presenting the potential for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to rats and other wildlife. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2 exposure among 79 rats captured from NYC during the fall of 2021. Results showed that 13 of 79 rats (16.5%) tested IgG or IgM positive, and partial genomes of SARS-CoV-2 were recovered from four rats that were qRT-PCR positive. Using a virus challenge study, we also showed that Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants can cause robust infections in wild-type Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, including high level replications in the upper and lower respiratory tracts and induction of both innate and adaptive immune responses. Additionally, the Delta variant resulted in the highest infectivity. In summary, our results indicated that rats are susceptible to infection with Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants, and rats in the NYC municipal sewer systems have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Our findings highlight the potential risk of secondary zoonotic transmission from urban rats and the need for further monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in those populations.
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8
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Cui H, Tu F, Zhang C, Zhang C, Zhao K, Liu J, Dong S, Chen L, Liu J, Guo Z. Real-Time Reverse Transcription Recombinase-Aided Amplification Assay for Rapid Amplification of the N Gene of SARS-CoV-2. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315269. [PMID: 36499594 PMCID: PMC9736922 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 was officially declared a global pandemic disease on 11 March 2020, with severe implications for healthcare systems, economic activity, and human life worldwide. Fast and sensitive amplification of the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acids is critical for controlling the spread of this disease. Here, a real-time reverse transcription recombinase-aided amplification (RT-RAA) assay, targeting conserved positions in the nucleocapsid protein gene (N gene) of SARS-CoV-2, was successfully established for SARS-CoV-2. The assay was specific to SARS-CoV-2, and there was no cross-reaction with other important viruses. The sensitivity of the real-time RT-RAA assay was 142 copies per reaction at 95% probability. Furthermore, 100% concordance between the real-time RT-RAA and RT-qPCR assays was achieved after testing 72 clinical specimens. Further linear regression analysis indicated a significant correlation between the real-time RT-RAA and RT-qPCR assays with an R2 value of 0.8149 (p < 0.0001). In addition, the amplicons of the real-time RT-RAA assay could be directly visualized by a portable blue light instrument, making it suitable for the rapid amplification of SARS-CoV-2 in resource-limited settings. Therefore, the real-time RT-RAA method allows the specific, sensitive, simple, rapid, and reliable detection of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Cui
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Changchun 130122, China
- College of Animal Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Fei Tu
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Changchun 130122, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Chunmao Zhang
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Changchun 130122, China
| | - Kui Zhao
- College of Animal Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Juxiang Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Shishan Dong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Ligong Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Changchun 130122, China
- Correspondence: (J.L.); (Z.G.); Tel.: +86-431-86985932 (J.L.); +86-431-86985975 (Z.G.)
| | - Zhendong Guo
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Changchun 130122, China
- Correspondence: (J.L.); (Z.G.); Tel.: +86-431-86985932 (J.L.); +86-431-86985975 (Z.G.)
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9
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Yu D, Long Y, Xu L, Han JB, Xi J, Xu J, Yang LX, Feng XL, Zou QC, Qu W, Lin J, Li MH, Yao YG. Infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 and protection against reinfection in rats. Zool Res 2022; 43:945-948. [PMID: 36208120 PMCID: PMC9700504 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Yu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- Kunming National High-Level Biosafety Research Center for Non-Human Primates, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Yanghaopeng Long
- Kunming National High-Level Biosafety Research Center for Non-Human Primates, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
| | - Ling Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- Kunming National High-Level Biosafety Research Center for Non-Human Primates, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Jian-Bao Han
- Kunming National High-Level Biosafety Research Center for Non-Human Primates, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
| | - Jiawei Xi
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Jianlin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Lu-Xiu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Xiao-Li Feng
- Kunming National High-Level Biosafety Research Center for Non-Human Primates, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
| | - Qing-Cui Zou
- Kunming National High-Level Biosafety Research Center for Non-Human Primates, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
| | - Wang Qu
- Kunming National High-Level Biosafety Research Center for Non-Human Primates, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
| | - Jiangwei Lin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Ming-Hua Li
- Kunming National High-Level Biosafety Research Center for Non-Human Primates, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
| | - Yong-Gang Yao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- Kunming National High-Level Biosafety Research Center for Non-Human Primates, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China. E-mail:
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Wernike K, Drewes S, Mehl C, Hesse C, Imholt C, Jacob J, Ulrich RG, Beer M. No Evidence for the Presence of SARS-CoV-2 in Bank Voles and Other Rodents in Germany, 2020–2022. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11101112. [PMID: 36297169 PMCID: PMC9610409 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11101112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodentia is the most speciose mammalian order, found across the globe, with some species occurring in close proximity to humans. Furthermore, rodents are known hosts for a variety of zoonotic pathogens. Among other animal species, rodents came into focus when the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spread through human populations across the globe, initially as laboratory animals to study the viral pathogenesis and to test countermeasures. Under experimental conditions, some rodent species including several cricetid species are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and a few of them can transmit the virus to conspecifics. To investigate whether SARS-CoV-2 is also spreading in wild rodent populations in Germany, we serologically tested samples of free-ranging bank voles (Myodes glareolus, n = 694), common voles (Microtus arvalis, n = 2), house mice (Mus musculus, n = 27), brown or Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus, n = 97) and Apodemus species (n = 8) for antibodies against the virus. The samples were collected from 2020 to 2022 in seven German federal states. All but one sample tested negative by a multispecies ELISA based on the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2. The remaining sample, from a common vole collected in 2021, was within the inconclusive range of the RBD-ELISA, but this result could not be confirmed by a surrogate virus neutralization test as the sample gave a negative result in this test. These results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 has not become highly prevalent in wild rodent populations in Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Wernike
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Stephan Drewes
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Calvin Mehl
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Christin Hesse
- Rodent Research, Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, 48161 Münster, Germany
| | - Christian Imholt
- Rodent Research, Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, 48161 Münster, Germany
| | - Jens Jacob
- Rodent Research, Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, 48161 Münster, Germany
| | - Rainer G. Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
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11
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SARS-CoV-2 Virus Culture, Genomic and Subgenomic RNA Load, and Rapid Antigen Test in Experimentally Infected Syrian Hamsters. J Virol 2022; 96:e0103422. [PMID: 36040179 PMCID: PMC9517720 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01034-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The duration of SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA shedding is much longer than that of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in most COVID-19 patients. It is very important to determine the relationship between test results and infectivity for efficient isolation, contact tracing, and post-isolation. We characterized the duration of viable SARS-CoV-2, viral genomic and subgenomic RNA (gRNA and sgRNA), and rapid antigen test positivity in nasal washes, oropharyngeal swabs, and feces of experimentally infected Syrian hamsters. The duration of viral genomic RNA shedding is longer than that of viral subgenomic RNA, and far longer than those of rapid antigen test (RAgT) and viral culture positivity. The rapid antigen test results were strongly correlated with the viral culture results. The trend of subgenomic RNA is similar to that of genomic RNA, and furthermore, the subgenomic RNA load is highly correlated with the genomic RNA load. IMPORTANCE Our findings highlight the high correlation between rapid antigen test and virus culture results. The rapid antigen test would be an important supplement to real-time reverse transcription-RCR (RT-PCR) in early COVID-19 screening and in shortening the isolation period of COVID-19 patients. Because the subgenomic RNA load can be predicted from the genomic RNA load, measuring sgRNA does not add more benefit to determining infectivity than a threshold determined for gRNA based on viral culture.
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