Disruption of Adaptive Immunity Enhances Disease in SARS-CoV-2-Infected Syrian Hamsters
Abstract
Syrian hamsters are in use as a model of disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Pathology is pronounced in the upper and lower respiratory tract, and disease signs and endpoints include weight loss and viral RNA and/or infectious virus in swabs and organs (e.g., lungs). However, a high dose of virus is needed to produce disease, and the disease resolves rapidly. Here, we demonstrate that immunosuppressed hamsters are susceptible to low doses of virus and develop more severe and prolonged disease. We demonstrate the efficacy of a novel neutralizing monoclonal antibody using the cyclophosphamide transient suppression model. Furthermore, we demonstrate that RAG2 knockout hamsters develop severe/fatal disease when exposed to SARS-CoV-2. These immunosuppressed hamster models provide researchers with new tools for evaluating therapies and vaccines and understanding COVID-19 pathogenesis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Oct 27, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1128/jvi.01683-20
Entities
People
- Dave Gangemi
- Jacob Glanville
- Janice A. Williams
- Jay W. Hooper
- Jeffrey M. Smith
- Joseph W. Golden
- Lucia M. Principe
- Rebecca L. Brocato
- Robert K. Kim
- Rong Li
- Sawsan Youssef
- Xiankun Zeng
- Yanan Liu
- Zhongde Wang
Organizations
- Defense Health Agency
- Utah State University