Using Lung-Chip Technology to Characterize Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants

Abstract

As novel-variant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cases surged throughout the global population, it became imperative that we use the resources and capabilities available to characterize the novel infections, compare them to more established variants, and assess the risk to individuals. Researchers at U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD) recently added lung alveolus and small airway chip systems manufactured by Emulate (Boston, MA) to predictive toxicology capabilities, which serve as viable models for SARS-CoV-2 infections performed in Biosafety Level 3 laboratories. These systems enable the study of complex human physiology and pathology in an organ-specific context, and they offer the potential to develop models of human disease that simulate what is observed in vivo. Here, we used Emulates alveolus lung chips to compare host-cell morphological changes, infection rate, and viral burden associated with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron, Washington, and Delta variants.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 22, 2024
Accession Number
AD1222087

Entities

People

  • Daniel J. Angelini
  • Dylan H. Fudge
  • Jennifer R. Horsmon
  • Priscilla E. Lee
  • Tyler D. Goralski

Organizations

  • United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Military Mobilization and Reserve Forces Studies.
  • Oncology and Biomarker-Based Cancer Detection.
  • Research Science/Academic Research