[PDF][PDF] A SARS-CoV-2 infection model in mice demonstrates protection by neutralizing antibodies

AO Hassan, JB Case, ES Winkler, LB Thackray… - Cell, 2020 - cell.com
Cell, 2020cell.com
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a pandemic
with millions of human infections. One limitation to the evaluation of potential therapies and
vaccines to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection and ameliorate disease is the lack of susceptible
small animals in large numbers. Commercially available laboratory strains of mice are not
readily infected by SARS-CoV-2 because of species-specific differences in their angiotensin-
converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors. Here, we transduced replication-defective …
Summary
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a pandemic with millions of human infections. One limitation to the evaluation of potential therapies and vaccines to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection and ameliorate disease is the lack of susceptible small animals in large numbers. Commercially available laboratory strains of mice are not readily infected by SARS-CoV-2 because of species-specific differences in their angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors. Here, we transduced replication-defective adenoviruses encoding human ACE2 via intranasal administration into BALB/c mice and established receptor expression in lung tissues. hACE2-transduced mice were productively infected with SARS-CoV-2, and this resulted in high viral titers in the lung, lung pathology, and weight loss. Passive transfer of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody reduced viral burden in the lung and mitigated inflammation and weight loss. The development of an accessible mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenesis will expedite the testing and deployment of therapeutics and vaccines.
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