A Mouse Model of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Pathogenesis.

In this study, we generated a mouse model expressing human ACE2 (hACE2) by using CRISPR/Cas9 knockin technology. In comparison with wild-type C57BL/6 mice, both young and aged hACE2 mice sustained high viral loads in lung, trachea, and brain upon intranasal infection. Although fatalities were not observed, interstitial pneumonia and elevated cytokines were seen in SARS-CoV-2 infected-aged hACE2 mice. Interestingly, intragastric inoculation of SARS-CoV-2 was seen to cause productive infection and lead to pulmonary pathological changes in hACE2 mice. Overall, this animal model described here provides a useful tool for studying SARS-CoV-2 transmission and pathogenesis and evaluating COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics.
PMID: 32485164 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Cell Host and Microbe - May 26, 2020 Category: Microbiology Authors: Sun SH, Chen Q, Gu HJ, Yang G, Wang YX, Huang XY, Liu SS, Zhang NN, Li XF, Xiong R, Guo Y, Deng YQ, Huang WJ, Liu Q, Liu QM, Shen YL, Zhou Y, Yang X, Zhao TY, Fan CF, Zhou YS, Qin CF, Wang YC Tags: Cell Host Microbe Source Type: research