We aimed to explore whether variants of SARS-CoV-2 (Chinese-derived strain (D614, lineage A), Italian strain PV10734 (D614G, lineage B.1.1) and Alpha strain (lineage B.1.1.7)) were able to infect monocytes (MN) and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) and whether these infected cells may, in turn, be vectors of infection. For this purpose, we designed an in vitro study following the evolution of MN and MDM infection at different time points in order to confirm whether these cells were permissive for SARS-CoV-2 replication. Finally, we investigated whether, regardless of viral replication, the persistent virus can be transferred to non-infected cells permissive for viral replication. Thus, we co-cultured the infected MN/MDM with permissive VERO E6 cells verifying the viral transmission. This is a further in vitro demonstration of the important role of MN and MDM in the dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 and evolution of the COVID-19 disease.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, VERO E6 cells, Trojan horse, 【초록키워드】 Evolution, Infection, in vitro, virus, monocyte, COVID-19 disease, viral replication, vector, Lineage, D614G, Viral transmission, dissemination, SARS-CoV-2 replication, in vitro study, infected cell, lineage B.1.1, variants of SARS-CoV-2, infect, Italian, Cell, investigated, different time point, turn, these cell, co-cultured, MDM, monocyte-derived macrophage, non-infected cell, transferred, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19,