Models of animals that are susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can usefully evaluate the efficacy of vaccines and therapeutics. In this study, we demonstrate that infection with the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 variant (TY8-612 strain) induces bodyweight loss and inflammatory cytokine/chemokine production in wild-type laboratory mice (BALB/c and C57BL/6 J mice). Furthermore, compared to their counterparts, BALB/c mice had a higher viral load in their lungs and worse symptoms. Importantly, infecting aged BALB/c mice (older than 6 months) with the TY8-612 strain elicited a massive and sustained production of multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and led to universal mortality. These results indicated that the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 variant-infected mice exhibited symptoms ranging from mild to fatal depending on their strain and age. Our data provide insights into the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and may be useful in developing prophylactics and therapeutics.
【저자키워드】 immunology, Inflammation, Microbiology, Pathogenesis, Respiratory tract diseases, Infection, 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Efficacy, Vaccine, coronavirus, Pathogenesis, Mortality, Therapeutics, B.1.351, variant, lung, Symptom, chemokines, severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus, Symptoms, chemokine, Laboratory, Viral, Viral load, mice, animals, Model, Mild, age, pro-inflammatory cytokines, respiratory, Inflammatory cytokine, Inflammatory, acute respiratory syndrome, Older, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, B.1.351 variant, wild-type, BALB/c mice, massive, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 variant, pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2, pro-inflammatory, infecting, BALB/c, susceptible, evaluate, indicated, exhibited, induce, elicited, sustained, the SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 the SARS-CoV-2,