Nat Microbiol: Study reveals characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection with primates

January 5, 2021 // -- Scientists from the Texas Institute of Biomedical Research and the Southwestern National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) published their findings in the journal Nature Microbiology on a comprehensive animal model study of SARS-CoV-2.
the findings were first published online on BioRxiv in June 2020.
the study evaluated three non-human primate (NHP) species (Indian rhesus monkeys, common marmosets of the origin of african macaques and new worlds) to determine susceptivity to SARS-CoV-2 and the development of COVID-19 disease.
in the course of the study, macaques and macaques show great hope as animal models for the study of COVID-19 disease.
Based on the results, the researchers recommend using macaques as models to develop vaccines, while macaques show greater disease trends, making them potential options for evaluating antiviral therapies and complications, such as understanding the link between COVID-19 and diabetes or COVID-19 and heart disease.
(Photo Source: www.pixabay.com) "The advantage of Texas Biomed's unique research model is that its expertise supports individual scientific and contractual research on a campus with animal, biosethic and regulatory capabilities to help with a wide range of research, from basic discovery to preclinical development to human clinical trials."
," explains Dr Joanne Turner, vice president of research at Texas Biomed.
for infectious diseases (e.g. COVID-19) enable scientists around the world to determine whether vaccine candidates and antiviral therapies currently under development are feasible as human interventions.
, animal models allow scientists to understand the progression of disease in people with compromised immune systems to help develop treatments for these people.
Deepak Kaushal, director of the Center for Primate Research in southwest China, said: "Finding animal models suitable for COVID-19 allows for these critical findings immediately, which is an important step in the fight against the disease.
Without detailed animal data, it is unlikely that the FDA will license vaccines or antiviral therapies for human use, even in animals currently undergoing human trials, because animal model data ensures a complete understanding of the disease and its human response.
can be used for potential treatment.
" team of 43 researchers reported clinical, viral, imaging, immunological and histological pathology (tissue examination) findings during SARS-CoV-2 infection/COVID-19 diseases in these three NHPs.
study found that non-human primates showed progressions in SARS-CoV-2 infections similar to those found in humans, with some infected people being more seriously than others, with signs of the virus and pneumonia in the upper and lower respiratory tracts.
Kaushal explains: "Our results tell us that these animal models will provide relevant, quantifiable information as we gain a deeper understanding of disease, treatments and vaccine targets for human trials."
" Although previous animal studies have shown macaques to be a viable model of SARS-CoV-2, this is the first time researchers have studied three different primate models vertically.
in addition, the researchers used the most comprehensive assessment methods, from bronchopulmonary bathing (pulmonary fluid collection) and nasal swabs to determine the presence of the virus, to chest X-rays and CT scans to assess lung health after infection.
showed that macaques and macaque models can develop strong signs of acute viral infection, leading to pneumonia.
study found that the immune systems of non-human primates react strongly and clear infections.
bone marrow cells flow from the blood to the lungs and secrete high levels of type I interferon, cytokines, etc.
the emergence of these particular phagocytostes corresponds to a decline in viral and disease indicators.
study is also the first to report that SARS-CoV-2 infection specifically alters lung lymphocytes (T-cells), producing a strong and very specific immune response in macaques that allows animals to remove the virus.
The findings suggest that primate models will help to understand the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and to develop interventions that can produce similar responses, as well as to assess the safety and effectiveness of vaccines that require special treatment.
to produce an immune response.
() Source: Results of comprehensive SARS-CoV-2 animal model study Published Source: Dhiraj Kumar Singh et al, Responses to acute with sars-CoV-2 in the lungs of rhesus macaques, baboons and marmosets, Nature Microbiology (2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41564-020-00841-4