Histopathological and Immunological Findings in the Common Marmoset Following Exposure to Aerosolized SARS-CoV-2

There is an enduring requirement to develop animal models of COVID-19 to assess the efficacy of vaccines and therapeutics that can be used to treat the disease in humans. In this study, six marmosets were exposed to a small particle aerosol (1–3 µm) of SARS-CoV-2 VIC01 that delivered the virus direc...

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Main Authors: Rachel E. Ireland, Carwyn D. Davies, Emma Keyser, James S. F. Findlay, Lin Eastaugh, Thomas R. Laws, Francisco J. Salguero, Laura Hunter, Michelle Nelson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-07-01
Series:Viruses
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/7/1580
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author Rachel E. Ireland
Carwyn D. Davies
Emma Keyser
James S. F. Findlay
Lin Eastaugh
Thomas R. Laws
Francisco J. Salguero
Laura Hunter
Michelle Nelson
author_facet Rachel E. Ireland
Carwyn D. Davies
Emma Keyser
James S. F. Findlay
Lin Eastaugh
Thomas R. Laws
Francisco J. Salguero
Laura Hunter
Michelle Nelson
author_sort Rachel E. Ireland
collection DOAJ
description There is an enduring requirement to develop animal models of COVID-19 to assess the efficacy of vaccines and therapeutics that can be used to treat the disease in humans. In this study, six marmosets were exposed to a small particle aerosol (1–3 µm) of SARS-CoV-2 VIC01 that delivered the virus directly to the lower respiratory tract. Following the challenge, marmosets did not develop clinical signs, although a disruption to the normal diurnal temperature rhythm was observed in three out of six animals. Early weight loss and changes to respiratory pattern and activity were also observed, yet there was limited evidence of viral replication or lung pathology associated with infection. There was a robust innate immunological response to infection, which included an early increase in circulating neutrophils and monocytes and a reduction in the proportion of circulating T-cells. Expression of the ACE2 receptor in respiratory tissues was almost absent, but there was ubiquitous expression of TMPRSS2. The results of this study indicate that exposure of marmosets to high concentrations of aerosolised SARS-CoV-2 did not result in the development of clear, reproducible signs of COVID-19.
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spelling doaj.art-b4096c8add6f4b6184b19d8553e111f82023-12-03T12:24:46ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152022-07-01147158010.3390/v14071580Histopathological and Immunological Findings in the Common Marmoset Following Exposure to Aerosolized SARS-CoV-2Rachel E. Ireland0Carwyn D. Davies1Emma Keyser2James S. F. Findlay3Lin Eastaugh4Thomas R. Laws5Francisco J. Salguero6Laura Hunter7Michelle Nelson8CBR Division, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UKCBR Division, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UKCBR Division, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UKCBR Division, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UKCBR Division, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UKCBR Division, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UKUnited Kingdom Health and Security Agency, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UKUnited Kingdom Health and Security Agency, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UKCBR Division, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UKThere is an enduring requirement to develop animal models of COVID-19 to assess the efficacy of vaccines and therapeutics that can be used to treat the disease in humans. In this study, six marmosets were exposed to a small particle aerosol (1–3 µm) of SARS-CoV-2 VIC01 that delivered the virus directly to the lower respiratory tract. Following the challenge, marmosets did not develop clinical signs, although a disruption to the normal diurnal temperature rhythm was observed in three out of six animals. Early weight loss and changes to respiratory pattern and activity were also observed, yet there was limited evidence of viral replication or lung pathology associated with infection. There was a robust innate immunological response to infection, which included an early increase in circulating neutrophils and monocytes and a reduction in the proportion of circulating T-cells. Expression of the ACE2 receptor in respiratory tissues was almost absent, but there was ubiquitous expression of TMPRSS2. The results of this study indicate that exposure of marmosets to high concentrations of aerosolised SARS-CoV-2 did not result in the development of clear, reproducible signs of COVID-19.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/7/1580SARS-CoV-2aerosolmarmosetACE2TMPRSS2
spellingShingle Rachel E. Ireland
Carwyn D. Davies
Emma Keyser
James S. F. Findlay
Lin Eastaugh
Thomas R. Laws
Francisco J. Salguero
Laura Hunter
Michelle Nelson
Histopathological and Immunological Findings in the Common Marmoset Following Exposure to Aerosolized SARS-CoV-2
Viruses
SARS-CoV-2
aerosol
marmoset
ACE2
TMPRSS2
title Histopathological and Immunological Findings in the Common Marmoset Following Exposure to Aerosolized SARS-CoV-2
title_full Histopathological and Immunological Findings in the Common Marmoset Following Exposure to Aerosolized SARS-CoV-2
title_fullStr Histopathological and Immunological Findings in the Common Marmoset Following Exposure to Aerosolized SARS-CoV-2
title_full_unstemmed Histopathological and Immunological Findings in the Common Marmoset Following Exposure to Aerosolized SARS-CoV-2
title_short Histopathological and Immunological Findings in the Common Marmoset Following Exposure to Aerosolized SARS-CoV-2
title_sort histopathological and immunological findings in the common marmoset following exposure to aerosolized sars cov 2
topic SARS-CoV-2
aerosol
marmoset
ACE2
TMPRSS2
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/7/1580
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