Pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (R346K) variant in Syrian hamsters and its cross-neutralization with different variants of concern
Summary: Background: SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is rampantly spreading across the globe. We assessed the pathogenicity and immune response generated by BA.1.1 sub-lineage of SARS-CoV-2 [Omicron (R346K) variant] in 5 to 6-week old Syrian hamsters and compared the observations with that of Delta vari...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-05-01
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| Series: | EBioMedicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352396422001815 |
| _version_ | 1811290553695862784 |
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| author | Sreelekshmy Mohandas Pragya D. Yadav Gajanan Sapkal Anita M. Shete Gururaj Deshpande Dimpal A. Nyayanit Deepak Patil Manoj Kadam Abhimanyu Kumar Chandrashekhar Mote Rajlaxmi Jain |
| author_facet | Sreelekshmy Mohandas Pragya D. Yadav Gajanan Sapkal Anita M. Shete Gururaj Deshpande Dimpal A. Nyayanit Deepak Patil Manoj Kadam Abhimanyu Kumar Chandrashekhar Mote Rajlaxmi Jain |
| author_sort | Sreelekshmy Mohandas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: Background: SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is rampantly spreading across the globe. We assessed the pathogenicity and immune response generated by BA.1.1 sub-lineage of SARS-CoV-2 [Omicron (R346K) variant] in 5 to 6-week old Syrian hamsters and compared the observations with that of Delta variant infection. Methods: Virus shedding, organ viral load, lung disease and immune response generated in hamsters were sequentially assessed. Findings: The disease characteristics of the Omicron (R346K) variant were found to be similar to that of the Delta variant infection in hamsters like viral replication in the respiratory tract and interstitial pneumonia. The Omicron (R346K) infected hamsters demonstrated lesser body weight reduction and viral RNA load in the throat swab and nasal wash samples in comparison to the Delta variant infection. The viral load in the lungs and nasal turbinate samples and the lung disease severity of the Omicron (R346K) infected hamsters were found comparable with that of the Delta variant infected hamsters. Neutralizing antibody response against Omicron (R346K) variant was detected from day 5 and the cross-neutralization titre of the sera against other variants showed severe reduction ie., 7 fold reduction against Alpha and no titers against B.1, Beta and Delta. Interpretation: This preliminary data shows that Omicron (R346K) variant infection can produce moderate to severe lung disease similar to that of the Delta variant and the neutralizing antibodies produced in response to Omicron (R346K) variant infection shows poor neutralizing ability against other co-circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants like Delta which necessitates caution as it may lead to increased cases of reinfection. Funding: This study was supported by Indian Council of Medical Research as an intramural grant (COVID-19) to ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T04:14:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c376da675a1e49dea0bc01f14df9a3b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2352-3964 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T04:14:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | EBioMedicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-c376da675a1e49dea0bc01f14df9a3b62022-12-22T03:03:01ZengElsevierEBioMedicine2352-39642022-05-0179103997Pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (R346K) variant in Syrian hamsters and its cross-neutralization with different variants of concernSreelekshmy Mohandas0Pragya D. Yadav1Gajanan Sapkal2Anita M. Shete3Gururaj Deshpande4Dimpal A. Nyayanit5Deepak Patil6Manoj Kadam7Abhimanyu Kumar8Chandrashekhar Mote9Rajlaxmi Jain10Maximum Containment Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Pune, Maharashtra 411021, IndiaMaximum Containment Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Pune, Maharashtra 411021, India; Corresponding author.Maximum Containment Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Pune, Maharashtra 411021, IndiaMaximum Containment Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Pune, Maharashtra 411021, IndiaMaximum Containment Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Pune, Maharashtra 411021, IndiaMaximum Containment Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Pune, Maharashtra 411021, IndiaMaximum Containment Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Pune, Maharashtra 411021, IndiaMaximum Containment Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Pune, Maharashtra 411021, India; Krantisinh Nana Patil College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal, Maharashtra 412801, IndiaMaximum Containment Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Pune, Maharashtra 411021, India; Krantisinh Nana Patil College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal, Maharashtra 412801, IndiaKrantisinh Nana Patil College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal, Maharashtra 412801, IndiaMaximum Containment Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Pune, Maharashtra 411021, IndiaSummary: Background: SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is rampantly spreading across the globe. We assessed the pathogenicity and immune response generated by BA.1.1 sub-lineage of SARS-CoV-2 [Omicron (R346K) variant] in 5 to 6-week old Syrian hamsters and compared the observations with that of Delta variant infection. Methods: Virus shedding, organ viral load, lung disease and immune response generated in hamsters were sequentially assessed. Findings: The disease characteristics of the Omicron (R346K) variant were found to be similar to that of the Delta variant infection in hamsters like viral replication in the respiratory tract and interstitial pneumonia. The Omicron (R346K) infected hamsters demonstrated lesser body weight reduction and viral RNA load in the throat swab and nasal wash samples in comparison to the Delta variant infection. The viral load in the lungs and nasal turbinate samples and the lung disease severity of the Omicron (R346K) infected hamsters were found comparable with that of the Delta variant infected hamsters. Neutralizing antibody response against Omicron (R346K) variant was detected from day 5 and the cross-neutralization titre of the sera against other variants showed severe reduction ie., 7 fold reduction against Alpha and no titers against B.1, Beta and Delta. Interpretation: This preliminary data shows that Omicron (R346K) variant infection can produce moderate to severe lung disease similar to that of the Delta variant and the neutralizing antibodies produced in response to Omicron (R346K) variant infection shows poor neutralizing ability against other co-circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants like Delta which necessitates caution as it may lead to increased cases of reinfection. Funding: This study was supported by Indian Council of Medical Research as an intramural grant (COVID-19) to ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352396422001815SARS-CoV-2Omicron (R346K)BA.1.1R346KSyrian hamstersPathogenicity |
| spellingShingle | Sreelekshmy Mohandas Pragya D. Yadav Gajanan Sapkal Anita M. Shete Gururaj Deshpande Dimpal A. Nyayanit Deepak Patil Manoj Kadam Abhimanyu Kumar Chandrashekhar Mote Rajlaxmi Jain Pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (R346K) variant in Syrian hamsters and its cross-neutralization with different variants of concern EBioMedicine SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (R346K) BA.1.1 R346K Syrian hamsters Pathogenicity |
| title | Pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (R346K) variant in Syrian hamsters and its cross-neutralization with different variants of concern |
| title_full | Pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (R346K) variant in Syrian hamsters and its cross-neutralization with different variants of concern |
| title_fullStr | Pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (R346K) variant in Syrian hamsters and its cross-neutralization with different variants of concern |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (R346K) variant in Syrian hamsters and its cross-neutralization with different variants of concern |
| title_short | Pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (R346K) variant in Syrian hamsters and its cross-neutralization with different variants of concern |
| title_sort | pathogenicity of sars cov 2 omicron r346k variant in syrian hamsters and its cross neutralization with different variants of concern |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (R346K) BA.1.1 R346K Syrian hamsters Pathogenicity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352396422001815 |
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