Abstract
The recent emergence of B.1.1.529, the Omicron variant1,2, has raised concerns of escape from protection by vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. A key test for potential countermeasures against B.1.1.529 is their activity in preclinical rodent models of respiratory tract disease. Here, using the collaborative network of the SARS-CoV-2 Assessment of Viral Evolution (SAVE) programme of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), we evaluated the ability of several B.1.1.529 isolates to cause infection and disease in immunocompetent and human ACE2 (hACE2)-expressing mice and hamsters. Despite modelling data indicating that B.1.1.529 spike can bind more avidly to mouse ACE2 (refs. 3,4), we observed less infection by B.1.1.529 in 129, C57BL/6, BALB/c and K18-hACE2 transgenic mice than by previous SARS-CoV-2 variants, with limited weight loss and lower viral burden in the upper and lower respiratory tracts. In wild-type and hACE2 transgenic hamsters, lung infection, clinical disease and pathology with B.1.1.529 were also milder than with historical isolates or other SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Overall, experiments from the SAVE/NIAID network with several B.1.1.529 isolates demonstrate attenuated lung disease in rodents, which parallels preliminary human clinical data.
Highlights
TI This is a PDF file of a peer-reviewed paper that has been accepted for publication
Despite modeling data suggesting that B.1.1.529 spike can bind more avidly to murine ACE23,4, we observed less infection in 129, C57BL/6, BALB/c, and K18
In wild-type T and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) (hACE2) transgenic hamsters, lung infection, clinical disease, and pathology with AR B.1.1.529 were milder compared to historical isolates or other SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern
Summary
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. TE Consortium Mount Sinai Pathogen Surveillance (PSP) study group A B. Farrugia[17], A. van de Guchte[17], Z. E. Paniz-Mondolfi[18], ACCEL J.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
