Evaluation of Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) as an experimental model of SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease

• Grant number: 20/09149-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2020
• End date: June 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Ana Marcia de Sá Guimarães
• Grantee: Antonio Francisco de Souza Filho
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/07251-2 - Evaluation of Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) as model of infection and disease by SARS-CoV-2, AP.R

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, is an emerging zoonosis identified in China in 2019 responsible for causing atypical pneumonia. In just two months, the virus reached all continents, being detected in individuals present in more than 190 countries / regions. The pandemic has had catastrophic effects on the population, health systems, social and economic well-being. Four measures are prioritized to count it: social distance, diagnosis, treatment and vaccines. The first two measures are already in effect in several countries around the world, while effective forms of treatment and vaccine candidates are still being sought. So that candidate molecules for treatment and prevention can be evaluated, it is necessary to develop an animal model of SARS-CoV-2 that can mimic the disease observed in humans. Thus, the objective of this project is to evaluate the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) as a model of SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease using clinical, hematological, histopathological and viral replication parameters. Hamsters were chosen because they are the most promising animal species after non-human primates and ferrets, since cononaviruses are species-specific, and some research groups have already been successful in this model in the last month. 24 Syrian Hamsters, 11-week-old males will be used, 12 of whom will be infected with SARS-Cov-2 in 12 will remain uninfected (placebo), to assess infection and possible disease development by clinical, hematological, histopathological and replication parameters viral. The experiment will last 14 days and groups of 6 animals (3 infected and 3 uninfected) will be euthanized on days 2, 5, 7 and 14 post-infection to collect samples. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BOTOSSO, VIVIANE FONGARO; CALIL JORGE, SORAIA ATTIE; ASTRAY, RENATO MANCINI; DE SA GUIMARAES, ANA MARCIA; MATHOR, MONICA BEATRIZ; DE CARNEIRO, PATRICIA DOS SANTOS; DURIGON, EDISON LUIZ; COVAS, DIMAS; LEAL DE OLIVEIRA, DANIELLE BRUNA; OLIVEIRA, RICARDO DAS NEVES; et al. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 equine F (Ab ')(2) immunoglobulin as a possible therapy for COVID-19. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 12, n. 1, p. 17-pg., 2022-03-10. (13/26450-2, 14/11513-1, 20/07251-2, 20/09149-0, 13/07467-1, 18/04609-3, 19/27348-3, 20/05293-0, 19/12303-4)

SAYEDAHMED, EKRAMY E.; ARAUJO, MARCELO VALDEMIR; SILVA-PEREIRA, TAIANA TAINA; CHOTHE, SHUBHADA K.; ELKASHIF, AHMED; ALHASHIMI, MARWA; WANG, WEN-CHIEN; SANTOS, ANDREA P.; NAIR, MEERA SURENDRAN; GONTU, ABHINAY; et al. Impact of an autophagy-inducing peptide on immunogenicity and protection efficacy of an adenovirus-vectored SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT, v. 30, p. 14-pg., 2023-09-14. (19/13916-0, 19/12691-4, 20/09149-0, 20/07251-2, 21/06881-5, 21/02736-0)