Nouailles, G. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2021

De Novo Whole Genome Assembly of the Roborovski Dwarf Hamster (Phodopus roborovskii) Genome, an Animal Model for Severe/Critical COVID-19

The Roborovski dwarf hamster Phodopus roborovskii belongs to the Phodopus genus, one of seven within Cricetinae subfamily. Like other rodents such as mice, rats or ferrets, hamsters can be important animal models for a range of diseases. Whereas the Syrian hamster from the genus Mesocricetus is now widely used as a model for mild to moderate COVID-19, Roborovski dwarf hamster show a severe to lethal course of disease upon infection with the novel human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

Longitudinal omics in Syrian hamsters integrated with human data unravel complexity of moderate immune responses to SARS-CoV-2

In COVID-19, the immune response largely determines disease severity and is key to therapeutic strategies. Cellular mechanisms contributing to inflammatory lung injury and tissue repair in SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly endothelial cell involvement, remain ill-defined. We performed detailed spatiotemporal analyses of cellular and molecular processes in SARS-CoV-2 infected Syrian hamsters. Comparison of hamster single-cell sequencing and proteomics with data sets from COVID-19 patients demonstrated inter-species concordance of cellular and molecular host-pathogen interactions. In depth vascular and pulmonary compartment analyses (i) supported the hypothesis that monocyte-derived macrophages dominate inflammation, (ii) revealed endothelial inflammation status and T-cell attraction, and (iii) showed that CD4+ and CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell responses precede viral elimination. Using the Syrian hamster model of self-limited moderate COVID-19, we defined the specific roles of endothelial and epithelial cells, among other myeloid and non-myeloid lung cell subtypes, for determining the disease course.

immunology↗