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Rapid generation of a mouse model for Middle East respiratory syndrome
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Rapid generation of a mouse model for Middle East respiratory syndrome

Jincun Zhao, Kun Li, Christine Wohlford-Lenane, Sudhakar S Agnihothram, Craig Fett, Jingxian Zhao, Michael J Gale Jr, Ralph S Baric, Luis Enjuanes, Tom Gallagher, …
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol.111(13), pp.4970-4975
04/01/2014
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1323279111
PMCID: PMC3977243
PMID: 24599590
url
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1323279111View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

In this era of continued emergence of zoonotic virus infections, the rapid development of rodent models represents a critical barrier to public health preparedness, including the testing of antivirus therapy and vaccines. The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was recently identified as the causative agent of a severe pneumonia. Given the ability of coronavirus to rapidly adapt to new hosts, a major public health concern is that MERS-CoV will further adapt to replication in humans, triggering a pandemic. No small-animal model for this infection is currently available, but studies suggest that virus entry factors can confer virus susceptibility. Here, we show that mice were sensitized to MERS-CoV infection by prior transduction with adenoviral vectors expressing the human host-cell receptor dipeptidyl peptidase 4. Mice developed a pneumonia characterized by extensive inflammatory-cell infiltration with virus clearance occurring 6-8 d after infection. Clinical disease and histopathological changes were more severe in the absence of type-I IFN signaling whereas the T-cell response was required for virus clearance. Using these mice, we demonstrated the efficacy of a therapeutic intervention (poly I:C) and a potential vaccine [Venezuelan equine encephalitis replicon particles expressing MERS-CoV spike protein]. We also found little protective cross-reactivity between MERS-CoV and the severe acute respiratory syndrome-CoV. Our results demonstrate that this system will be useful for MERS-CoV studies and for the rapid development of relevant animal models for emerging respiratory viral infections.
Middle East Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control Humans Mice, Inbred C57BL Respiratory Tract Infections - prevention & control Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - immunology Cross Reactions - immunology Coronavirus Infections - immunology Coronavirus - immunology Signal Transduction - immunology Animals Coronavirus Infections - virology CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - virology Respiratory Tract Infections - immunology Interferon Type I - metabolism Antibodies, Viral - immunology Mice Respiratory Tract Infections - virology Coronavirus - physiology Disease Models, Animal

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