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Published on: November 5, 2021
Animal models for emerging coronavirus: progress and new insights
Lunzhi Yuan1, Qiyi Tang2, Tong Cheng1
1State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR People's Republic of China.
Animal models are crucial for understanding and combating coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2. This review examines existing models for SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, evaluating their utility for SARS-CoV-2 research and treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- * Virology and Public Health: Focuses on emerging infectious diseases and global health security.
- * Comparative Medicine: Utilizes animal models for disease research and therapeutic development.
Background:
- * Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, pose significant global health threats, causing severe respiratory illness and fatalities.
- * The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has surpassed previous outbreaks in scale, with limited available treatments or vaccines.
- * Existing clinical interventions are insufficient to manage viral replication, inflammation, and organ failure associated with coronavirus infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To review and summarize available animal models for SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.
- * To assess the potential application of these models in studying SARS-CoV-2.
- * To discuss the advantages and limitations of these animal models for guiding fundamental research and treatment development for SARS-CoV-2.
Main Methods:
- * Literature review of existing research on animal models for SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.
- * Analysis of findings from studies utilizing these animal models.
- * Evaluation of the relevance and applicability of established models to SARS-CoV-2.
Main Results:
- * Established animal models for SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV offer valuable insights into coronavirus pathogenesis.
- * These models demonstrate varying degrees of susceptibility and disease manifestation relevant to human infections.
- * Specific findings from these models can inform the study of SARS-CoV-2, including viral load, immune response, and pathology.
Conclusions:
- * Animal models are indispensable tools for advancing the understanding of coronavirus biology and disease.
- * Existing SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV models provide a foundation for SARS-CoV-2 research, though species-specific differences must be considered.
- * Further research utilizing and refining these animal models is critical for developing effective vaccines and therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2.
