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Mouse Models for the Study of SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Audrey C Knight1, Stephanie A Montgomery2, Craig A Fletcher2
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Comparative Medicine
|October 6, 2021
Summary
Mouse models are crucial for studying COVID-19 pathogenesis and therapeutics. Researchers have developed genetically modified mice that replicate key clinical and pathological features of SARS-CoV-2 infection, aiding disease research.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Mice are essential models for studying virus-induced diseases due to their genetic tractability and available research tools.
- Wild-type mice do not naturally support SARS-CoV-2 replication because of differences in the ACE2 receptor.
- Previous development of mouse models for SARS and MERS laid groundwork for COVID-19 models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review key pulmonary and extrapulmonary pathologic changes in COVID-19 patients that are replicated in mouse models.
- To describe the development and basis of mouse models for studying SARS-CoV-2.
- To outline the clinical and pathological features of existing SARS-CoV-2 mouse models.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on SARS-CoV-2 mouse models.
- Analysis of genetic strategies for creating susceptible mouse strains (human ACE2 insertion or viral adaptation).
- Comparison of pathological findings in mouse models with human COVID-19 cases.
Main Results:
- Two primary strategies yield mouse models that exhibit COVID-19 hallmarks like acute respiratory distress syndrome.
- These models replicate critical pulmonary and extrapulmonary pathologies observed in human COVID-19 patients.
- The models are valuable for evaluating pathogenesis, vaccines, and therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2.
Conclusions:
- Genetically engineered and adapted mouse models are indispensable for COVID-19 research.
- These models accurately recapitulate key aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection, facilitating the study of disease mechanisms.
- Available mouse models provide a platform for advancing the development of effective countermeasures against COVID-19.
