Vaccine and antiviral development against SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 disease would benefit from validated small animal models. Here, we show that transgenic mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) by the human cytokeratin 18 promoter (K18 hACE2) represent a susceptible rodent model. K18 hACE2 transgenic mice succumbed to SARS-CoV-2 infection by day 6, with virus detected in lung airway epithelium and brain. K18 ACE2 transgenic mice produced a modest TH1/2/17 cytokine storm in the lung and spleen that peaked by day 2, and an extended chemokine storm that was detected in both lungs and brain. This chemokine storm was also detected in the brain at day 6. K18 hACE2 transgenic mice are, therefore, highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and represent a suitable animal model for the study of viral pathogenesis, and for identification and characterization of vaccines (prophylactic) and antivirals (therapeutics) for SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated severe COVID-19 disease.

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One year in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the first vaccines are being rolled out under emergency use authorizations. It is of great concern that newly emerging variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can escape antibody-mediated protection induced by previous infection or vaccination through mutations in the spike protein. The glutamate (E) to Lysine (K) substitution at position 484 (E484K) in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein is present in the rapidly spreading variants of concern belonging to the B.1.351 and P.1 lineages. We performed in vitro microneutralization assays with both the USA-WA1/2020 virus and a recombinant (r)SARS-CoV-2 virus that is identical to USA-WA1/2020 except for the E484K mutation introduced in the spike RBD. We selected 34 sera from study participants based on their SARS-CoV-2 spike ELISA antibody titer (negative [N=4] versus weak [N=8], moderate [N=11] or strong positive [N=11]). In addition, we included sera from five individuals who received two doses of the Pfizer SARS-CoV-2 vaccine BNT162b2. Serum neutralization efficiency was lower against the E484K rSARS-CoV-2 (vaccination samples: 3.4 fold; convalescent low IgG: 2.4 fold, moderate IgG: 4.2 fold and high IgG: 2.6 fold) compared to USA-WA1/2020. For some of the convalescent donor sera with low or moderate IgG against the SARS-CoV-2 spike, the drop in neutralization efficiency resulted in neutralization ID50 values similar to negative control samples, with low or even absence of neutralization of the E484K rSARS-CoV-2. However, human sera with high neutralization titers against the USA-WA1/2020 strain were still able to neutralize the E484K rSARS-CoV-2. Therefore, it is important to aim for the highest titers possible induced by vaccination to enhance protection against newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Two vaccine doses may be needed for induction of high antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2. Postponing the second vaccination is suggested by some public health authorities in order to provide more individuals with a primer vaccination. Our data suggests that this may leave vaccinees less protected against newly emerging variants.

These authors contributed equally to this work.Keywords: AKT-MTOR pathway, autophagy, avibirnavirus, HSP90AA1, viral protein VP2Abbreviations: ANOVA, analysis of variance; ATG5, autophagy-related 5; BCA, bicinchoninic acid; BECN1, Beclin 1, autophagyrelated; cDNA, complementary DNA; CoIP, coimmunoprecipitation; DMEM, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium; dsRNA, double-stranded RNA; EBSS, Earle's balanced salt solution; EIF2AK2, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2-alpha kinase 2; EIF2S1, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2, subunit 1 alpha; eGFP, enhanced green fluorescent protein; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; Gg, Gallus gallus (chicken); GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GOPC, golgi-associated PDZ and coiled-coil motif containing; GST, glutathione S-transferase; HE-IBDV, heat-inactivated IBDV; hpi, hours post-infection; Hs, Homo sapiens (human); HSP90AA1, heat shock protein 90 kDa alpha (cytosolic), class A member 1; HSV-1, herpes simplex virus 1; IBDV, infectious bursal disease virus; IgG, immunoglobulin G; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; mAb, monoclonal antibody; MAP1LC3/LC3, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; MOI, multiplicity of infection; MTOR, mechanistic target of rapamycin (serine/threonine kinase); Ni-NTA, nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid; PAMP, pathogen-associated molecular patterns; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; PI3K, phosphoinositide 3-kinase; PRR, pattern recognition receptors; RNAi, RNA interference; SDS, sodium dodecyl sulfate; siRNA, small interfering RNA; shRNA, short hairpin RNA; SQSTM1, sequestosome 1; TCID 50 , 50% tissue culture infectious doses; TLR, tolllike receptors; TSC, tuberous sclerosis complex; VP, viral protein; SVP, subviral particle.Autophagy is an essential component of host innate and adaptive immunity. Viruses have developed diverse strategies for evading or utilizing autophagy for survival. The response of the autophagy pathways to virus invasion is poorly documented. Here, we report on the induction of autophagy initiated by the pathogen receptor HSP90AA1 (heat shock protein 90 kDa a [cytosolic], class A member 1) via the AKT-MTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin)-dependent pathway. Transmission electron microscopy and confocal microscopy revealed that intracellular autolysosomes packaged avibirnavirus particles. Autophagy detection showed that early avibirnavirus infection not only increased the amount of light chain 3 (LC3)-II, but also upregulated AKT-MTOR dephosphorylation. HSP90AA1-AKT-MTOR knockdown by RNA interference resulted in inhibition of autophagy during avibirnavirus infection. Virus titer assays further verified that autophagy inhibition, but not induction, enhanced avibirnavirus replication. Subsequently, we found that HSP90AA1 binding to the viral protein VP2 resulted in induction of autophagy and AKT-MTOR pathway inactivation. Collectively, our findings suggest that the cell surface protein HSP90AA1, an avibirnavirus-binding receptor, induces autophagy through the HSP90AA1-AKT-MTOR pathway in early infection. We reveal that upon...