Choosing a cellular model to study SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

As new pathogens emerge, new challenges must be faced. This is no different in infectious disease research, where identifying the best tools available in laboratories to conduct an investigation can, at least initially, be particularly complicated. However, in the context of an emerging virus, such as SARS-CoV-2, which was recently detected in China and has become a global threat to healthcare systems, developing models of infection and pathogenesis is urgently required. Cell-based approaches are crucial to understanding coronavirus infection biology, growth kinetics, and tropism. Usually, laboratory cell lines are the first line in experimental models to study viral pathogenicity and perform assays aimed at screening antiviral compounds which are efficient at blocking the replication of emerging viruses, saving time and resources, reducing the use of experimental animals. However, determining the ideal cell type can be challenging, especially when several researchers have to adapt their studies to specific requirements. This review strives to guide scientists who are venturing into studying SARS-CoV-2 and help them choose the right cellular models. It revisits basic concepts of virology and presents the currently available in vitro models, their advantages and disadvantages, and the known consequences of each choice.

Analysis of spike protein variants evolved in a novel mouse model of persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection

“…As we reported previously, Calu-3 cells replicated continuously without apoptosis for 3 days after SARS-CoV-2 infection, in contrast to Vero cells that displayed cytotoxic effects after infection 15 . Calu-3 cells are cancer cells derived from the human lung, a primary target organ of SARS-CoV-2, but SARS-CoV-2 has also been found in other organs in humans including the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and brain 27 . Furthermore, extensive autopsy data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 causes systemic infection in humans with a wide range of severity and can persist in various organs for several months 28 .…”

“…Calu-3 cells are cancer cells derived from the human lung, a primary target organ of SARS-CoV-2, but SARS-CoV-2 has also been found in other organs in humans including the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and brain 27 . Furthermore, extensive autopsy data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 causes systemic infection in humans with a wide range of severity and can persist in various organs for several months 28 .…”

“…Furthermore, extensive autopsy data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 causes systemic infection in humans with a wide range of severity and can persist in various organs for several months 28 . As human cell lines such as Caco-2 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells, Huh-7 liver cancer cells, and U251 glioblastoma cells are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 without cytopathic effects 27 , we speculate that other cell lines can be used in xenograft infection models to provide more insights into persistent infection in different human tissues.…”

Integrative transcriptome analysis of SARS-CoV-2 human-infected cells combined with deep learning algorithms identifies two potential cellular targets for the treatment of coronavirus disease

“…Consequently, most cells of each cell model analyzed could be at different times of the replication cycle and justify the different expression patterns between these cell models. After all, the replication kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 is influenced by the host cell, and the virus's modulation of host gene expression will also depend on the replication and transcription step of SARS-CoV-2 itself in that cell [50][51][52][53], and this could explain why few DEGS are shared between the cell types. ITA was able to identify some potential targets for the treatment of coronavirus disease (Table 3), with some of the potential to be a target for the development of new treatment strategies for COVID-19 (Table 4).…”

Functionalized gold nanorods as drug carriers: a promising antiviral system

“…More and more the development of new antiviral systems proceeds through the study of the virus in model cells, such as the Vero E6. In fact, these are particularly useful for studying the behavior of viruses and in particular of Corona viruses, because, as is well known, they do not produce interferon [ [22][23][24]. In this work hydrophilic AuNRs were synthesised by means of seed mediated method, using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as stabilizer agent.…”