Low dose inocula of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant transmits more efficiently than earlier variants in hamsters

Mok, Bobo Wing-Yee; Hong-lian, Liu; Deng, Shumin; Liu, Jiayan; Zhang, Anna Jinxia; Lau, Siu-Ying; Liu, Siwen; Tam, Rachel Chun-Yee; Cremin, Conor J.; Ng, Timothy Ting-Leung; Leung, Jake Siu-Lun; Lee, Lam-Kwong; Wang, Pui; To, Kelvin Kai‐Wang; Chan, Jasper Fuk‐Woo; Chan, Kwok‐Hung; Yuen, Kwok‐Yung; Siu, Gilman Kit-Hang; Chen, Honglin

doi:10.1038/s42003-021-02640-x

Cited by 20 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(12 reference statements)

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“…Some recent studies regarding transmissibility of Alpha variant or Alpha-like viruses showed a fitness advantage of these viruses on strains carrying D614G spike mutation in the hamster model. Using low-dose inocula in the hamster model, one study showed a superiority of Alpha variant when inoculated competitively and a more efficient transmission when inoculated alone 21 . This study reported that Alpha variant is slightly more excreted than G614 strain at the early stage of infection in hamsters, affecting viral transmission to contact animals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant exhibits comparable fitness to the D614G strain in a Syrian hamster model

et al. 2022

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Late 2020, SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant emerged in United Kingdom and gradually replaced G614 strains initially involved in the global spread of the pandemic. In this study, we use a Syrian hamster model to compare a clinical strain of Alpha variant with an ancestral G614 strain. The Alpha variant succeed to infect animals and to induce a pathology that mimics COVID-19. However, both strains replicate to almost the same level and induced a comparable disease and immune response. A slight fitness advantage is noted for the G614 strain during competition and transmission experiments. These data do not corroborate the epidemiological situation observed during the first half of 2021 in humans nor reports that showed a more rapid replication of Alpha variant in human reconstituted bronchial epithelium. This study highlights the need to combine data from different laboratories using various animal models to decipher the biological properties of newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant exhibits comparable fitness to the D614G strain in a Syrian hamster model

et al. 2022

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“…Several of these new variants, especially those classified as Variants of Concern (VOCs) by the World Health Organization, can transmit more easily [ 9 ]. Our previous study showed that the higher transmissibility of the Alpha variant correlated with a lower infectious dose in hamsters [ 10 ]. Furthermore, these VOCs have reduced susceptibility to neutralizing antibodies induced by natural COVID-19 infection or first-generation COVID-19 vaccines and have led to reinfections or vaccine breakthrough infections [ 11–13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant shows less efficient replication and fusion activity when compared with Delta variant in TMPRSS2-expressed cells

Zhao

Zheng

et al. 2022

Emerging Microbes & Infections

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The novel SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529), first found in early November 2021, has sparked considerable global concern and it has >50 mutations, many of which are known to affect transmissibility or cause immune escape. In this study, we sought to investigate the virological characteristics of the Omicron variant and compared it with the Delta variant which has dominated the world since mid-2021. Omicron variant replicated more slowly than the Delta variant in transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2)-overexpressing VeroE6 (VeroE6/TMPRSS2) cells. Notably, the Delta variant replicated well in Calu3 cell line which has robust TMPRSS2 expression, while the Omicron variant replicated poorly in this cell line. Competition assay showed that Delta variant outcompeted Omicron variant in VeroE6/TMPRSS2 and Calu3 cells. To confirm the difference in entry pathway between the Omicron and Delta variants, we assessed the antiviral effect of bafilomycin A1, chloroquine (inhibiting endocytic pathway), and camostat (inhibiting TMPRSS2 pathway). Camostat potently inhibited the Delta variant but not the Omicron variant, while bafilomycin A1 and chloroquine could inhibit both Omicron and Delta variants. Moreover, the Omicron variant also showed weaker cell–cell fusion activity when compared with Delta variant in VeroE6/TMPRSS2 cells. Collectively, our results suggest that Omicron variant infection is not enhanced by TMPRSS2 but is largely mediated via the endocytic pathway. The difference in entry pathway between Omicron and Delta variants may have an implication on the clinical manifestations or disease severity.

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“… 10 , 11 The model have been effectively used for the studies on the vaccines, antivirals, pathogenesis, transmissibility, virus shedding and disease severity associated with SARS-CoV-2 VOC's. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 Recently, few studies have been published on the pathogenesis aspect of Omicron variant in mice and Syrian hamsters in comparison with other VOC's demonstrating decreased severity of infection. 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 Abdelnabi et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (R346K) variant in Syrian hamsters and its cross-neutralization with different variants of concern

et al. 2022

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Low dose inocula of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant transmits more efficiently than earlier variants in hamsters

Cited by 20 publications

References 18 publications

The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant exhibits comparable fitness to the D614G strain in a Syrian hamster model

The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant exhibits comparable fitness to the D614G strain in a Syrian hamster model

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant shows less efficient replication and fusion activity when compared with Delta variant in TMPRSS2-expressed cells

Pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (R346K) variant in Syrian hamsters and its cross-neutralization with different variants of concern

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