scholarly journals Susceptibility of sheep to experimental co-infection with the ancestral lineage of SARS-CoV-2 and its alpha variant

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha N Gaudreault ◽  
Konner Cool ◽  
Jessie D Trujillo ◽  
Igor Morozov ◽  
David A Meekins ◽  
...  

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for a global pandemic that has had significant impacts on human health and economies worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 is highly transmissible and the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in humans. A wide range of animal species have also been shown to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection by experimental and/or natural infections. Domestic and large cats, mink, ferrets, hamsters, deer mice, white-tailed deer, and non-human primates have been shown to be highly susceptible, whereas other species such as mice, dogs, pigs, and cattle appear to be refractory to infection or have very limited susceptibility. Sheep (Ovis aries) are a commonly farmed domestic ruminant that have not previously been thoroughly investigated for their susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, we performed in vitro and in vivo studies which consisted of infection of ruminant-derived cell cultures and experimental challenge of sheep to investigate their susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. Our results showed that sheep-derived cell cultures support SARS-CoV-2 replication. Furthermore, experimental challenge of sheep demonstrated limited infection with viral RNA shed in nasal and oral swabs primarily at 1-day post challenge (DPC), and also detected in the respiratory tract and lymphoid tissues at 4 and 8 DPC. Sero-reactivity was also observed in some of the principal infected sheep but not the contact sentinels, indicating that transmission to co-mingled naive sheep was not highly efficient; hovewer, viral RNA was detected in some of the respiratory tract tissues of sentinel animals at 21 DPC. Furthermore, we used challenge inoculum consisting of a mixture of two SARS-CoV-2 isolates, representatives of the ancestral lineage A and the B.1.1.7-like alpha variant of concern (VOC), to study competition of the two virus strains. Our results indicate that sheep show low susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and that the alpha VOC outcompeted the ancestral lineage A strain.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha N. Gaudreault ◽  
Mariano Carossino ◽  
Igor Morozov ◽  
Jessie D. Trujillo ◽  
David A. Meekins ◽  
...  

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of COVID-19 and responsible for the current global pandemic. We and others have previously demonstrated that cats are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and can efficiently transmit the virus to naïve cats. Here, we address whether cats previously exposed to SARS-CoV-2 can be re-infected with SARS-CoV-2. In two independent studies, SARS-CoV-2-infected cats were re-challenged with SARS-CoV-2 at 21 days post primary challenge (DPC) and necropsies performed at 4, 7 and 14 days post-secondary challenge (DP2C). Sentinels were co-mingled with the re-challenged cats at 1 DP2C. Clinical signs were recorded, and nasal, oropharyngeal, and rectal swabs, blood, and serum were collected and tissues examined for histologic lesions. Viral RNA was transiently shed via the nasal, oropharyngeal and rectal cavities of the re-challenged cats. Viral RNA was detected in various tissues of re-challenged cats euthanized at 4 DP2C, mainly in the upper respiratory tract and lymphoid tissues, but less frequently and at lower levels in the lower respiratory tract when compared to primary SARS-CoV-2 challenged cats at 4 DPC. Histologic lesions that characterized primary SARS-CoV-2 infected cats at 4 DPC were absent in the re-challenged cats. Naïve sentinels co-housed with the re-challenged cats did not shed virus or seroconvert. Together, our results indicate that cats previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 can be experimentally re-infected with SARS-CoV-2; however, the levels of virus shed was insufficient for transmission to co-housed naïve sentinels. We conclude that SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats induces immune responses that provide partial, non-sterilizing immune protection against reinfection.


Author(s):  
M.A. Zemlianova ◽  
I.V. Tikhonova

Alumina refineries are among the leading sources of atmospheric air pollution with a wide range of pollutants hazardous to human respiratory organs. It is relevant to study and evaluate the occurrence of the risks for development of respiratory diseases in children living in the area affected by the emission components of an alumina refinery. We assessed air quality of the area under observation and comparison according to monitoring observations, risk of non-carcinogenic effects from the respiratory organs. The content of chemicals in the blood and urine adequate to risk factors was quantified. The structure of individual groups of respiratory diseases was analyzed. The causal relationships of violations of laboratory parameters with an increased content of chemicals in biological media were evaluated. It was found that an aerogenic exposure of chemical pollutants is formed on the territory with the production of metallurgical alumina. It determines the risk for development of respiratory diseases, exceeding an acceptable level up to 49.9 times. In the exposed children, the content of manganese, chromium, nickel, copper, xylenes, formaldehyde and aluminum, fluoride ion in the urine was increased to 4.2 times in relation to the indices in the comparison group. A high level of additional respiratory morbidity(1.8 times) was revealed. Chronic lymphoproliferative diseases of the nasopharynx and inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract (up to 6.6 times more often), inflammatory diseases with a predominance of the mechanism of allergic inflammation ( up to 2.1 times more often)are more often detected in the framework of the respiratory diseases. Negative effects on the part of the respiratory system in the form of activation of antioxidant processes, the development of an inflammatory reaction, local, general and specific sensitization of the respiratory tract were established. It confirms the occurrence of the risks for the development of respiratory diseases in children in the exposure area of the chemical factors of alumina refinery-associated economic activity.


Metabolites ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 481
Author(s):  
Gemma G. Martínez-García ◽  
Raúl F. Pérez ◽  
Álvaro F. Fernández ◽  
Sylvere Durand ◽  
Guido Kroemer ◽  
...  

Autophagy is an essential protective mechanism that allows mammalian cells to cope with a variety of stressors and contributes to maintaining cellular and tissue homeostasis. Due to these crucial roles and also to the fact that autophagy malfunction has been described in a wide range of pathologies, an increasing number of in vivo studies involving animal models targeting autophagy genes have been developed. In mammals, total autophagy inactivation is lethal, and constitutive knockout models lacking effectors of this route are not viable, which has hindered so far the analysis of the consequences of a systemic autophagy decline. Here, we take advantage of atg4b−/− mice, an autophagy-deficient model with only partial disruption of the process, to assess the effects of systemic reduction of autophagy on the metabolome. We describe for the first time the metabolic footprint of systemic autophagy decline, showing that impaired autophagy results in highly tissue-dependent alterations that are more accentuated in the skeletal muscle and plasma. These changes, which include changes in the levels of amino-acids, lipids, or nucleosides, sometimes resemble those that are frequently described in conditions like aging, obesity, or cardiac damage. We also discuss different hypotheses on how impaired autophagy may affect the metabolism of several tissues in mammals.


2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (05) ◽  
pp. 1071-1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mao-Xing Li ◽  
Xi-Rui He ◽  
Rui Tao ◽  
Xinyuan Cao

In the present review, the literature data on the chemical constituents and biological investigations of the genus Pedicularis are summarized. Some species of Pedicularis have been widely applied in traditional Chinese medicine. A wide range of chemical components including iridoid glycosides, phenylpropanoid glycosides (PhGs), lignans glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids and other compounds have been isolated and identified from the genus Pedicularis. In vitro and in vivo studies indicated some monomer compounds and extracts from the genus Pedicularis have been found to possess antitumor, hepatoprotective, anti-oxidative, antihaemolysis, antibacterial activity, fatigue relief of skeletal muscle, nootropic effect and other activities.


Author(s):  
Hussein Migdadi ◽  
Nizar Haddad ◽  
Ruba AlOmari ◽  
Mohammad Brake ◽  
Mustafa AlShdaifat ◽  
...  

Background: Jordanian Awassi sheep (Ovis aries) is the dominant fat tail sheep breed that appeals to customers because of its various production systems, including fiber, meat and milk. This report is the first whole ewe genome sequence (WGS) of O. aries submitted in the NCBI database from Jordan. Methods: 64 Paired-end sequencing libraries were constructed and subjected to Illumina Hiseq 2500 sequencing system. High-quality reads were aligned against the reference sheep genome and detecting comprehensive sources (SNPs, InDels, SV, CNVs) of genetic variations. We have deposited data sequences at the NCBI under SRA (sequence reads archives) under the accession numbers SRR11128863, PRJNA574879. Result: Genome resequencing of Jordanian Awassi ewe was carried out with approximately 93.88 Gb with a mapping rate and effective mapping depths were 99.28% and 36.32. Around 19 million SNPs, 3,6 million InDels, 35,180 Structure variation and 13,524 copy number variation among the Jordanian ewe genome were detected. This wide range of genetic variation provides a framework for further genetic studies that will help understand the molecular basis underlying phenotypic variation of economically important traits in sheep and improve intrinsic defects in domestic sheep breeds.


Paleobiology ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuo-Yen Wei

Allometric analysis of the size-shape relationships in the Pliocene-Pleistocene planktic foraminiferal Globorotalia (Globoconella) puncticulata-inflata plexus reveals several heterochronic modes underlying the morphological evolution of the clade. The ancestral lineage, G. puncticulata, is a peramorphocline, showing a pre-displacement mode of heterochrony between 3.5 Ma and 3.0 Ma and an acceleration mode from 3.0 to 2.7 Ma. A different peramorphosis process, isometric giantism (hypermorphosis), in the ontogeny of the ancestral stocks of Globoconella occurred at about 3.5 Ma and gave rise to the G. inflata lineage. The descendant lineage, G. inflata, appears to have adopted a paedomorphosis trend by delaying the onset of the neanic stage in ontogeny during the period of 3.5 to 2.35 Ma, resulting in a series of transposition allometries. During the interval of 2.4 to 1.73 Ma, the allometries shifted to the opposite direction, signifying a pre-displacement trend. Evolutionary stasis marks the evolution during 1.73 to 0.25 Ma. Neoteny concluded the final evolutionary stage of the G. inflata lineage during the latest Quaternary (0.26 to 0.05 Ma). The enormous plasticity and fluctuations in morphology of G. inflata are attributed to the highly positive allometric growth during the ontogeny and the wide-range transposing allometries in the phyletic history. The major changes in heterochronic mode coincide with paleoceanographic events, suggesting that the morphological evolution in the Globoconella clade has been modulated by changes in paleoceanographic conditions.


2021 ◽  
pp. 58-64
Author(s):  
V. M. Svistushkin ◽  
Zh. T. Mokoyan

It has long been known, that nasal saline irrigation is a safe and effective method, which is routinely prescribed by otorhinolaryngologists to prevent and to treat a wide range of pathologies. There are a lot of publications on different irrigation techniques and methods. This literature review discusses the key parameters of nasal irrigation, including tonicity, pH, and the additional components, and explains how they affect the effectiveness of the procedure. The vast majority of available publications did not found any possible changes in the effectiveness of solutions with different pH close to neutral meaning. Whereas, the volume of the irrigated solution, increases the efficiency of the irrigation in direct proportion. Thus, the largest distribution area of the solute is noted when washing with a large volume of liquid. Nasal saline irrigation is an effective treatment option for patients with several acute and chronic diseases and for postoperative care after rhinosurgery. Moreover, nasal irrigation might be used as an effective non-specific method for prevention of acute upper respiratory tract infections. Irrigation of the nasal cavity reduces the mucus viscosity and promotes its faster elimination, along with pathogens fixed in it. Additionally, irrigation with isotonic saline solutions increases the hydration of the underlying water base, which enhances the frequency of ciliary beat and reduces the concentration of local inflammatory mediators. COVID-19 pandemic situation due to lack of any specific antiviral drugs dictates the necessity of an effective non-specific preventive option, which could be introduced worldwide. The so-called full volume lavage of the nasal cavity allows for better cleaning of the nasal cavity and effective moisturizing of the mucous membrane. It is the timely cleansing and moisturizing that are most important for maintaining the normal activity of the local protective mechanisms of the upper respiratory tract.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chrissy Eckstrand ◽  
Tom Baldwin ◽  
Mia Kim Torchetti ◽  
Mary Lea Killian ◽  
Kerry A Rood ◽  
...  

The breadth of animal hosts that are susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and may serve as reservoirs for continued viral transmission are not known entirely. In August 2020, an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 occurred in multiple mink farms in Utah and was associated with high mink mortality and rapid viral transmission between animals. The outbreak's epidemiology, pathology, molecular characterization, and tissue distribution of virus within infected mink is provided. Infection of mink was likely by reverse zoonosis. Once established, infection spread rapidly between independently housed animals and farms, and caused severe respiratory disease and death. Clinical signs were most notably sudden death, anorexia, and increased respiratory effort. Gross pathology examination revealed severe pulmonary congestion and edema. Microscopically there was pulmonary edema with moderate vasculitis, perivasculitis, and fibrinous interstitial pneumonia. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of tissues collected at necropsy demonstrated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in multiple organs including nasal turbinates, lung, tracheobronchial lymph node, epithelial surfaces, and others. Whole genome sequencing from multiple mink was consistent with published SARS-CoV-2 genomes with few polymorphisms. The Utah mink SARS-CoV-2 strain fell into Clade GH, which is unique among mink and other animal strains sequenced to date and did not share other spike RBD mutations Y453F and F486L found in mink. Localization of viral RNA by in situ hybridization revealed a more localized infection, particularly of the upper respiratory tract. Mink in the outbreak reported herein had high levels of virus in the upper respiratory tract associated with mink-to-mink transmission in a confined housing environment and were particularly susceptible to disease and death due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (19) ◽  
pp. 10636
Author(s):  
Nadine Krüger ◽  
Cheila Rocha ◽  
Sandra Runft ◽  
Johannes Krüger ◽  
Iris Färber ◽  
...  

Natural or experimental infection of domestic cats and virus transmission from humans to captive predatory cats suggest that felids are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, it is unclear which cells and compartments of the respiratory tract are infected. To address this question, primary cell cultures derived from the nose, trachea, and lungs of cat and lion were inoculated with SARS-CoV-2. Strong viral replication was observed for nasal mucosa explants and tracheal air–liquid interface cultures, whereas replication in lung slices was less efficient. Infection was mainly restricted to epithelial cells and did not cause major pathological changes. Detection of high ACE2 levels in the nose and trachea but not lung further suggests that susceptibility of feline tissues to SARS-CoV-2 correlates with ACE2 expression. Collectively, this study demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 can efficiently replicate in the feline upper respiratory tract ex vivo and thus highlights the risk of SARS-CoV-2 spillover from humans to felids.


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