Golden Syrian hamster as a model to study cardiovascular complications associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the Golden Syrian hamster causes lung pathology that resembles human coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, extrapulmonary pathologies associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and post-COVID sequelae remain to be understood. Here, we show, using a hamster model, that the early phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to an acute inflammatory response and lung pathologies, while the late phase of infection causes cardiovascular complications (CVCs) characterized by ventricular wall thickening associated with increased ventricular mass/body mass ratio and interstitial coronary fibrosis. Molecular profiling further substantiated our findings of CVC as SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters showed elevated levels of serum cardiac troponin I, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and long-chain fatty acid triglycerides. Serum metabolomics profiling of SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters identified N-acetylneuraminate, a functional metabolite found to be associated with CVC, as a metabolic marker was found to be common between SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters and COVID-19 patients. Together, we propose hamsters as a suitable animal model to study post-COVID sequelae associated with CVC, which could be extended to therapeutic interventions.

Rizvi ZA ，Dalal R ，Sadhu S ，Binayke A ，Dandotiya J ，Kumar Y ，Shrivastava T ，Gupta SK ，Aggarwal S ，Tripathy MR ，Rathore DK ，Yadav AK ，Medigeshi GR ，Pandey AK ，Samal S ，Asthana S ，Awasthi A ... -  《eLife》

Dynamic Changes of the Blood Chemistry in Syrian Hamsters Post-Acute COVID-19.

Hsu CJ ，Lin WC ，Chou YC ，Yang CM ，Wu HL ，Cheng YH ，Liu PC ，Chang JY ，Chen HY ，Sun JR ... -  《Microbiology Spectrum》

J2N-k hamster model simulates severe infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Considering the global impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, generating suitable experimental models is imperative. For pre-clinical studies, researchers require animal models displaying pathological features similar to those observed in patients; therefore, establishing animal models for COVID-19 is crucial. The golden Syrian hamster model mimics conditions observed in humans with mild severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. However, a golden Syrian hamster model of severe infection has not been reported. J2N-k hamsters are utilized as a cardiomyopathy model; therefore, we used cardiomyopathic J2N-k hamsters showing conditions similar to those of severe COVID-19 complicated with cardiovascular diseases, as patients with cardiovascular diseases exhibit a higher risk of morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 than patients without cardiovascular diseases. Unlike that in golden Syrian hamsters, SARS-CoV-2 infection was lethal in J2N-k hamsters, with a median lethal dose of 104.75 plaque-forming units for the S clade of SARS-CoV-2 (A, GenBank: MW466791.1). High viral titers and viral genomes were detected in the lungs of J2N-k and golden Syrian hamster models harvested 3 days after infection. Pathological features of SARS-CoV-2-associated lung injury were observed in both models. The J2N-k hamster model can aid in developing vaccines or therapeutics against COVID-19.

Lee H ，Lee TY ，Jeon P ，Kim N ，Kim JW ，Yang JS ，Kim KC ，Lee JY ... -  《-》

Hepatic endotheliitis in Golden Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) experimentally infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Souza AJS ，Souza Filho AF ，Zimpel CK ，Ayupe MC ，Araújo MV ，Machado RRG ，Salles E ，Salgado CL ，Tavares MS ，Silva-Pereira TT ，Souza PC ，Durigon EL ，Heinemann MB ，Brandão PE ，Fonseca DMD ，Guimarães AMS ，Sá LRM ... -  《-》

Comparison of the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in K18-hACE2 mouse and Syrian golden hamster models.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of COVID-19, causes life-threatening disease. This novel coronavirus enters host cells via the respiratory tract, promoting the formation of severe pulmonary lesions and systemic disease. Few animal models can simulate the clinical signs and pathology of COVID-19 patients. Diverse preclinical studies using K18-hACE2 mice and Syrian golden hamsters, which are highly permissive to SARS-CoV-2 in the respiratory tract, are emerging; however, the systemic pathogenesis and cellular tropism of these models remain obscure. We intranasally infected K18-hACE2 mice and Syrian golden hamsters with SARS-CoV-2, and compared the clinical features, pathogenesis, cellular tropism and infiltrated immune-cell subsets. In K18-hACE2 mice, SARS-CoV-2 persistently replicated in alveolar cells and caused pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease, resulting in fatal outcomes. Conversely, in Syrian golden hamsters, transient SARS-CoV-2 infection in bronchial cells caused reversible pulmonary disease, without mortality. Our findings provide comprehensive insights into the pathogenic spectrum of COVID-19 using preclinical models.

Jeong H ，Woo Lee Y ，Park IH ，Noh H ，Kim SH ，Kim J ，Jeon D ，Jang HJ ，Oh J ，On D ，Uhm C ，Cho K ，Oh H ，Yoon S ，Seo JS ，Kim JJ ，Seok SH ，Lee YJ ，Hong SM ，An SH ，Yeon Kim S ，Kim YB ，Hwang JY ，Lee HJ ，Kim HB ，Jeong DG ，Song D ，Song M ，Park MS ，Choi KS ，Park JW ，Seo JY ，Yun JW ，Shin JS ，Lee HY ，Nam KT ，Seong JK ... -  《-》