SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) shows minimal neurotropism in a double-humanized mouse model.

ABSTRACT: Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) initially infects the respiratory tract, it also directly or indirectly affects other organs, including the brain. However, little is known about the relative neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), including Omicron (B.1.1.529), which emerged in November 2021 and has remained the dominant pathogenic lineage since then. To address this gap, we examined the relative ability of Omicron, Beta (B.1.351), and Delta (B.1.617.2) to infect the brain in the context of a functional human immune system by using human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) knock-in triple-immunodeficient NGC mice with or without reconstitution with human CD34⁺ stem cells. Intranasal inoculation of huCD34⁺-hACE2-

SUBMITTER: Alves RPDS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10027296 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature