Transmission and re-infection of Omicron variant XBB.1.5 in hamsters.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Like its predecessors in the XBB family, XBB.1.5 is highly immune evasive from therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and neutralizing antibodies generated by vaccination and/or infection. However, there is a lack of in vivo data on XBB.1.5 in animal models such as Syrian hamsters.

Methods

Syrian hamsters (females) were used to examine airborne transmission along with virus replication of XBB.1.5 in naïve animals and human ACE2 hamsters with pre-existing immunity from a previous infection with Omicron BA.1. Assays were performed to determine neutralizing antibody responses, and virus titers were determined by standard plaque assays.

Findings

Unlike earlier Omicron subvariants, such as BA.1 and BA.2, XBB.1.5 transmitted more efficiently in the hamster model. In a

SUBMITTER: Halfmann PJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10329098 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature