Increased pathogenicity and transmissibility in hamsters of all age groups reveal an underestimated perniciousness of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 EG.1 variant.

ABSTRACT: The evolution and mutation of SARS-CoV-2 is elusive. However, the diverse in vivo pathogenicity and transmissibility of different SARS-CoV-2 Omicron/XBB variants are not well understood. We compared virological attributes of two XBB variants, XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.9.2.1 (EG.1) in new-born, juvenile, adult, middle-aged and senescent Syrian hamsters. In particular, EG.1 has a specific Q613H mutation and causes fatal severe pneumonia in hamsters of all ages. In contrast, all hamsters infected with XBB.1.16 survived and showed milder symptoms. The XBB.1.16 infected hamsters lost significantly less body weight and exhibited lower respiratory viral loads, pro-inflammatory cytokines and lung injury than those with EG.1 infection. In addition, EG.1 is more transmissible than XBB.1.16 in close

SUBMITTER: Zhou M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11872406 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature