Subtle differences in the pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 in rhesus macaques.

ABSTRACT: The emergence of several SARS-CoV-2 variants has caused global concerns about increased transmissibility, increased pathogenicity, and decreased efficacy of medical countermeasures. Animal models can be used to assess phenotypical changes in the absence of confounding factors that affect observed pathogenicity and transmissibility data in the human population. Here, we studied the pathogenicity of variants of concern (VOC) B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 in rhesus macaques and compared it to a recent clade B.1 SARS-CoV-2 isolate containing the D614G substitution in the spike protein. The B.1.1.7 VOC behaved similarly to the D614G with respect to clinical disease, virus shedding and virus replication in the respiratory tract. Inoculation with the B.1.351 isolate resulted in lower clinical scores in rhe

SUBMITTER: Munster VJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8357058 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature