In a new study, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and other research institutions have developed a new COVID-19 mouse model that can replicate and help many features of human diseases. Promote COVID-19 vaccine candidates to clinical trials. There is an urgent need for a small animal model that can replicate SARS-CoV-2 infection in order to quickly evaluate medical measures.
This mouse model developed by the laboratory of virologist Ralph Barrick is being used to accelerate the development of "warp speed" vaccines, such as the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna. The mouse model is expected to have a positive impact on the development of antiviral drugs, vaccines and anti-COVID-19 antibodies. When scientists began to study this dangerous new disease in January this year, their eyes were focused on ACE2, which is a protein on the surface of various cells in the human body. SARS-CoV-2 is a new type of coronavirus that can cause COVID-19. It binds to the ACE2 receptor and uses it to enter cells, initiate growth and cause infection.
However, it was discovered that SARS-CoV-2 cannot use the mouse version of the virus receptor ACE2. Since Baric's laboratory has a history of building mouse models for other coronaviruses (such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV), they used their expertise to use SARS to use mouse ACE2 receptors. -Change CoV-2, they modified the position of two amino acids in the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome to construct a mouse-adapted virus that can infect standard experimental mice (the mouse adaptability that can infect mice after mutation virus). SARS-CoV-2 virus). The paper’s co-author Sarah.eist, a research assistant at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said: “Young rats have mild symptoms, while older rats have more symptoms. Severe diseases are consistent with reports in the population. ."
The lead author of the paper, Kenneth H. Dinnon III, a graduate research assistant in the Jilin Department of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said: We have collaborated with the National Institutes of Health Vaccine Research Center and Moderna to test mRNA-1273 human vaccine candidates , And proved that they can effectively protect mice from infection. We also collaborate with some academic groups to test other vaccine platforms. Including the Alpha virus replication platform developed in our laboratory.
This mouse model is helping to advance another treatment method. Antibodies are designed to use the body's ability to target and respond to threats.
Baric Research Institute will work with other laboratories to identify and test the best human monoclonal antibodies that can bind and neutralize mouse SARS-CoV-2. The experiments described in this study found that a single injection of interferon lambda-1a before or after SARS-CoV-2 infection can protect mice from viral replication and loss of lung function.
"This mouse model is the first to show that the treatment is effective against SARS-CoV-2 in vivo." This finding supports ongoing clinical trials at Stanford University.
These milestones are part of the achievements of the Barrick Lab researchers at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The work in the laboratory of the Jilin Global Public Health Institute has accelerated the clinical trials of the antiviral drug Rexivir. Nowadays, remdesivir can accelerate the recovery of COVID-19 patients in hospital, so it is sought after all over the world.
Barrick said: "This new mouse model will be available to other researchers, and the research community will be able to understand how the virus causes disease and be able to test the system in Orange County, North Carolina, which is being developed around the world. Various treatments and vaccines.