BMC Genomics (Mar 2025)
Genomic-transcriptomic analysis identifies the Syrian hamster as a superior animal model for human diseases
- Chuchu Wang,
- Zhenguo Cheng,
- Jinxin Miao,
- Xia Xue,
- Yunshu Dong,
- Li Zhao,
- Haoran Guo,
- Jianyao Wang,
- Zhizhong Wang,
- Shuangshuang Lu,
- Guangming Fang,
- Ying Peng,
- Yafei Zhai,
- Zhongxian Zhang,
- Dongling Gao,
- Zhimin Wang,
- Pengju Wang,
- Lirong Zhang,
- Louisa S Chard Dunmall,
- Jun Wang,
- Wenxue Tang,
- Xiaowei Li,
- Zhongren Ding,
- Xiaoyan Zhao,
- Ling Li,
- Nicholas R. Lemoine,
- Zhongde Wang,
- Daniel Tonge,
- Wenjie Tan,
- Jianzeng Dong,
- Yaohe Wang
Affiliations
- Chuchu Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Zhenguo Cheng
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Jinxin Miao
- Academy of Chinese Medicine Science, Henan University of Chinese Medicine
- Xia Xue
- Henan Key Laboratory for Helicobacter Pylori and Digestive Tract Microecology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University; Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan Academy of Innovations in Medical Science; Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Yunshu Dong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital
- Li Zhao
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC
- Haoran Guo
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Jianyao Wang
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Zhizhong Wang
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Shuangshuang Lu
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Guangming Fang
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Ying Peng
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Yafei Zhai
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Zhongxian Zhang
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Dongling Gao
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Zhimin Wang
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Pengju Wang
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Lirong Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Louisa S Chard Dunmall
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers & Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London
- Jun Wang
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers & Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London
- Wenxue Tang
- Centre for Precision Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Xiaowei Li
- Department of Cardiology, Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University
- Zhongren Ding
- Department of Cardiology, Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University
- Xiaoyan Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University
- Ling Li
- Department of Cardiology, Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University
- Nicholas R. Lemoine
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- Zhongde Wang
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, Utah State University
- Daniel Tonge
- School of Life Sciences, Keele University
- Wenjie Tan
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC
- Jianzeng Dong
- Department of Cardiology, Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University
- Yaohe Wang
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-025-11393-4
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 26,
no. 1
pp. 1 – 18
Abstract
Abstract Background The Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) has shown promise as a human diseases model, recapitulating features of different human diseases including COVID-19. However, the landscape of its genome and transcriptome has not been systematically dissected, restricting its potential applications. Results Here we provide a complete analysis of the genome and transcriptome of the Syrian hamster and found that its lineage diverged from that of the Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) around 29.4 million years ago. 21,387 protein-coding genes were identified, with 90.03% of the 2.56G base pair sequence being anchored to 22 chromosomes. Further comparison of the transcriptomes from 15 tissues of the Syrian hamster revealed that the Syrian hamster shares a pattern of alternative splicing modes more similar to humans, compared to rats and mice. An integrated genomic-transcriptomic analysis revealed that the Syrian hamster also has genetic and biological advantages as a superior animal model for cardiovascular diseases. Strikingly, several genes involved in SARS-COV-2 infection, including ACE2, present a higher homology with humans compared to other rodents and show the same function as their human counterparts. Conclusion The detailed molecular characterisation of the Syrian hamster in the present study opens a wealth of fundamental resources from this small rodent for future research into human disease pathology and treatment.
Keywords
