Nature Communications (Nov 2021)

SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 (alpha) and B.1.351 (beta) variants induce pathogenic patterns in K18-hACE2 transgenic mice distinct from early strains

  • Peter Radvak,
  • Hyung-Joon Kwon,
  • Martina Kosikova,
  • Uriel Ortega-Rodriguez,
  • Ruoxuan Xiang,
  • Je-Nie Phue,
  • Rong-Fong Shen,
  • James Rozzelle,
  • Neeraj Kapoor,
  • Taylor Rabara,
  • Jeff Fairman,
  • Hang Xie

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26803-w
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 15

Abstract

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Mutant SARS-CoV-2 strains such as B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 have been termed variants of concerns (VoC) due to their enhanced virulence. Here the authors show, using K18-hACE2 transgenic mouse models, that these two VoCs are also more pathogenic in mice, and induce immunity and pathology distinct from those from the earlier variants.