Sex and age bias viral burden and interferon responses during SARS-CoV-2 infection in ferrets

Magen E. Francis; Brian Richardson; Una Goncin; Mara McNeil; Melissa Rioux; Mary K. Foley; Anni Ge; Roger D. Pechous; Jason Kindrachuk; Cheryl M. Cameron; Christopher Richardson; Jocelyne Lew; Steven Machtaler; Mark J. Cameron; Volker Gerdts; Darryl Falzarano; Alyson A. Kelvin

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-93855-9

Scientific Reports (Jul 2021)

Sex and age bias viral burden and interferon responses during SARS-CoV-2 infection in ferrets

Magen E. Francis,
Brian Richardson,
Una Goncin,
Mara McNeil,
Melissa Rioux,
Mary K. Foley,
Anni Ge,
Roger D. Pechous,
Jason Kindrachuk,
Cheryl M. Cameron,
Christopher Richardson,
Jocelyne Lew,
Steven Machtaler,
Mark J. Cameron,
Volker Gerdts,
Darryl Falzarano,
Alyson A. Kelvin

Affiliations

Magen E. Francis: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University
Brian Richardson: Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University
Una Goncin: Department of Medical Imaging, University of Saskatchewan
Mara McNeil: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University
Melissa Rioux: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University
Mary K. Foley: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University
Anni Ge: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University
Roger D. Pechous: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Jason Kindrachuk: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan
Cheryl M. Cameron: Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University
Christopher Richardson: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University
Jocelyne Lew: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan
Steven Machtaler: Department of Medical Imaging, University of Saskatchewan
Mark J. Cameron: Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University
Volker Gerdts: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan
Darryl Falzarano: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan
Alyson A. Kelvin: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93855-9
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 18

Abstract

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Abstract SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) hospitalizations and deaths disportionally affect males and older ages. Here we investigated the impact of male sex and age comparing sex-matched or age-matched ferrets infected with SARS-CoV-2. Differences in temperature regulation was identified for male ferrets which was accompanied by prolonged viral replication in the upper respiratory tract after infection. Gene expression analysis of the nasal turbinates indicated that 1-year-old female ferrets had significant increases in interferon response genes post infection which were delayed in males. These results provide insight into COVID-19 and suggests that older males may play a role in viral transmission due to decreased antiviral responses.

Published in Scientific Reports

ISSN: 2045-2322 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine; Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/srep/

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