Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Oct 27, 2024 2:44:31 GMT
Differential Responses of Lung and Intestinal Microbiota to SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Comparative Study of the Wuhan and Omicron Strains in K18-hACE2 tg Mice - Preprint Posted Oct 25, 2024
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has led to the emergence of viral variants with distinct characteristics. We investigated the differential effects of the original Wuhan strain and the emergent Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 using a K18-hACE2 transgenic mouse model. We compared the mortality rates, viral loads, and histopathological changes in lung and tracheal tissues, as well as alterations in the lung and intestinal microbiota following infection. We observed significant differences in disease severity, with the Wuhan strain causing higher mortality and more severe lung damage than the Omicron variant. Furthermore, microbiome analyses revealed distinct shifts in microbiota associated with infection by each variant, suggesting that microbiome-related mechanisms might influence disease outcomes. This comprehensive comparison enhances our understanding of COVID-19 pathogenesis and highlights the importance of microbiome dynamics in viral infections, providing insights for future therapeutic and preventive strategies.
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has led to the emergence of viral variants with distinct characteristics. We investigated the differential effects of the original Wuhan strain and the emergent Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 using a K18-hACE2 transgenic mouse model. We compared the mortality rates, viral loads, and histopathological changes in lung and tracheal tissues, as well as alterations in the lung and intestinal microbiota following infection. We observed significant differences in disease severity, with the Wuhan strain causing higher mortality and more severe lung damage than the Omicron variant. Furthermore, microbiome analyses revealed distinct shifts in microbiota associated with infection by each variant, suggesting that microbiome-related mechanisms might influence disease outcomes. This comprehensive comparison enhances our understanding of COVID-19 pathogenesis and highlights the importance of microbiome dynamics in viral infections, providing insights for future therapeutic and preventive strategies.