Advances and gaps in SARS-CoV-2 infection models

• Published in: PLoS pathogens Vol. 18; no. 1; p. e1010161
• Main Authors: Muñoz-Fontela, César, Widerspick, Lina, Albrecht, Randy A., Beer, Martin, Carroll, Miles W., de Wit, Emmie, Diamond, Michael S., Dowling, William E., Funnell, Simon G. P., García-Sastre, Adolfo, Gerhards, Nora M., de Jong, Rineke, Munster, Vincent J., Neyts, Johan, Perlman, Stanley, Reed, Douglas S., Richt, Juergen A., Riveros-Balta, Ximena, Roy, Chad J., Salguero, Francisco J., Schotsaert, Michael, Schwartz, Lauren M., Seder, Robert A., Segalés, Joaquim, Vasan, Seshadri S., Henao-Restrepo, Ana María, Barouch, Dan H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.01.2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Age Factors; Analysis; Animal diseases; Animal experimentation; Animal models; Animals; Asymptomatic; Biology and life sciences; Comorbidity; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - etiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 - therapy; COVID-19 vaccines; COVID-19 Vaccines - adverse effects; COVID-19 Vaccines - immunology; Demographic variables; Disease Models, Animal; Disease transmission; Humans; Infections; Laboratories; Medical research; Medicine and health sciences; Methods; Mutation; Pathogenesis; Proteins; Research and Analysis Methods; Review; SARS-CoV-2 - immunology; SARS-CoV-2 - pathogenicity; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Vaccines; Viral diseases; Virulence; Virulence (Microbiology); Viruses; Syria
• ISSN: 1553-7374; 1553-7366; 1553-7374
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010161

The global response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now facing new challenges such as vaccine inequity and the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs). Preclinical models of disease, in particular animal models, are essential to investigate VOC pathogenesis, vaccine correlates of protection and postexposure therapies. Here, we provide an update from the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 modeling expert group (WHO-COM) assembled by WHO, regarding advances in preclinical models. In particular, we discuss how animal model research is playing a key role to evaluate VOC virulence, transmission and immune escape, and how animal models are being refined to recapitulate COVID-19 demographic variables such as comorbidities and age.