Diffuse Alveolar Lesion in BALB/c Mice Induced with Human Reovirus BYD1 Strain and its Potential Relation with SARS.

The objective of this study was to investigate the pathogenicity and associated lesions of a new reovirus (ReoV) isolated from patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in China. Twenty-five four-week-old BALB/c female mice inoculated intranasally with either ReoV (strain BYD1) alone, or ReoV combined with SARS-CoV (strain BJF) displayed ejecting fur and loss of body weight compared with control animals. ReoV and SARS-CoV were isolated from most postmortem tissues. The histopathological features of ReoV infected animals consisted of diffuse alveolar damage, with scattered hemorrhage, hyaline membrane formation and interstitial pneumonia. A typical type II pneumocyte hyperplasia and fibrogranulomatous tissue formation in the alveolar septae were observed both in the animals inoculated simultaneously with these two viruses and in the animals inoculated firstly with SARS-CoV, followed by ReoV. The animals inoculated firstly with ReoV, followed with SARS-CoV displayed scattered hemorrhage in the alveolar septa. Furthermore, other lesions in above two combination groups included depletion of lymphocytes in the germinal center of lymph nodes in the lung hilus and the spleen, hemorrhagic necrosis in white pulp of spleen, hydroid degeneration, and fatty degeneration in the liver and kidney. Mice induced with SARS-CoV alone did not display clinical signs, characteristically hyaline membrane formation, hemorrhage and early pulmonary fibrosis in lung tissue. This study demonstrated that the newly isolated ReoV might be a virulent pathogen for BALB/c mice. Mice infected firstly with SARS-CoV, followed with ReoV developed a typical diffuse alveolar lesion.     

Experimental infection of macaques with the human reovirus BYD1 strain: an animal model for the study of the severe acute respiratory syndrome

Experimental studies were performed to determine the role of a newly isolated reovirus (ReoV) from a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patient in the etiology of this newly described serious respiratory syndrome. Four cynomologus macaques were inoculated with this reovirus (BYD1) in an attempt to replicate the infection and pathology observed in SARS. The body temperature of the infected monkeys was monitored three times a day, and blood and fecal samples were periodically collected for specific immunology determinations. On days 7 and 33 after inoculation, necropsies for pathological accessment and pathogen isolation were performed. The four infected macaques developed a fever on days 3 and 4 after inoculation, and maintainted a febrile state for 4-6 days. The highest temperature in the animals recorded was 40.4 degrees C. After a recovery phase, the macaques developed a second febrile condition. Antibody titers against the reovirus injected by the intravenous route occurred in higher number than those in the nasal cavity. Four macaque monkeys demonstrated diffuse alveolar damage, characterized by hemorrhagic pneumonia, serosanguineous exudates, formation of hyaline membranes, and type II pneumocyte hyperplasia, which were similar to those that have been noted in SARS patients. Lymphocytes decreased in the cortex of the lymph node and in the white pulp of the spleen. ReoV was detected in pneumonic tissue by virus isolation and RT-PCR. The macaques infected with the newly isolated reovirus developed a fever, diffuse alveolar damage and pulmonary interstitial inflammation similar to that noted in SARS patients. This evidence demonstrates that ReoV might have a primary role in the etiology of SARS.     

SARS动物模型的研究

利用分离的SARS CoV毒株BJ 0 1,经滴鼻等途径感染大鼠、豚鼠、黑线仓鼠、白化仓鼠和雏鸡等 5个种属的动物 ,筛选对SARS易感的小动物。在此基础上 ,选择食蟹猴和恒河猴进行SARS的人工感染实验 ,评价其作为SARS动物模型的可能性。结果表明 ,大鼠、豚鼠、黑线仓鼠、白化仓鼠和雏鸡等动物对SARS均不易感 ,感染后未观察到任何的临床及病理学改变 ,不过从感染 2周后的大鼠和豚鼠的肺和咽等组织样本中检测到了的特异的核酸 ,提示SARS CoV能够在这两种动物的体内复制。从感染猴子的分泌物和脏器中分离出了病毒 ,证明SARS CoV也能够在猴子体内复制。临床和病理组织学检查结果显示 ,SARS病毒接种食蟹猴和恒河猴后 ,可以引起所有实验猴发生间质性肺炎 ,其病理学改变与人类感染SARS病毒后肺部病变近似 ,但病变的严重程度比较人类的轻得多 ,除此之外无任何其它的明显的临床表现及组织病理学改变 ,按照动物模型的指标判断食蟹猴和恒河猴并不是SARS的理想动物模型 ,不过在目前尚没有更理想的动物模型情况下 ,以间质性肺炎为病理学检查指标 ,恒河猴和食蟹猴可以作为评价抗SARS药物和疫苗的模型动物     

人ACE2转基因小鼠对SARS-CoV的易感性

目的建立敏感的SARS小动物模型。方法通过显微注射技术,将编码SARS-CoV细胞受体的人血管紧张素转换酶(hACE2)基因导入小鼠的基因组中制备了hACE2转基因小鼠,在小鼠ACE2(mACE2)启动子的调控下,hACE2蛋白在转基因小鼠的肺脏、心脏、肾脏和小肠表达。我们观察了野生型和转基因小鼠在SARS冠状病毒接种后病原学和病理学方面的反应。结果在接种后第3天和第7天,病毒能够更有效地在转基因小鼠的肺脏复制,而且转基因小鼠出现更严重的肺损伤。肺组织的损伤包括肺间质充血、出血,单核细胞、淋巴细胞浸润及血浆蛋白的渗出,肺泡上皮细胞增生、脱落,此外,在转基因小鼠的某些器官还发现了血管炎、变性和坏死等病理变化。在转基因小鼠的肺上皮细胞、血管内皮细胞和脑神经细胞检测到病毒抗原。结论转基因小鼠比野生型小鼠对SARS病毒更易感,而且表现出更接近SARS患者的病理变化。     

SARS-CoV动物模型研究之中国现状

目的综合对比SARS-CoV感染的恒河猴、布氏田鼠及Lewis大鼠的病理学、免疫学以及病毒的复制与外排情况的变化,来探讨此三种动物在建立SARS模型上的特点。方法SARS病毒感染8只恒河猴、9只Lewis大鼠和20只布氏田鼠,在感染后不同时间安乐死动物,应用光镜对动物的各脏器进行病理观察研究;用病毒分离和RT-PCR方法检测病毒外排与复制的情况;用ELISA法检测动物产生特异性抗体情况。结果在SARS-CoV感染恒河猴、Lewis大鼠和布氏田鼠后,肺组织均出现一定的与人类SARS疾病相似的病理改变,在动物体内均可检测到活病毒或病毒核酸,并可检测到特异性IgG抗体的存在。在病死率上布氏田鼠最高;在病毒的复制与外排方面恒河猴的检出率最高,持续时间最长;在抗体产生情况上恒河猴与Lewis大鼠基本相似;在病理变化上恒河猴病变最重且最为复杂,与人类SARS疾病的病理变化最为接近。结论布氏田鼠,Lewis大鼠,特别是恒河猴动物模型可以用于SARS发病机制、疫苗和药物的研发,恒河猴动物模型是目前研究SARS疾病最理想的动物模型。     

SARS-CoV中和抗体保护恒河猴等感染SARS-CoV研究

[目的]阐明SARS病毒感染后能否再次感染,疫苗产生的抗体中长期保护效果,被动免疫是否真正安全有效等,为防治SARS提供实验依据。[方法]实验分4组,分别为一组(SARS恒河猴恢复组):用感染SARS-CoV发病12月后的4只恒河猴,均有中和抗体产生。二组(SARS食蟹猴恢复组):用感染SARS-CoV发病12月后的3只食蟹猴,均有中和抗体产生。三组(SARS血清输入恒河猴组):3只恒河猴,病毒接种时中和抗体阴性。病毒接种两天后输入抗体阳性血清(恒河猴血清,感染获得,效价为:1:128),用量10ml/只,分别经肌肉和静脉输入,各5ml。四组(恒河猴SARS-CoV感染组):2只恒河猴,病毒接种时中和抗体阴性。SARSCo-V经鼻腔接种,在感染的第1天开始到7天安乐死时,不同时间取咽拭子、血液和脏器,进行病毒分离,RT-PCR检测和中和抗体测定。[结果]一组(SARS恒河猴恢复组):接种SARS-CoV后未见发热等异常临床表现。血清生化无ALT、LDH、CK、总蛋白和血清白蛋白异常。3只猴在接种病毒后的咽拭子中,RT-PCR分别未检出、第1天检出、第1-3天中检出病毒。第2、5、7天咽拭子中、7天安乐死时血、肺、肝、脾和淋巴结等组织中病毒分离均为阴性。2只猴肺组织病理学检查见轻度肺炎。二组(SARS食蟹猴恢复组):接种3只未见任何不良临床表现,血清生化5项正常。3只猴在接种病毒后的咽拭子标本中,RT-PCR分别未检出SARS病毒、在第1-2天检出、在第1-3天中检出病毒。第2、5、7天咽拭子中、7天安乐死时血、肺、肝、脾和淋巴结等组织中病毒分离均为阴性。3只猴肺组织病理学检查见轻度肺炎等。三组(SARS血清输入恒河猴组):3只恒河猴在病毒接种的第2-5天时有一过性的体温升高,3940℃。血清生化5项正常。3只猴在接种病毒后的咽拭子标本中,RT-PCR分别在第1-3、第1-4天和第1-2天检出SARS病毒。2只猴第7天咽拭子中病毒分离阳性。另外1只在第2、5、7天咽拭子中、7天安乐死时血、肺、肝、脾和淋巴结等组织中病毒分离均为阴性。3只猴肺组织病理学检查见轻度肺炎等。四组(SARS恒河猴SARS-CoV感染组):2只猴病毒接种后,第2-4天时有一过性的体温升高,3940℃。2只进行接种病毒后1-7天安乐死时,RT-PCR在恒河猴的咽拭子标本中连续检出SARS病毒。在第2、5天咽拭子中、7天安乐死时肺组织中病毒分离阳性。2只猴肺等组织病理学检查发现肺组织表面局部有轻度发灰实变现象,可见到间质性肺炎病变,内皮细胞受损,出血和水肿。大多数肺泡没有完整的内衬细胞残留,肺泡间隔变宽并被以吞噬细胞为主的单核炎症细胞浸润,同SARS肺炎改变。实验表明,前期感染产生中和抗体的恒河猴、食蟹猴再次感染病毒,和模型对照猴比较,动物肺组织等只出现轻微或无病理变化,RT-PCR检出时间大大缩短,病毒培养未能分离出病毒,所有这些指标,均证实中和抗体有明显的保护作用,是有效的。被动免疫从结果来看,有一定的作用,但保护作用弱。     

恒河猴感染SARS-CoV的病毒学、血清学检测

目的对感染SARS-CoV的8只恒河猴进行病毒学、血清学指标检测。方法SARS-CoV经鼻腔接种8只恒河猴,在感染的第1天开始到5、7、10、15、20、30和60天分别安乐处死时,不同时间取咽拭子、血液和脏器,进行病毒分离,RT-PCR检测和抗体测定。结果RT-PCR证实感染病毒检出时间为5~16d,8只猴中的5只分离到了病毒,感染15d后可检测到抗体。结论感染SARS-CoV的恒河猴不仅出现与SARS患者类似的临床和病理学改变,也在一定时期内排毒,出现特异免疫反应,这些指标均可作为药物筛选、疫苗评价等方面的重要参数。     

老龄ICR小鼠对SARS-CoV的易感性

目的为探讨SARS的发病机制并提供易感的SARS动物模型。方法利用RT-PCR和病毒分离后免疫荧光技术检测成龄鼠和老龄鼠接种SARS-CoV后肺组织内病毒复制情况,同时观察两组动物的肺脏和肺外组织器官的病理变化,对肺组织进行免疫组化分析,观察SARS-CoV在肺内复制的主要部位。结果老龄鼠的感染率明显高于成龄鼠;老龄鼠肺脏出现更为严重的弥漫性肺泡损伤,其中两只老龄鼠的肺外器官出现了变性、灶状坏死以及血管广泛的扩张充血等全身中毒性变化;肺脏内病毒抗原主要存在于肺泡上皮细胞和间质的血管内皮细胞。结论老龄ICR小鼠对SARS-CoV的易感性明显高于成龄鼠,有可能作为研究SARS发病机制以及药物评价的动物模型。     

A mouse-adapted SARS-coronavirus causes disease and mortality in BALB/c mice

No single animal model for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) reproduces all aspects of the human disease. Young inbred mice support SARS-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) replication in the respiratory tract and are available in sufficient numbers for statistical evaluation. They are relatively inexpensive and easily accessible, but their use in SARS research is limited because they do not develop illness following infection. Older (12- to 14-mo-old) BALB/c mice develop clinical illness and pneumonitis, but they can be hard to procure, and immune senescence complicates pathogenesis studies. We adapted the SARS-CoV (Urbani strain) by serial passage in the respiratory tract of young BALB/c mice. Fifteen passages resulted in a virus (MA15) that is lethal for mice following intranasal inoculation. Lethality is preceded by rapid and high titer viral replication in lungs, viremia, and dissemination of virus to extrapulmonary sites accompanied by lymphopenia, neutrophilia, and pathological changes in the lungs. Abundant viral antigen is extensively distributed in bronchial epithelial cells and alveolar pneumocytes, and necrotic cellular debris is present in airways and alveoli, with only mild and focal pneumonitis. These observations suggest that mice infected with MA15 die from an overwhelming viral infection with extensive, virally mediated destruction of pneumocytes and ciliated epithelial cells. The MA15 virus has six coding mutations associated with adaptation and increased virulence; when introduced into a recombinant SARS-CoV, these mutations result in a highly virulent and lethal virus (rMA15), duplicating the phenotype of the biologically derived MA15 virus. Intranasal inoculation with MA15 reproduces many aspects of disease seen in severe human cases of SARS. The availability of the MA15 virus will enhance the use of the mouse model for SARS because infection with MA15 causes morbidity, mortality, and pulmonary pathology. This virus will be of value as a stringent challenge in evaluation of the efficacy of vaccines and antivirals.     

Recombinant IgA Is Sufficient To Prevent Influenza Virus Transmission in Guinea Pigs

A serum hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) titer of 40 or greater is thought to be associated with reduced influenza virus pathogenesis in humans and is often used as a correlate of protection in influenza vaccine studies. We have previously demonstrated that intramuscular vaccination of guinea pigs with inactivated influenza virus generates HAI titers greater than 300 but does not protect vaccinated animals from becoming infected with influenza virus by transmission from an infected cage mate. Only guinea pigs intranasally inoculated with a live influenza virus or a live attenuated virus vaccine, prior to challenge, were protected from transmission (A. C. Lowen et al., J. Virol. 83:2803–2818, 2009.). Because the serum HAI titer is mostly determined by IgG content, these results led us to speculate that prevention of viral transmission may require IgA antibodies or cellular immune responses. To evaluate this hypothesis, guinea pigs and ferrets were administered a potent, neutralizing mouse IgG monoclonal antibody, 30D1 (Ms 30D1 IgG), against the A/California/04/2009 (H1N1) virus hemagglutinin and exposed to respiratory droplets from animals infected with this virus. Even though HAI titers were greater than 160 1 day postadministration, Ms 30D1 IgG did not prevent airborne transmission to passively immunized recipient animals. In contrast, intramuscular administration of recombinant 30D1 IgA (Ms 30D1 IgA) prevented transmission to 88% of recipient guinea pigs, and Ms 30D1 IgA was detected in animal nasal washes. Ms 30D1 IgG administered intranasally also prevented transmission, suggesting the importance of mucosal immunity in preventing influenza virus transmission. Collectively, our data indicate that IgG antibodies may prevent pathogenesis associated with influenza virus infection but do not protect from virus infection by airborne transmission, while IgA antibodies are more important for preventing transmission of influenza viruses.     

SARS-CoV对幼年和成年布氏田鼠的感染研究

采用鼻腔喷雾法(CCID50=105.7)研究了SARS冠状病毒(SARS-CoV)对成年和幼年布氏田鼠的感染效果.成年动物攻毒后出现死亡,表现为口鼻有出血,肠道出血;肺组织呈出血性间质性肺炎改变,肝、脾、肾、胰腺组织均呈淤血性改变;存活动物肺组织呈间质性肺炎,局灶出血及肺气肿改变,其他脏器未见明显病变.幼年动物攻毒后未见死亡但行动较为迟缓,主要脏器未见明显异常;早期肺组织有局限性肺炎改变,且病毒分离为阳性;同居对照组的一只动物有肺组织局灶性肺炎.结果表明,SARS-CoV可以很强地感染布氏田鼠;成年布氏田鼠比幼年动物对SARS-CoV更敏感;布氏田鼠有望成为一种比较理想的小型SARS动物模型。     

恒河猴感染SARS病毒致病模型的建立

为建立恒河猴严重急性呼吸道综合征(SARS)的模型并对其致病特点进行观察,采用病毒分离、免疫荧光、光镜及RT-PCR方法对病毒感染组和非感染组恒河猴不同时间、不同组织或分泌物进行检测。结果显示从恒河猴不同组织中分离到病毒,而且在病毒感染后第2d和第5d的血液、第7、9d的鼻咽分泌物、第3d的粪、第5d的粪尿中均检测到SARS-CoV RNA。光镜观察到病毒感染组肺组织肺泡问隔增宽,有大量淋巴细胞、单核细胞浸润,肺泡腔有渗出,甚至形成透明膜样物;多个肺泡形成机化性肺炎的表现。感染组肝组织可见较大的坏死灶,并伴有大量炎性细胞浸润。结论认为已成功建立了恒河猴SARS模型,可用于评价抗SARS药物和疫苗的研究。     

SARS-CoV Pathogenesis Is Regulated by a STAT1 Dependent but a Type I,II and III Interferon Receptor Independent Mechanism

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection often caused severe end stage lung disease and organizing phase diffuse alveolar damage, especially in the elderly. The virus-host interactions that governed development of these acute end stage lung diseases and death are unknown. To address this question, we evaluated the role of innate immune signaling in protection from human (Urbani) and a recombinant mouse adapted SARS-CoV, designated rMA15. In contrast to most models of viral pathogenesis, infection of type I, type II or type III interferon knockout mice (129 background) with either Urbani or MA15 viruses resulted in clinical disease outcomes, including transient weight loss, denuding bronchiolitis and alveolar inflammation and recovery, identical to that seen in infection of wildtype mice. This suggests that type I, II and III interferon signaling play minor roles in regulating SARS pathogenesis in mouse models. In contrast, infection of STAT1−/− mice resulted in severe disease, high virus titer, extensive pulmonary lesions and 100% mortality by day 9 and 30 post-infection with rMA15 or Urbani viruses, respectively. Non-lethal in BALB/c mice, Urbani SARS-CoV infection in STAT1−/− mice caused disseminated infection involving the liver, spleen and other tissues after day 9. These findings demonstrated that SARS-CoV pathogenesis is regulated by a STAT1 dependent but type I, II and III interferon receptor independent, mechanism. In contrast to a well documented role in innate immunity, we propose that STAT1 also protects mice via its role as an antagonist of unrestrained cell proliferation.     

Mice transgenic for human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 provide a model for SARS coronavirus infection

To establish a small animal model of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), we developed a mouse model of human severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection by introducing the human gene for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) (the cellular receptor of SARS-CoV), driven by the mouse ACE2 promoter, into the mouse genome. The hACE2 gene was expressed in lung, heart, kidney, and intestine. We also evaluated the responses of wild-type and transgenic mice to SARS-CoV inoculation. At days 3 and 7 postinoculation, SARS-CoV replicated more efficiently in the lungs of transgenic mice than in those of wild-type mice. In addition, transgenic mice had more severe pulmonary lesions, including interstitial hyperemia and hemorrhage, monocytic and lymphocytic infiltration, protein exudation, and alveolar epithelial cell proliferation and desquamation. Other pathologic changes, including vasculitis, degeneration, and necrosis, were found in the extrapulmonary organs of transgenic mice, and viral antigen was found in brain. Therefore, transgenic mice were more susceptible to SARS-CoV than were wild-type mice, and susceptibility was associated with severe pathologic changes that resembled human SARS infection. These mice will be valuable for testing potential vaccine and antiviral drug therapies and for furthering our understanding of SARS pathogenesis.     

Synthetic reconstruction of zoonotic and early human severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus isolates that produce fatal disease in aged mice

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic was characterized by high mortality rates in the elderly. The molecular mechanisms that govern enhanced susceptibility of elderly populations are not known, and robust animal models are needed that recapitulate the increased pathogenic phenotype noted with increasing age. Using synthetic biology and reverse genetics, we describe the construction of a panel of isogenic SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) strains bearing variant spike glycoproteins that are representative of zoonotic strains found in palm civets and raccoon dogs, as well as isolates spanning the early, middle, and late phases of the SARS-CoV epidemic. The recombinant viruses replicated efficiently in cell culture and demonstrated variable sensitivities to neutralization with antibodies. The human but not the zoonotic variants replicated efficiently in human airway epithelial cultures, supporting earlier hypotheses that zoonotic isolates are less pathogenic in humans but can evolve into highly pathogenic strains. All viruses replicated efficiently, but none produced clinical disease or death in young animals. In contrast, severe clinical disease, diffuse alveolar damage, hyaline membrane formation, alveolitis, and death were noted in 12-month-old mice inoculated with the palm civet HC/SZ/61/03 strain or early-human-phase GZ02 variants but not with related middle- and late-phase epidemic or raccoon dog strains. This panel of SARS-CoV recombinants bearing zoonotic and human epidemic spike glycoproteins will provide heterologous challenge models for testing vaccine efficacy against zoonotic reintroductions as well as provide the appropriate model system for elucidating the complex virus-host interactions that contribute to more-severe and fatal SARS-CoV disease and acute respiratory distress in the elderly.     

SARS冠状病毒感染Lewis大鼠模型的建立

目的通过观察SARS-CoV感染Lewis大鼠后,病理学、免疫学以及病毒的复制与外排情况变化,探讨其能否作为有效的SARS动物模型。方法SARS病毒感染9只Lewis大鼠,在感染后不同时间安乐死动物,应用光镜对动物的各脏器进行病理观察研究;用病毒分离和RT-PCR方法检测病毒外排与复制的情况;用ELISA法检测动物产生特异性抗体情况。结果在SARS-CoV感染Lewis大鼠后,肺组织出现一定的与人类SARS疾病相似的病理改变,在动物体内可检测到活病毒或病毒核酸,并可检测到特异性IgG抗体的存在。结论Lewis大鼠出现了特异的免疫反应及特征性病理改变,可做为灵长类SARS动物模型的有益补充用于SARS发病机理及疫苗的研发等。     

The experimental infection of pigs with different numbers of Taenia solium eggs: immune response and efficiency of establishment

Three of 4 pigs inoculated with 10 eggs of Taenia solium became infected. In those pigs infected with larger numbers of eggs, all became infected. Specific antibodies against the metacestodes were found in serum at day 30 postinoculation (PI) in animals that received 1,000 or more eggs and at day 60 in those that received 10 or 100 eggs. The concentration and diversity of antibodies increased up to the day of death in pigs that received 10,000 or 100,000 eggs. All pigs infected with 1,000 or more eggs developed antibodies, but only 40% and 75% of pigs that received 10 and 100 eggs, respectively, developed antibodies. Metacestodes were found in the muscles of 23 of the 27 infected animals. In 35.7% of the pigs that received 1,000 or more eggs, metacestodes were also found in the brain. Most of the metacestodes found in pigs infected with 10 or 100 eggs were caseous, whereas in pigs infected with 1,000 or more eggs the majority of metacestodes were vesicular. This study shows that the severity of T. solium infection and the possible regulation of the immune system-evasion mechanisms depend on the number of metacestodes that succeed in establishing themselves and remain vesicular.     

The aetiology of SARS: Koch's postulates fulfilled

Proof that a newly identified coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the primary cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) came from a series of studies on experimentally infected cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). SARS-CoV-infected macaques developed a disease comparable to SARS in humans; the virus was re-isolated from these animals and they developed SARS-CoV-specific antibodies. This completed the fulfilment of Koch's postulates, as modified by Rivers for viral diseases, for SARS-CoV as the aetiological agent of SARS. Besides the macaque model, a ferret and a cat model for SARS-CoV were also developed. These animal models allow comparative pathogenesis studies for SARS-CoV infections and testing of different intervention strategies. The first of these studies has shown that pegylated interferon-alpha, a drug approved for human use, limits SARS-CoV replication and lung damage in experimentally infected macaques. Finally, we argue that, given the worldwide nature of the socio-economic changes that have predisposed for the emergence of SARS and avian influenza in Southeast Asia, such changes herald the beginning of a global trend for which we are ill prepared.     

SARS冠状病毒感染恒河猴的病毒、血清学检测研究

[目的]对感染SARS-CoV的恒河猴进行病毒、血清学等指标检测及研究,确定模型动物成功感染,并为SARS发病机制,疫苗评价,药物筛选确定参考指标。[方法]SARSCo-V经鼻腔接种8只恒河猴,在感染的第1天开始到5、7、10、15、20、30和60天分别安乐死时,不同时间取咽拭子、血液和脏器,进行病毒分离,RT-PCR检测和抗体测定。[结果]用巢式RT-PCR在感染后每天提取的咽拭子标本中检测SARS-CoV的RNA,以细胞培养冠状病毒为阳性对照,以正常恒河猴咽拭子为阴性对照,在8只动物病毒接种第5天开始可检测到大小为797bp的目的条带,阳性检出最长可持续到第15天。进一步用病毒分离实验对PCR结果进行确证,8只动物中的5只恒河猴接种5天的咽拭子标本中,经Vero细胞培养,细胞产生了典型细胞病变(CPE),提示SARS冠状病毒能感染恒河猴并有病毒的复制和排毒。IFA方法证实为SRAS-CoV抗原存在。SARS-CoV感染恒河猴后,可以检测出免疫反应。在SARS冠状病毒接种前和接种后第5、8、11、15、19、23、26、30、34、每隔4-7天以及安乐死时采血,制备血清测定抗体,8只恒河猴接种病毒前均血清中SARS冠状病毒特异性抗体IgG为阴性,10天后安乐处死的5只感染猴在11-15天开始,至安乐死时,均为阳性。IgG阳性的5只恒河猴均有一定的中和抗体产生,且对SARS病毒感染细胞有一定的保护性。感染SARS病毒猴后与正常猴比较,其细胞杀伤效应明显增强。感染SARS-CoV的恒河猴不仅出现与SARS患者类似的临床和病理学改变,也在一定时期内排毒,出现特异免疫反应,这些指标均可作为药物筛选、疫苗评价等方面的重要参数。     

Participation of both host and virus factors in induction of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in F344 rats infected with SARS coronavirus

To understand the pathogenesis and develop an animal model of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV), the Frankfurt 1 SARS-CoV isolate was passaged serially in young F344 rats. Young rats were susceptible to SARS-CoV but cleared the virus rapidly within 3 to 5 days of intranasal inoculation. After 10 serial passages, replication and virulence of SARS-CoV were increased in the respiratory tract of young rats without clinical signs. By contrast, adult rats infected with the passaged virus showed respiratory symptoms and severe pathological lesions in the lung. Levels of inflammatory cytokines in sera and lung tissues were significantly higher in adult F344 rats than in young rats. During in vivo passage of SARS-CoV, a single amino acid substitution was introduced within the binding domain of the viral spike protein recognizing angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is known as a SARS-CoV receptor. The rat-passaged virus more efficiently infected CHO cells expressing rat ACE2 than did the original isolate. These results strongly indicate that host and virus factors such as advanced age and virus adaptation are critical for the development of SARS in rats.