Animal models of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 for the development of prophylactic and therapeutic interventions

Marcel Renn; Eva Bartok; Thomas Zillinger; Gunther Hartmann; Rayk Behrendt

doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107931

Animal models of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 for the development of prophylactic and therapeutic interventions

Pharmacol Ther. 2021 Dec:228:107931. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107931. Epub 2021 Jun 23.

Authors

Marcel Renn¹, Eva Bartok², Thomas Zillinger³, Gunther Hartmann⁴, Rayk Behrendt⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; Mildred Scheel School of Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, Medical Faculty, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
² Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; Unit of Experimental Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
³ Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; Institute of Immunology, School of Medicine, Philipps University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany.
⁴ Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
⁵ Institute for Immunology, Technische Universität Dresden, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, 01307 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

Infections of the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 continue to spread around the globe, causing Coronavirus Disease (COVID)-19. Infected people are at risk of developing acute interstitial pneumonia, which can result in lethal complications, particularly in patients with pre-existing co-morbidities. Novel prophylactic and therapeutic interventions are urgently needed to limit the infection-associated health risk for the population and to contain the pandemic. Animal models are indispensable to assessing the efficacy and safety of potential new antivirals, vaccines, and other innovative therapies, such as nucleic acid agonists of innate immune sensing receptors. In this review, we provide an overview of the commonly used animal models to study SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, including a summary of their susceptibility to infection, the spectrum of symptoms elicited, and the potential for drug development in each model. We hope that this review will help researchers to decide on the right model organism to quickly address their specific scientific questions.

Keywords: Animal models; Antiviral immunity; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Vaccine; Virus.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
Disease Models, Animal*
Drug Development*