Characterization of local SARS-CoV-2 isolates and pathogenicity in IFNAR−/- mice
Alireza Hanifehnezhad, Ebru Şahin Kehribar, Sıdıka Öztop, Ali Sheraz, Serkan Kasırga, Koray Ergünay, Sevgen Önder, Erkan Yılmaz, Doruk Engin, Tuba Çiğdem Oğuzoğlu, Urartu Özgür Şafak Şeker, Engin Yılmaz, Aykut Özkul
Abstract
) mice, with varying neutralizing antibody titers. Hyperemia, regional consolidation and subpleural air accumulation was observed on necropsy, with similar histopathological and immunohistochemistry findings in the lungs, heart, stomach, intestines, liver, spleen and kidneys. Peak viral loads were detected in the lungs, with virus RNA present in the kidneys, jejunum, liver, spleen and heart. In conclusion, we characterized two local isolates, investigated in vitro growth dynamics in Vero E6 cells and identified IFNAR-/- mice as a potential animal model for SARS-CoV-2 experiments.