Scientists Develop First Lethal Hamster Model for COVID-19 (IMAGE)

US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases

Scientists Develop First Lethal Hamster Model for COVID-19

Caption

Hamsters expressing the human version of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) protein, the cellular entry receptor of SARS-CoV-2, are highly susceptible to infection and develop a lethal disease. In addition to respiratory infection, the virus also enters the central nervous system and causes damage. Image shows the microglial cells (green) engulfing infected neurons (red) in a process called neurophagia in the brains of hamsters. This transgenic hamster model may be useful for studying the neurological aspects of COVID-19, in addition to identifying other factors that contribute to severe disease.

Credit

Photo credit: Dr. Xiankun (Kevin) Zeng, USAMRIID

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