SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus causes attenuated disease in mice and hamsters

Abstract The recent emergence of B.1.1.529, the Omicron variant 1,2 , has raised concerns of escape from protection by vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. A key test for potential countermeasures against B.1.1.529 is their activity in preclinical rodent models of respiratory tract disease. Here, using the collaborative network of the SARS-CoV-2 Assessment of Viral Evolution (SAVE) programme of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), we evaluated the ability of several B.1.1.529 isolates to cause infection and disease in immunocompetent and human ACE2 (hACE2)-expressing mice and hamsters. Despite modelling data indicating that B.1.1.529 spike can bind more avidly to mouse ACE2 (refs.…

• HH
  Helen Hay Whitney Foundation
• DO
  Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• EU
  Emory University
• IS
  Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• JA
  Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development

  Awards: JP20fk0108472, JP21fk0108104, JP21fk0108615, JP21wm0125002, JP20nk0101632, JP20fk0108412, HHSN272201400008C
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: 75N93021C00017, R01DK130425, R01 AI157155, P51OD011132, U01 AI151810, AI129269, 75N93021C00014, 75N93019C00051, P01 AI060699, R01 AI129269, COVID-19, AI060699, HHSN272201400008C, AI151810, HHSN272201400004C, HHSN272201700041I, 75N93021C00016
• DA
  Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

  Award: HR0011-19-2-319 0020
• AR
  Advanced Research Projects Agency
• NI
  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

  Awards: COVID-19, HHSN272201400008C, HHSN272201700041I, R01 AI129269, 75N93020F00001/A38, U01 AI151810, 75N93021C00017, R01 AI157155, 75N93019C00051, P01 AI060699, 75N93021C00014, 75N93021C00016, 75N93020F00001, AI157155, HHSN272201400004C, R01 AI129269, P51OD011132, AI151810, R56AI147623
• NI
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

  Award: R01DK130425