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SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants of concern induce lethal disease in K18-hACE2 transgenic mice despite convalescent plasma therapy

Horspool, A. M.; Ye, C.; Wong, T. Y.; Russ, B. P.; Lee, K. S.; Winters, M. T.; Bevere, J. R.; Kieffer, T.; Martinez, I.; Sourimant, J.; Greninger, A. L.; Plemper, R. K.; Denvir, J.; Cyphert, H. A.; Torrelles, J. B.; Martinez-Sobrido, L.; Damron, F. H.

2021-05-05 microbiology
10.1101/2021.05.05.442784 bioRxiv
Show abstract

SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoCs) are impacting responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we present a comparison of the SARS-CoV-2 USA-WA1/2020 (WA-1) strain with B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 VoCs and identify significant differences in viral propagation in vitro and pathogenicity in vivo using K18-hACE2 transgenic mice. Passive immunization with plasma from an early pandemic SARS-CoV-2 patient resulted in significant differences in the outcome of VoC-infected mice. WA-1-infected mice were protected by plasma, B.1.1.7-infected mice were partially protected, and B.1.351-infected mice were not protected. Serological correlates of disease were different between VoC-infected mice, with B.1.351 triggering significantly altered cytokine profiles than other strains. In this study, we defined infectivity and immune responses triggered by VoCs and observed that early 2020 SARS-CoV-2 human immune plasma was insufficient to protect against challenge with B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 in the mouse model.

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