This study shows the spike gene determines replication, pathogenicity, and immune evasion of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-BA.1 compared to Delta in cell cultures and animal models.

bioRxiv · Apr 28, 2022Microbiology

Compellingly high SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility of Golden Syrian hamsters suggests multiple zoonotic infections of pet hamsters during the COVID-19 pandemic

C. Blaurock, A. Breithaupt, S. Weber, C. Wylezich, M. Keller, B.-P. Mohl, D. Goerlich, M. H. Groschup, B. Sadeghi, D. Hoeper, T. C. Mettenleiter, A. Balkema-Buschmann

This study determines the minimum infective dose of SARS-CoV-2 for Golden Syrian hamsters and highlights their high susceptibility, suggesting a potential zoonotic risk.

bioRxiv · Apr 19, 2022Microbiology

Revisiting rustrela virus - new cases of encephalitis and a solution to the capsid enigma

F. Pfaff, A. Breithaupt, D. Rubbenstroth, S. Nippert, C. Baumbach, S. Gerst, C. Langner, C. Wylezich, A. Ebinger, D. Hoeper, R. Ulrich, M. Beer

The paper reports two new cases of RusV-associated encephalitis and presents a method to resolve the incomplete RusV genome, revealing a previously undetected intergenic region and capsid protein sequence.

bioRxiv · Dec 27, 2021Microbiology

Enhanced fitness of SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern B.1.1.7, but not B.1.351, in animal models

L. Ulrich, N. J. Halwe, A. Taddeo, N. Ebert, J. Schön, C. Devisme, B. S. Trüeb, B. Hoffmann, M. Wider, M. Bekliz, M. Essaidi-Laziosi, M. L. Schmidt, D. Niemeyer, V. M. Corman, A. Kraft, , C. Benarafa

The paper compares the fitness of SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 in animal models, finding B.1.1.7 has a fitness advantage in ferrets and mice but not in hamsters.

bioRxiv · Jun 28, 2021Microbiology

CVnCoV protects human ACE2 transgenic mice from ancestral B BavPat1 and emerging B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2

D. Hoffmann, B. Corleis, S. Rauch, N. Roth, J. Muehe, N. J. Halwe, L. Ulrich, C. Fricke, J. Schoen, A. Kraft, A. Breithaupt, K. Wernike, A. Michelitsch, F. Sick, C. Wylezich, , M. Beer

This study evaluates the efficacy of the CVnCoV mRNA vaccine against ancestral and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants in a human ACE2 transgenic mouse model, showing complete protection against B.1.351.

bioRxiv · Mar 22, 2021Microbiology

Susceptibility of raccoon dogs for experimental SARS-CoV-2 infection

C. M. Freuling, A. Breithaupt, T. Mueller, J. Sehl, A. Balkema-Buschmann, M. Rissmann, A. Klein, C. Wylezich, D. Hoeper, K. Wernike, A. Aebischer, D. Hoffmann, V. Friedrichs, A. Dorhoi, M. Groschup, , T. C. Mettenleiter

This study shows raccoon dogs are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and can transmit it to direct contact animals, suggesting they may act as intermediate hosts.

bioRxiv · Aug 19, 2020Microbiology