SARS-CoV-2 reinfection prevents acute respiratory disease in Syrian hamsters but not replication in the upper respiratory tract

Frederick Hansen; Kimberly Meade-White; Chad Clancy; Rebecca Rosenke; Atsushi Okumura; David W Hawman; Friederike Feldmann; Benjamin Kaza; Michael A Jarvis; Kyle Rosenke; Heinz Feldmann

doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110515

SARS-CoV-2 reinfection prevents acute respiratory disease in Syrian hamsters but not replication in the upper respiratory tract

Cell Rep. 2022 Mar 15;38(11):110515. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110515. Epub 2022 Feb 22.

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, 903 S 4(th) Street, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA.
² Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA.
³ Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, 903 S 4(th) Street, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA; University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, UK; The Vaccine Group Ltd, Plymouth, Devon, UK.
⁴ Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, 903 S 4(th) Street, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA. Electronic address: kyle.rosenke@nih.gov.
⁵ Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, 903 S 4(th) Street, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA. Electronic address: feldmannh@niaid.nih.gov.

Abstract

Human cases of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection have been documented throughout the pandemic, but are likely under-reported. In the current study, we use the Syrian hamster SARS-CoV-2 model to assess reinfection with homologous WA1 and heterologous B.1.1.7 (Alpha) and B.1.351 (Beta) SARS-CoV-2 variants over time. Upon primary infection with SARS-CoV-2 WA1, hamsters rapidly develop a strong and long-lasting humoral immune response. After reinfection with homologous and heterologous SARS-CoV-2 variants, this immune response protects hamsters from clinical disease, virus replication in the lower respiratory tract, and acute lung pathology. However, reinfection leads to SARS-CoV-2 replication in the upper respiratory tract with the potential for virus shedding. Our findings indicate that reinfection results in restricted SARS-CoV-2 replication despite substantial levels of humoral immunity, denoting the potential for transmission through reinfected asymptomatic individuals.

Keywords: Alpha; B.1.1.7; B.1.351; Beta; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Syrian hamster; VOC; humoral immunity; natural immunity; reinfection; variants of concern.

Published by Elsevier Inc.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

Animals
COVID-19*
Cricetinae
Humans
Mesocricetus
Nose
Reinfection
SARS-CoV-2*

Supplementary concepts

SARS-CoV-2 variants