Lei Shuai, Gongxun Zhong, Quan Yuan, Zhiyuan Wen, Chong Wang, Xijun He, Renqiang Liu, Jinliang Wang, Qinjian Zhao, Yuxiu Liu, Ningning Huo, Junhua Deng, Jingjing Bai, Hongchao Wu, Yuntao Guan, Jianzhong Shi, Kegong Tian, Ningshao Xia, Hualan Chen, Zhigao Bu

Natl Sci Rev.2020 Dec 8;8(3):nwaa291.doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwaa291. eCollection 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Minks are raised in many countries and have transmitted severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to humans. However, the biologic properties of SARS-CoV-2 in minks are largely unknown. Here, we investigated and found that SARS-CoV-2 replicates efficiently in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts, and transmits efficiently in minks via respiratory droplets; pulmonary lesions caused by SARS-CoV-2 in minks are similar to those seen in humans with COVID-19. We further found that a spike protein-based subunit vaccine largely prevented SARS-CoV-2 replication and lung damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection in minks. Our study indicates that minks are a useful animal model for evaluating the efficacy of drugs or vaccines against COVID-19 and that vaccination is a potential strategy to prevent minks from transmitting SARS-CoV-2.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; animal model; mink; pathogenicity; replication; transmission.