Ocular tropism of SARS-CoV-2 in animal models with retinal inflammation via neuronal invasion following intranasal inoculation

Gi Uk Jeong, Hyung-Jun Kwon, Wern Hann Ng, Xiang Liu, Hyun Woo Moon, Gun Young Yoon, Hye Jin Shin, In-Chul Lee, Zheng Lung Ling, Alanna G. Spiteri, Nicholas J. C. King, Adam Taylor, Ji Soo Chae, Chonsaeng Kim, Dae-Gyun Ahn, Kyun-Do Kim, Young Bae Ryu, Seong-Jun Kim, Suresh Mahalingam and Young-Chan Kwon ()
Additional contact information
Gi Uk Jeong: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
Hyung-Jun Kwon: Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology
Wern Hann Ng: Griffith University
Xiang Liu: Griffith University
Hyun Woo Moon: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
Gun Young Yoon: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
Hye Jin Shin: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
In-Chul Lee: Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology
Zheng Lung Ling: The University of Sydney
Alanna G. Spiteri: The University of Sydney
Nicholas J. C. King: Griffith University
Adam Taylor: Griffith University
Ji Soo Chae: PerkinElmer
Chonsaeng Kim: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
Dae-Gyun Ahn: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
Kyun-Do Kim: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
Young Bae Ryu: Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology
Seong-Jun Kim: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
Suresh Mahalingam: Griffith University
Young-Chan Kwon: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Although ocular manifestations are reported in patients with COVID-19, consensus on ocular tropism of SARS-CoV-2 is lacking. Here, we infect K18-hACE2 transgenic mice with SARS-CoV-2 using various routes. We observe ocular manifestation and retinal inflammation with production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the eyes of intranasally (IN)-infected mice. Intratracheal (IT) infection results in dissemination of the virus from the lungs to the brain and eyes via trigeminal and optic nerves. Ocular and neuronal invasions are confirmed using intracerebral (IC) infection. Notably, the eye-dropped (ED) virus does not cause lung infection and becomes undetectable with time. Ocular and neurotropic distribution of the virus in vivo is evident in fluorescence imaging with an infectious clone of SARS-CoV-2-mCherry. The ocular tropic and neuroinvasive characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 are confirmed in wild-type Syrian hamsters. Our data can improve the understanding regarding viral transmission and clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and help in improving COVID-19 control procedures.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35225-1

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