Russian scientists have bred special laboratory mice, which will accelerate the study of coronavirus, the development of vaccines and drugs against COVID-19. For these purposes, laboratory animals are needed, which can be easily infected with SARS-Cov-2. However, ordinary mice are very resistant to coronavirus, since their bodies lack the hACE2 receptor, through which the virus enters the human cell.
“This protein is present in the tissues of the lungs, intestines, heart, kidneys, and other human organs; it is this protein that is the “gateway” for the entry of the coronavirus into the cell. Mice have a similar enzyme, mACE2, but through it the coronavirus enters the cell with great difficulty,” explained Alexei Deikin, director of the Joint Center for Genetic Technologies at BelSU.
Therefore, Syrian hamsters, ferrets and monkeys have to be used as laboratory animals – they have this receptor similar to the human one. The problem is that these are not typical animals for scientific research, they are much more expensive and difficult to maintain.
Russian scientists have bred mice that have been “vaccinated” with the ability to easily become infected with the coronavirus.
“The very possibility of getting sick with coronavirus is transmitted to mice by introducing the human hACE2 gene into their bodies,” explained Alexei Deikin.
Moreover, this ability is “turned on” only at the moment when researchers need it.
“The decision was made to breed mice in which the ability to become infected with SARS-CoV-2 is turned on only when necessary. The work of the gene responsible for the expression of hACE2 is blocked in mice from birth – they are safe for others. A special “blocker” is built into their gene, which prevents the expression of hACE2. To remove the block, it is enough to treat mice with tamoxifen. After that, the “gate” in the gene is removed, and the mice become able to become infected with the coronavirus,” said Alexei Deikin.
The hatched mice were transferred to the Vector Research Center of Rospotrebnadzor. There, the first tests have already been carried out with them, the effect of the infection on the affected cells of the lungs, heart, intestines and brain has been studied.
Read the details in the Izvestia article:
“Mouse clicked: rodents will accelerate the creation of drugs for COVID-19”
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.