The characteristics of hDPP4 transgenic mice subjected to aerosol MERS coronavirus infection via an animal nose-only exposure device

Hao, Xin-yan; Lv, Qi; Li, Feng-di; Xu, Yan-feng; Gao, Hong

Based on qRT-PCR analyses of tissue RNA contents, we identified high viral loads in the lungs and brain in mice and a small amount of viral RNA in other tissues after MERS-CoV infection via the aerosol or instillation route ( Figure 3A ,B). However, there were significant differences in the tissue viral loads of infected mice between the two groups (P < .0001). After MERS-CoV aerosol infection, high viral loads were detected in the lungs at 3-9 days and in the brain at 7-9 days. Viral loads were high in the lungs and brain of intranasally infected mice at days 3 and 5. There were significant differences (P < .0001) in the viral loads in the lungs and brain between the two groups at days 3 and 5. The viral loads in the lungs and brains of the mice in the aerosol group were significantly lower than those of the mice in the instillation group. High levels of viral RNA accumulated more slowly in the tissues of the MERS-CoV aerosol-exposed mice than in those of the mice infected intranasally ( Figure 3 ).