Figure 1
Effect of co-infection on body weight and virus replication. (A) Body weight changes in Syrian hamsters during infection. Hamsters (n = 6 per group) were intranasally inoculated with 1 × 105 PFU of IAV (PR8), 3 × 105 PFU of SARS-CoV-2, or a mixture of both viruses (co-infection). The hamsters of the mock-infected group were administered DMEM. Mean percentage increase or decrease in body weight at 0 dpi ± SD is shown at each consecutive dpi. P values were calculated using Tukey’s multiple-comparison test (*P < 0.05; between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-2/IAV). (B) SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA was detected by RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2N gene in the lung homogenate at 4 and 7 dpi. N gene copies per lung weight (mg) were recorded at 4 and 7 dpi for each treatment. (C) IAV viral RNA was determined by RT-qPCR for IAV M gene in lung homogenate at 4 and 7 dpi. M gene copies per lung weight (mg) were recorded at 4 and 7 dpi for each treatment. P values were calculated using Student’s t-test. (n.s.: not significant).
