Fig. 5: Viral load and nucleocapsid antigen levels in the GI organs of SARS-CoV-2 infected hamsters.
From: Gut infection and dysbiosis are hallmarks of severe SARS-CoV-2 variants
Hamsters (n = 3 to 4) were infected (105 or 106 PFU/100 µL/animal) with Hong Kong, Delta or Omicron VOCs. Animals were sacrificed at 4 dpi and vRNA copy number was quantified by RT-qPCR in a portion of a esophagus, b stomach, c small intestine, and d large intestine. e Viral titer in fecal matter was measured (only 106 PFU group) on 2 and 4 dpi. f Viral plaque assay was carried out for the tissue homogenate of SI from 106 PFU infected hamster. g IHC analysis for SI (106 PFU dose) shows the presence of SARS-CoV-2 N protein (red arrow). Statistics were performed by unpaired T-test. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.01, ns - not significant. Error bars indicate Mean ± SEM. #LOD-Limit Of Detection, dpi-days post infection.
