Impact of variants of concern on SARS-CoV-2 viral dynamics in non-human primates

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010721
• Publication Date: 2023-08-09T17:38:53Z
• Authors: Aurélien Marc; Romain Marlin; Flora Donati; Mélanie Prague; Marion Kerioui; Cécile Hérate; Marie Alexandre; Nathalie Dereuddr...; Julie Bertrand; Vanessa Contreras; Sylvie Behillil; Pauline Maisonnasse; Sylvie Van Der Werf; Roger Le Grand; Jérémie Guedj
• Keywords: Infectivity; Dynamics

The impact of variants concern (VoC) on SARS-CoV-2 viral dynamics remains poorly understood and essentially relies observational studies subject to various sorts biases. In contrast, experimental models infection constitute a powerful model perform controlled comparisons the observed with VoC better quantify how escape from immune response. Here we used molecular infectious load 78 cynomolgus macaques characterize in detail effects dynamics. We first developed mathematical that recapitulate dynamics, found best describing data assumed rapid antigen-dependent stimulation response leading reduction infectivity. When compared historical variant, all except beta were associated an this response, effect was particularly sensitive for delta omicron variant (p<10-6 both). Interestingly, 1.8-fold increased production rate (p = 0.046), while conversely 14-fold (p<10-6). During natural infection, our predict is higher peak RNA than (7.6 log10 copies/mL 95% CI 6.8-8 delta; 5.6 4.8-6.3 omicron) having similar titers (3.7 PFU/mL 2.4-4.6 2.8 1.9-3.8 omicron). These results provide detailed picture total may help understand some differences patterns transmission these viruses.