Open AccessIntranasal type I interferon treatment is beneficial only when administered before clinical signs onset in the SARS-CoV-2 hamster model
Author(s) -
Pierre Bessière,
Marine Wasniewski,
Evelyne Picard-Meyer,
Alexandre Servat,
Thomas Figueroa,
Charlotte ForetLucas,
Amelia Coggon,
Sandrine Lesellier,
Frank Boué,
Nathan Cebron,
Blandine Gausserès,
Catherine Trumel,
Gilles Foucras,
Francisco J. Salguero,
Élodie Monchâtre-Leroy,
Romain Volmer
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos pathogens
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.719
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1553-7374
pISSN - 1553-7366
DOI - 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009427
Subject(s) - nasal administration , medicine , hamster , interferon , immunology , titer , interferon type i , covid-19 , mesocricetus , disease , virology , virus , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Impaired type I interferons (IFNs) production or signaling have been associated with severe COVID-19, further promoting the evaluation of recombinant type I IFNs as therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the Syrian hamster model, we show that intranasal administration of IFN-α starting one day pre-infection or one day post-infection limited weight loss and decreased viral lung titers. By contrast, intranasal administration of IFN-α starting at the onset of symptoms three days post-infection had no impact on the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our results provide evidence that early type I IFN treatment is beneficial, while late interventions are ineffective, although not associated with signs of enhanced disease.