Host genetic determinants regulating susceptibility/resistance to SARS-CoV-2

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The ongoing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by a novel coronavirus (CoV) termed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that is closely related to SARS-CoV, poses a grave threat to global health, and has devastated societies worldwide. One puzzling aspect of COVID-19 is the impressive variation in clinical manifestations among infected individuals, from a majority who are asymptomatic or exhibit mild symptoms to a smaller, largely age-dependent fraction who develop life-threatening conditions. Unfortunately, knowledge of the underlying biology behind COVID-19 susceptibility is woefully inadequate. Conceivably, some of the differences are likely the consequence of host genetic factors. Systems genetics using diverse and replicable cohorts of isogenic mice represents a powerful way to dissect those host genetic differences that modulate microbial infections. We have recently demonstrated that the two founders of the large BXD family of mice — C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2), differ substantially in their susceptibility to a mouse- adapted SARS-CoV, MA15. Following intranasal challenge, D2 develop a more severe disease and support more prolonged pulmonary viral replication than B6. In preliminary studies, we have observed a similar phenomenon when comparing aged B6 and D2 mice for infection by a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 virus, CMA4. These key findings support the practicality of using the BXD family of mice to systemically dissect virus- host interactions that modulate sensitivity to and disease progression of SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 infection. We hypothesize that variations in host genetic makeup regulate the host responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection, thereby imparting differing susceptibility/resistance to and outcome of COVID-19. Two specific aims are proposed to test this hypothesis. In Aim 1, we will determine the impact of genetic background on SARS-CoV-2 infection in the parental strains and across a subset of ~30 BXDs. We will first define the various phenotypes associated with disease severity, pathogen load, and innate immune responses that distinguish between aged B6 and D2 following infection with SARS-CoV-2 CMA4 and B.1.351 (a SARS-CoV-2 patient isolate capable of replication in wild-type mice), respectively. We will then characterize these measurable disease-state phenotypes, transcriptome and cytokine profiles across a cohort of aged BXD strains of diverse genotypes. In Aim 2, we will integrate the phenotypic and transcriptomic datasets from Aim 1 and combine them with the already acquired genotypes and sequence data for the BXD strains to map genetic loci and define the candidate genes and molecular networks that regulate SARS-CoV-2 replication and pathogenesis. Data from these studies will uncover novel insights into age-independent host genetic factors that modulate viral replication and disease susceptibility during SARS-CoV-2 infection. The new knowledge gained will aid the development of countermeasures against SARS-CoV-2 and possibly other pathogenic human CoV infections.