Novel diagnostic tools and animal model system for study human/animal interface of COVID-19

世界卫生组织（世卫组织）将持续的2019冠状病毒病大流行定为公共卫生 国际关注的紧急情况。ACE 2受体之间的相似性预示着有几种动物 可以作为病毒的储存库。我们和其他人最近的研究确定了猫科动物，包括 家猫、老虎和狮子对SARS-CoV-2感染高度敏感。这些发现造成了巨大的 关注人与动物和动物与人之间的潜在传播，以及病毒的沿着 病毒在不同物种间传播时出现的变异这项研究的目的之一是设计 并制备用于动物检测和监测的新型试剂和分析方法。第二个目标是 建立一个猫科动物模型。这些数据将被整合到模型中， 兽医、其他动物护理专业人员和公众的动物感染风险。 具体目标是：1）。生产和表征用于COVID-19研究的特定试剂， 诊断; 2）.开发用于检测动物中COVID-19病毒感染的诊断方法; 3）。到 建立猫SARS-CoV-2致病性研究模型; 4）.将新的诊断方法应用于 监测宠物和动物园动物种群。这项研究的结果将产生一组SARS-CoV， 2-用于快速检测SARS-CoV-2感染的特异性抗体试剂、诊断标准品和检测方法， 所有种类的动物。这些诊断检测将应用于COVID-19监测网络， 确定重要的动物宿主。新的血清学试验也可以作为DIVA试验来区分 接种疫苗和受感染的动物（和人类）之间的关系。猫的发病机制研究将提高我们的 了解病毒的致病机制，宿主免疫反应，并提供样品来源， 早期检测和测试验证。

The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 is designated by World Health Organization (WHO) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Similarities among ACE2 receptors predict that there are several animals could function as reservoirs for the virus. Recent studies by us and others identified felid animals, including domestic cats, tigers and lions as highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. These findings cause great concerns on the potential for human to animal and animal to human transmission, along with the virus mutations that appear as the virus goes back and forth between species. One goal of this study is to design and prepare novel reagents and assays for detection and surveillance in animals. A second goal is to develop a feline animal model. Together, these data will be incorporated into models for understanding the risk of animal infection for veterinarians, other animal care professionals, and the general public. Specific Aims are: 1). To generate and characterize specific reagents for use in COVID-19 research and diagnostics; 2). To develop diagnostic assays for detecting COVID-19 virus infection in animals; 3). To establish a feline model to study SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis; 4). To apply novel diagnostic assays in the surveillance of pets and zoo animal populations. Outcomes of this study will generate a panel of SARS-CoV- 2-specific antibody reagents, diagnostic standards, and assays for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection in all species of animals. The diagnostic assays will be applied to COVID-19 surveillance networks, which will identify important animal reservoirs. The novel serological assay can also serve as a DIVA test to differentiate between the vaccinated and infected animals (and humans). The feline pathogenesis studies will improve our understanding of viral pathogenic mechanisms, host immune responses, and provide the source of samples for early detection and test validation.