Table 4.
Current evidence on SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro and in vivo
| Model | Phenotypes during SARS-CoV-2 infection |
|---|---|
| In vitro studies | |
| SARS-CoV-2-infected human intestinal-derived cell line69,126 | Efficiently infected Caco-2 cells; partial infection T84 cells |
| Bat organoids92 | Susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection |
| Human small intestine organoids127,128 | Susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection; induction of ISGs |
| Human colon-derived organoids69,92,93 | Infection of 10% of colon organoid cells; induction of type III interferons and ISGs |
| Animal modela | |
| hACE2 transgenic mice138 | Viral RNA in the intestine on day 1 post-infection; no histological changes in gastrointestinal tract |
| hACE2 knock-in mice133 | Viral RNA in faeces of aged mice; intragastric infection led to lung inflammation |
| Golden Syrian hamster137,142 | Continuous viral RNA shedding in faeces; viral antigens in the intestine; successfully infected via fomites |
| Ferret134,139,141 | Continuous viral RNA shedding in faeces; viral antigens in the intestine; isolation of infectious particles from nasal swabs after intragastric transfer of faecal supernatant |
| Cat139 | Positive rectal swabs; viral RNA in the intestine |
| Dog139 | Positive rectal swabs |
| Rhesus macaques135,136 | Prolonged faecal viral shedding after being negative in respiratory samples; viral RNA in the intestinal tissue; inflammatory infiltration in the intestine; viral antigens in the intestine |
| Cynomolgus macaques144 | Viral RNA in faeces; viral RNA in ileum |
hACE2, human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; ISGs, interferon-stimulated genes; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. aAnimals were infected via intranasal route unless otherwise noted.