Fig. 2. No differences in virus shedding between D614G, B.1.1.7, and B.1.351.

Three groups of six adult rhesus macaques were inoculated with SARS-CoV-2 variants D614G, B.1.1.7, or B.1.351. After inoculation, clinical exams were performed, during which nose (A), throat (B), and rectal (C) swabs were collected; viral loads and virus titers were measured in these samples. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect gRNA (left column) and sgRNA (middle column), and virus titration was performed on nose and throat swabs to detect levels of infectious virus (right column) in these samples. Lines indicate the mean. Statistical analysis was performed using a two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test; no P values <0.05 were found.