Establishment of a preclinical animal model for COVID-19

In this new project, we will establish two different humanized mice as models for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The first model is based on transplantation of human hematopoietic stem cells. We had already isolated these from cord blood for both adenovirus and Ebola virus infection models. We will apply this model to study the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 in humans. The second mouse model will be produced by transplanting peripheral blood lymphocytes from young and older adults. In this way, we will be able to study the role of the immune system in COVID-19 disease.

Project coordinator: Estefania Rodríguez-Burgos (Department of Virology).