Biology subjects

Zanolari, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Zanolari, P..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Establishment of well-differentiated camelid airway cultures to study Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

In 2012, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) emerged in Saudi Arabia and was mostly associated with severe respiratory illness in humans. Dromedary camels are the zoonotic reservoir for MERS-CoV. To investigate the biology of MERS-CoV in camelids, we developed a well-differentiated airway epithelial cell (AEC) culture model for Llama glama and Camelus bactrianus. Histological characterization revealed progressive epithelial cellular differentiation with well-resemblance to autologous ex vivo tissues. We demonstrate that MERS-CoV displays a divergent cell tropism and replication kinetics profile in both AEC models. Furthermore, we observed that in the camelid AEC models MERS-CoV replication can be inhibited by both type I and III interferons (IFNs). In conclusion, we successfully established camelid AEC cultures that recapitulate the in vivo airway epithelium and reflect MERS-CoV infection in vivo. In combination with human AEC cultures, this system allows detailed characterization of the molecular basis of MERS-CoV cross-species transmission in respiratory epithelium.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Susceptibility of well-differentiated airway epithelial cell cultures from domestic and wildlife animals to SARS-CoV-2

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread globally, and the number of cases continues to rise all over the world. Besides humans, the zoonotic origin, as well as intermediate and potential spillback host reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2 are unknown. To circumvent ethical and experimental constraints, and more importantly, to reduce and refine animal experimentation, we employed our airway epithelial cell (AEC) culture repository composed of various domesticated and wildlife animal species to assess their susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we inoculated well-differentiated animal AEC cultures of monkey, cat, ferret, dog, rabbit, pig, cattle, goat, llama, camel, and two neotropical bat species with SARS-CoV-2. We observed that SARS-CoV-2 only replicated efficiently in monkey and cat AEC culture models. Whole-genome sequencing of progeny virus revealed no obvious signs of nucleotide transitions required for SARS-CoV-2 to productively infect monkey and cat epithelial airway cells. Our findings, together with the previously reported human-to-animal spillover events warrants close surveillance to understand the potential role of cats, monkeys, and closely related species as spillback reservoirs for SARS-CoV-2.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

Identifying maintenance hosts and risk factors for infection with Dichelobacter nodosus in free-ranging wild ruminants in Switzerland: a prevalence study

Footrot is a worldwide economically important, painful, contagious bacterial hoof disease of domestic and wild ungulates caused by Dichelobacter nodosus (D. nodosus). Benign and virulent strains have been identified in sheep presenting mild and severe lesions, respectively. However, in Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) both strains have been associated with severe, fatal lesions. In Switzerland a nationwide footrot control program for sheep focusing on the virulent strain shall soon be implemented. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to estimate the nationwide prevalence of both strains of D. nodosus in four wild indigenous ruminant species and to identify potential susceptible maintenance hosts that could be a reinfection source for sheep. During two years (2017-2018), interdigital swabs of 1,821 wild indigenous ruminants species (Alpine ibex; Alpine chamois, Rupicapra rupicapra; roe deer, Capreolus capreolus; red deer, Cervus elaphus) were analysed by Real-Time PCR. Furthermore, observed interspecies interactions were documented for each sample. Overall, we report a low prevalence of D. nodosus in all four indigenous wild ruminants, for both the benign (1.97%, N = 36, of which 31 red deer) and virulent (0.05%, N = 1) strain of D. nodosus. Footrot lesions were documented in one ibex with the virulent strain, and in one ibex with the benign strain. Interactions with domestic livestock occurred mainly with cattle and sheep. In conclusion, the data suggest that domestic ungulates represent a significant source of infection for wild ungulates, while wild ruminants are likely irrelevant for the maintenance and spread of D. nodosus. Furthermore, we add evidence that both D. nodosus strains can be associated with severe disease in Alpine ibex. These data are crucial for the upcoming nationwide control program and reveal that wild ruminants should not be considered as a threat to footrot control in sheep in this context.

zoology↗