Development and analysis of a SARS-CoV-2-induced golden hamster animal model for ME/CFS

Project description

The causes of ME/CFS and ME/CFS-like symptoms that occur following a SARS-CoV-2 infection are not well understood. As a result, the options for therapeutic clinical treatment of patients are limited. There are large gaps in knowledge because hardly any tissue samples from those affected are available and comparisons with defined control groups are difficult to make.

It can be assumed that a significant proportion of people suffering from ME/CFS have post-infectious dysregulation of the innate immune system and deregulated neurotransmitter metabolism. The SERIMM research network therefore aims to shed light on indications of altered serotonin metabolism and dysregulation of the immune system. To this end, samples from patient cohorts and COVID-19 animal models will be examined in parallel using high-throughput analysis methods. In this way, changes in the brain, for example, can be examined in detail and healthy and diseased individuals can be better compared.

The work planned at the Paul Ehrlich Institute will further develop the golden hamster animal model. The planned behavioral analyses of long-term infected hamsters, flanked by the subsequent analysis of the sera and organs using transcriptome sequencing as well as histological and imaging procedures, will provide mechanistic clues for new therapeutic approaches. This work will make an important contribution to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of ME/CFS and thus contribute to the development of biomarkers and new therapeutic approaches.

(Description adapted from project website: see link above)