Animal Model Research of SARS-CoV-2 and the Value of Imaging

Dear Colleagues,

The translational value of research findings in animal models is sometimes questioned. Nevertheless, in the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, animal models represent an indispensable component of transmission and vaccine studies. Without these studies, there is a realistic chance that there would have been no vaccine available yet. As new variants of concern emerge, and more data become available about disease manifestations outside the respiratory tract and delayed recovery of persons infected by SARS-CoV-2, the role of research and animal models is still highly relevant. In these studies, imaging, from all different kind of perspectives not only medical imaging but also pathology or for instance whole body plesmathography, is a non-invasive tool widely used in both human and veterinary research and medicine, which enables qualitative and quantitative characterization of the disease over a longer period. Imaging has proven to be a powerful method in characterizing and monitoring SARS-CoV-2. With this Special Issue, we invite researchers to contribute with articles describing the features of SARS-CoV-2 in different animal models using different imaging techniques. We also welcome papers addressing the manifestation of disease outside the respiratory tract. Moreover, considering that we are dealing with an infection which can cause long-term symptoms both after a mild and severe disease process, there is a special interest in research investigating and visualizing long COVID or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2.

Dr. Marieke Stammes
Dr. Fuus Thate
Dr. Norbert Stockhofe
Guest Editors

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• preclinical research
• translational research
• imaging
• rodents
• nonhuman primates
• birds
• mammals
• SARS-CoV-2
• long COVID-19
• disease susceptibility
• disease progression