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COVID-19 Resources and Measures

To combat the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, INFRAFRONTIER is offering, free-of-charge open calls, several resources, COVID-19-related strains and emergency archiving services to the global research community with the aim to aid COVID-19 research and minimise the loss of valuable mouse strains during the crisis.

Trans-national Access Call: COVID-19 Therapeutics Pipeline

With more than 1.5 million deaths by the end of 2020 and no signs of slowing down, the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the deadliest diseases to plague mankind in recent times. Considerable scientific effort from all over the world has been rallied to fight this common foe.


With this free-of-charge TA Call `COVID-19 Therapeutics Pipeline´, INFRAFRONTIER is providing researchers access to test their innovative and novel COVID-19 therapeutics in a standardised infection pipeline that uses preclinical models to study COVID-19 infection.

More details can be found here.

 

 

COVID-19 Resources offered by INFRAFRONTIER Partners

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is not only a serious threat to global public health, it also deeply affects the social and economic life worldwide. INFRAFRONTIER, the European Research Infrastructure for the generation, phenotyping, archiving and distribution of model mammalian genomes, is fully committed to support researchers around the globe to develop a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 and to find treatments for COVID-19.

List of INFRAFRONTIER COVID-19 Resources

Phenomin-ICS, France 

  • Available resources:
    • Mouse/Rat models generation
    • Access to COVID-19- related strain available as frozen sperm:
    • Cryopreservation of mouse lines (capacity of up to 30 lines per week; only sperm freezing)
    • Phenotyping and drug validation
  • Contact: Mohammed Selloum
  • Email: contact@phenomin.fr

 

Phenomin-CIPHE, France

  • Available resources: 
    • Fast-track editing of immune-related genes (PMID: 31591574) and genes related to COVID19 research 
    • High-dimensional immunophenotyping under normal and under Biosafety Level 3 laboratory (BSL3) conditions relevant to COVID19 research (all lymphoid and myeloid populations found in normal and inflamed tissue parenchyma (lung, intestine…), blood, bronchoalveolar fluid and lymphoid organ
    • Humanized mice model in partnership with The Jackson Laboratories
    • Mouse models permitting to track and ablate specific compartment of the immune system and inflammation (kept frozen or maintained under specific pathogen conditions and they are all on B6 background):
      • KI mice specifically deprived of all T cell compartment
      • KI mice specifically deprived of B and T cells.
      • KI mice specifically deprived of granulocytes.
      • KI mice specifically deprived of cDC1 dendritic cells (including those present in the lung)
      • KI mice permitting to conditionally and specifically ablate macrophages (including lung alveolar macrophages)
      • KI mice permitting to conditionally and specifically ablate mast cells. 
      • KI mice permitting to track and ablate epidermal Langherans cells.
      • KI mice permitting to track gamma-delta T cells
  • Contact: Ana Zarubica and Bernard Malissen
  • Email: contact-ciphe@inserm.fr

Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany

MRC Harwell Institute, United Kingdom

  • Available resources: Sperm freezing (10 to 15 stocks/day at the present). No long term holding of live mice at the moment.
  • Contact: Martin Fray
  • Email: m.fray@har.mrc.ac.uk

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Italy

  • Available resources: Broad services for archiving strains and providing resources to Institutes and research groups (models generation, cryopreservation, and dedicated research studies, etc.).
  • Contact: Marcello Raspa, Ferdinando Scavizzi, Rafaele Matteoni
  • Email: marcello.raspa@cnr.it

Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics ASCR, Czech Republic

  • Available resources, service & support: 
    • Generation of rodent disease models (knockout, humanized, etc.), relevant for COVID-19 research. In particular, the CCP can offer several serine protease mouse mutant lines (Prss35, Prss12, Prss21, Prss33, Prss55, Prss37, Prss47, Prss54, Prss48, Prss44, Prss57, Klk12, Klk15, Klk11, Klk13, Klk10, Klk8, Klk5).
    • Standard cryopreservation and archiving services (sperms and embryos) are maintained
    • Advanced secondary phenotyping  pipelines relevant to lung inflammation and fibrosis (including state-of-the-art imaging, immunology, lung function)
    • Pre-clinical testing (lung inflammation and fibrosis models - clinical biochemistry and histopathology are conducted under GLP conditions)
    • Metabolomics and MALDI imaging from tissue samples and biopsies depending on capacities
    • Prioritization call in place to support projects investigating the SARS-CoV-2 infection and its treatment
    • General service contact: ccp@phenogenomics.cz
  • Specialized service contacts:
  • Contact: Radislav Sedlacek 
  • Email: radislav.sedlacek@img.cas.cz

Biomedcode Hellas SA, Greece

University of Oulu, Finland

  • Available resources:
    • The usual repertoire of services including mouse model generation, cryopreservation and rederivation.
    • Facilities and expertise to perform in vivo lung function measurements (flexiVent, SCIREQ Scientific Respiratory Equipment Inc.) in mice. This is due to one of the University’s profiling themes: Fibrosis. Currently, several ongoing research projects focus on understanding the mechanisms and finding treatments for pulmonary fibrosis.
    • Distribution of mouse lines in EMMA repository relevant to COVID-19 research. 
  • Contact: Reetta Hinttala
  • Email: emma-oulu@oulu.fi

BSRC Fleming, Greece

  • Available resources:
    • Mouse models of inflammatory and tissue degenerative processes relevant to COVID-19 research
    • Facilities and analytical platforms for phenotypic analysis of mouse models relevant to COVID-19 research.
    • Generation of animal models for COVID-19 research
  • Contact: Dimitris Kontoyiannis
  • Email: infrafrontierGR@fleming.gr

 

COVID-19 related EMMA strains

The following EMMA strains are related to SARS-CoV-2 infection via their human orthologues. The table below contains EMMA strains that could be used for COVID-19 research. 

List of COVID-19 related EMMA strains

Gene

 Adam17

EMMA Strain Details EM:04475 / CNB-CSIC, CNB-CSIC, Lluis Montoliu: criocnb@cnb.csic.es / The Cryopreservation unit at CNB-CSIC has been partially reactivated. Pending requests will be processed sequentially and as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience and kind understanding
Reference to Gene and COVID-19TMPRSS2 and ADAM17 Cleave ACE2 Differentially and Only Proteolysis by TMPRSS2 Augments Entry Driven by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Spike Protein

Gene

Zdhhc5

EMMA Strain Details

EM:11531 / HMGU, Susan Marschall: s.marschall@helmholtz-muenchen.de / frozen germplasm

EM:05839 / CNR, Marcello Raspa: marcello.raspa@cnr.it / frozen germplasm

Reference to Gene and COVID-19 A SARS-CoV-2-Human Protein-Protein Interaction Map Reveals Drug Targets and Potential Drug-Repurposing

'the Spike protein (S) interacts with the GOLGA7-ZDHHC5 acyl-transferase complex, which likely mediates palmitoylation on its cytosolic tail'

 

Gene

Trmt1

EMMA Strain Details

EM:10456 / ICS, Mohammed Selloum: contact@phenomin.fr / frozen germplasm 

Reference to Gene and COVID-19 A SARS-CoV-2-Human Protein-Protein Interaction Map Reveals Drug Targets and Potential Drug-Repurposing

 

'We also identified an interaction of Nsp5 (C145A) with tRNA methyltransferase 1 (TRMT1), which is responsible for synthesis of the dimethylguanosine (m2,2G) base modification on both nuclear and mitochondrial tRNAs40. We predict TRMT1 is also cleaved by Nsp5, removing its zinc finger and nuclear localization signal and likely resulting in an exclusively mitochondrial localization'

 

 Gene

Bsg

EMMA Strain DetailsEM:04318 / CNRS, Karine Jambou: jambou@cnrs-orleans.fr / frozen germplasm 
Reference to Gene and COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 invades host cells via a novel route: CD147-spike protein

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.14.988345v1

'Here, we reported a research finding that SARS-CoV-2 invaded host cells via a novel route of CD147-spike protein (SP). SP bound to CD147, a receptor on the host cells, thereby mediating the viral invasion.'

 

 Gene 

Dhodh

EMMA Strain Details

EM:06847 / Vetmeduni Vienna, Auke Boersma: emma-vienna@vetmeduni.ac.at / frozen germplasm 

EM:07748 / Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, mouseinterest@sanger.ac.uk / frozen germplasm 

Reference to Gene and COVID-19Parallel shRNA and CRISPR-Cas9 screens enable antiviral drug target identification 

Gene 

Os9

EMMA Strain DetailsEM:08172 / University of Oulu, Reetta Hinttala: emma-oulu@oulu.fi / frozen germplasm 
Reference to Gene and COVID-19

A SARS-CoV-2-Human Protein-Protein Interaction Map Reveals Drug Targets and Potential Drug-Repurposing

 

 Gene 

Ptges2

EMMA Strain DetailsEM:05527 / University of Oulu, Reetta Hinttala: emma-oulu@oulu.fi / frozen germplasm 
Reference to Gene and COVID-19 A SARS-CoV-2-Human Protein-Protein Interaction Map Reveals Drug Targets and Potential Drug-Repurposing

 

Gene 

Rab5c 

EMMA Strain Details EM:07127 / University of Oulu, Reetta Hinttala: emma-oulu@oulu.fi / frozen germplasm 
Reference to Gene and COVID-19 A SARS-CoV-2-Human Protein-Protein Interaction Map Reveals Drug Targets and Potential Drug-Repurposing

 

Gene

Tmprss2

EMMA Strain DetailsEM:09886 / ICS, Mohammed Selloum: contact@phenomin.fr; CNRS, Karine Jambou: jambou@cnrs-orleans.fr / frozen germplasm 
Reference to Gene and COVID-19

SARS‐CoV‐2 receptor ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are primarily expressed in bronchial transient secretory cells

 

Gene 

Retreg3

EMMA Strain DetailsEM:05438 / University of Oulu, Reetta Hinttala: emma-oulu@oulu.fi / frozen germplasm 
Reference to Gene and COVID-19

A SARS-CoV-2-Human Protein-Protein Interaction Map Reveals Drug Targets and Potential Drug-Repurposing 

 

Gene

Dpp4

EMMA Strain Details

EM:02577 / CNRS, Karine Jambou: jambou@cnrs-orleans.fr / frozen germplasm 

EM:09968 / CNRS, Karine Jambou: jambou@cnrs-orleans.fr / frozen germplasm 

Reference to Gene and COVID-19

COVID-19 and diabetes: Can DPP4 inhibition play a role?

Mouse-adapted MERS coronavirus causes lethal lung disease in human DPP4 knockin mice

Multi-Organ Damage in Human Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Transgenic Mice Infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus

Generation of a Transgenic Mouse Model of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection and Disease

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Causes Multiple Organ Damage and Lethal Disease in Mice Transgenic for Human Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4

A mouse model for MERS coronavirus-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome

A Human DPP4-Knockin Mouse’s Susceptibility to Infection by Authentic and Pseudotyped MERS-CoV

Acute Respiratory Infection in Human Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4-Transgenic Mice Infected With Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

Gene

Furin

EMMA Strain DetailsEM:04412 / CNR, Marcello Raspa: marcello.raspa@cnr.it / frozen germplasm 
Reference to Gene and COVID-19

The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2

'the highly variable spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 has a polybasic (furin) cleavage site at the S1 and S2 boundary via the insertion of twelve nucleotides'

 

Gene

Stat1

EMMA Strain Details

EM:08708 / ICS, Mohammed Selloum: contact@phenomin.fr; CNRS, Karine Jambou: jambou@cnrs-orleans.fr / frozen germplasm 

EM:09915 EM:09916 EM:09906 / Vetmeduni Vienna, Auke Boersma: emma-vienna@vetmeduni.ac.at / frozen germplasm 

EM:06064 and EM:06065 / CNB-CSIC, CNB-CSIC, Lluis Montoliu: criocnb@cnb.csic.es / The Cryopreservation unit at CNB-CSIC has been partially reactivated. Pending requests will be processed sequentially and as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience and kind understanding

 

Reference to Gene and COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 is sensitive to type I interferon pretreatment

Resolution of Primary Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Associated Coronavirus Infection Requires Stat1

SARS-CoV Pathogenesis Is Regulated by a STAT1 Dependent but a Type I, II and III Interferon Receptor Independent Mechanism

 

Gene

Il6

EMMA Strain Details

EM:05332 / CNB-CSIC, Lluis Montoliu: criocnb@cnb.csic.es / Registration of interest is possible. Rederivation and shipments will be processed as soon as the cryopreservation unit at CNB-CSIC becomes operative again after the coronavirus crisis

Reference to Gene and COVID-19

Detectable serum SARS-CoV-2 viral load (RNAaemia) is closely associated with drastically elevated interleukin 6 (IL-6) level in critically ill COVID-19 patients

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus-Induced Lung Epithelial Cytokines Exacerbate SARS Pathogenesis by Modulating Intrinsic Functions of Monocyte-Derived Macrophages and Dendritic Cells

Medical Authorities and Companies launch novel clinical trials of interleukin 6 inhibitors, as the IL-6  pathway could play a role in the overactive inflammatory response observed in lungs of severely and critically ill COVID-19 patients 
http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=49409
https://www.pmlive.com/pharma_news/sanofi,_regeneron_launch_trials_of_arthritis_drug_kevzara_for_covid-19_1329326

Gene

Il10

EMMA Strain Details 

EM:11812 / CNRS, Karine Jambou: jambou@cnrs-orleans.fr / frozen germplasm 

EM:08503   EM:08502 / CNB-CSIC, Lluis Montoliu: criocnb@cnb.csic.es / Registration of interest is possible. Rederivation and shipments will be processed as soon as the cryopreservation unit at CNB-CSIC becomes operative again after the coronavirus crisis

Reference to Gene and COVID-19

Highly Activated Cytotoxic CD8 T Cells Express Protective IL-10 at the Peak of Coronavirus-Induced Encephalitis

Profiling serum cytokines in COVID-19 patients reveals IL-6 and IL-10 are disease severity predictors

Gene

Myd88 

EMMA Strain Details 

EM:06164 / HMGU, Susan Marschall: s.marschall@helmholtz-muenchen.de / frozen germplasm

EM:05518 / University of Oulu, Reetta Hinttala: emma-oulu@oulu.fi / frozen germplasm 

Reference to Gene and COVID-19 MyD88 Is Required for Protection from Lethal Infection with a Mouse-Adapted SARS-CoV

Gene

Nrp

EMMA Strain Details

EM:11987 EM:11988 / MRC Harwell Institute, Martin Fray: m.fray@har.mrc.ac.uk / frozen germplasm

EM:09943 / CNRS, Karine Jambou: jambou@cnrs-orleans.fr / frozen germplasm 

Reference to Gene and COVID-19 Neuropilin-1 facilitates SARS-CoV-2 cell entry and provides a possible pathway into the central nervous system

Gene

Tlr4

EMMA Strain DetailsEM:00035 / CNRS, Karine Jambou: jambou@cnrs-orleans.fr / frozen germplasm 
Reference to Gene and COVID-19 Identification of Oxidative Stress and Toll-like Receptor 4 Signaling as a Key Pathway of Acute Lung Injury

Gene

Ifnar1

EMMA Strain Details EM:10181 / University of Oulu, Reetta Hinttala: emma-oulu@oulu.fi / frozen germplasm 
Reference to Gene and COVID-19Type I Interferons Are Essential in Controlling Neurotropic Coronavirus Infection Irrespective of Functional CD8 T Cells

Gene

Ahr

EMMA Strain Details EM:12733 / Czech Centre for Phenogenomics: ccp-tam@img.cas.cz  / frozen germplasm 
Reference to Gene and COVID-19Murine Coronavirus Infection Activates the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in an Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase-Independent Manner, Contributing to Cytokine Modulation and Proviral TCDD-Inducible-PARP Expression

Gene

Ifih1

EMMA Strain DetailsEM:11517 / MRC Harwell Institute, Martin Fray: m.fray@har.mrc.ac.uk / frozen germplasm
Reference to Gene and COVID-19

Pangolins Lack IFIH1/MDA5, a Cytoplasmic RNA Sensor That Initiates Innate Immune Defense Upon Coronavirus Infection

MDA5 Is Critical to Host Defense during Infection with Murine Coronavirus

 

 

Emergency Archiving during COVID-19 crisis

Due to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, there is a need to archive various valuable mouse models. Traffic restrictions and other severe measures to slow the spread of the pandemic are in force, but some EMMA nodes are still active and may archive valuable strains.

Please directly contact your closest EMMA node from the list below for archiving possibilities. In contrast to the standard EMMA archiving service, which includes evaluation by an external scientific committee and is free of charge for depositors, the emergency service may come with service charges. Details will be provided by the EMMA nodes.

As the situation in the different countries is changing constantly, we can not give any guarantees. Whether mice can be imported also strongly depends on whether carrier companies are still servicing the respective route from the depositor institute to the EMMA node.

INFRAFRONTIER partners offering Emergency Archiving during COVID-19 crisis
CNRS Orléans, France
Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany
MRC Harwell, UK
  • Rapid archiving service for the wider scientific community. This available to both academic and for-profit organisations. Can accept live mice or refrigerated epididymides in Lifor.
  • Contact person: Martin Fray (m.fray@har.mrc.ac.uk)
Karolinska Institute (KI), Stockholm, Sweden
CNR Monterotondo, Italy
University of Oulu, Finland
  • Able to receive refrigerated epididymides (at least from Finland, France, Denmark and Belgium)
  • Contact person: Reetta Hinttala (reetta.hinttala@oulu.fi)
Institute of Molecular Genetics ASCR (IMG), Prague, Czech Republic

 

 

COVID-19 resources from our partners and collaborators

Here is a list of COVID-19 research resources offered by our European and international partners: