The Indiana University School approved all animal studies of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the Indiana University Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). Cg-Tg(K18-ACE2)2Prlmn/J mice (Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, Stock No: 034860) were used in this study. At approximately 8 weeks of age, K18-ACE2 mice were either mock infected (media only) or were infected (media containing virus) intranasally (20μl) with SARS-CoV-2 isolate USA-WA1/2020 (BEI Resources, Manassas, VA), n=4-5/group using methods described previously 10 (link),11 (link). Mice were administered with a viral concentration of 0 (mock) or 1x104 (plaque-forming unit). As detailed below, several additional assessments were also completed each day, including body weight and body condition score (BCS). Criteria for humane endpoints were established in consultation with IACUC and collaborating veterinarians as described previously11 (link).
Discarded human specimens from COVID-19 patients were used to detect expression of ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Use of human materials has been approved by Institutional Review Board (IRB).