Study design
throat, SARS-CoV-2 infection
BLOOD, VIRUS, SARS-COV-2 INFECTION
6 healthy male rhesus macaques (ages 3–6 years) were challenged via a combination of intratracheal (1.2 mL, fiberoptic bronchoscopy) and intranasal (0.4 mL/nostril). The total virus titer was 1 × 10The rhesus macaques were divided into treatment group (3 males) and control group (3 males). The dosage was based on body weight. The treatment group was 200 mg/kg. The 0.5% CMC-Na suspension (5 mL/kg) was given to the control group. The administration time is 10:00 in the morning and 20:00 in the evening, with an interval of 10 h. The frequency of administration is BID. The mode of administration is gastric administration via a nasogastric tube. Before each administration, 25 ml of apple oatmeal is given in advance, then the medicine is given, and finally 5 ml of apple oatmeal is given. The treatment group was administered 3 times before the challenge, and then 2 times on the 1st to 7th days after the challenge; the control group started 6 h after the challenge, the continuous dosing cycle is once on the 0th day before the challenge, and the 1st to 7th days after the challenge. To quantify the plasma level of nelfinavir, blood samples were collected at 15:00 on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 (Fig. Schedule of nelfinavir treatment and SARS-CoV-2 infection in rhesus macaques. To evaluate the prophylactic efficacy of nelfinavir treatment in the SARS-CoV-2 infection model in rhesus macaques, one group of three rhesus macaques was administered 200 mg/kg nelfinavir three times by nasogastric administration before SARS-CoV-2 (strain 20SF107) inoculation (black circles). One group of three control animals was administered 5 mL/kg vehicle solution (0.5%CMC-Na) by nasogastric administration. Treatment was continued twice daily until 7 dpi, then all animals were euthanized on 8dpi. At 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 dpi, nasal, throat, and rectal swabs were collected. Temperature and weight changes were monitored at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 dpi. Blood samples were taken at 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 dpi