Leveraging the antiviral type I interferon system as a first line of defense against SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity

Using hamster model, the host responses against SARS-CoV-2 infection was examined. The type I interferon response was evident for two weeks in several tissues including respiratory and gastrointestinal systems and brain, regardless of the existence of viruses. Intranasal administration of recombinant interferon-I reduced viral disease and transmission.