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Nemčovičová I, Lopušná K, Štibrániová I, Benedetti F, Berti F, Felluga F, Drioli S, Vidali M, Katrlík J, Pažitná L, Holazová A, Blahutová J, Lenhartová S, Sláviková M, Klempa B, Ondrejovič M, Chmelová D, Legerská B, Miertuš S, Klacsová M, Uhríková D, Kerti L, Frecer V. Identification and evaluation of antiviral activity of novel compounds targeting SARS-CoV-2 virus by enzymatic and antiviral assays, and computational analysis. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2024; 39:2301772. [PMID: 38221792 PMCID: PMC10791089 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2024.2301772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The viral genome of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the aetiologic agent of COVID-19, encodes structural, non-structural, and accessory proteins. Most of these components undergo rapid genetic variations, though to a lesser extent the essential viral proteases. Consequently, the protease and/or deubiquitinase activities of the cysteine proteases Mpro and PLpro became attractive targets for the design of antiviral agents. Here, we develop and evaluate new bis(benzylidene)cyclohexanones (BBC) and identify potential antiviral compounds. Three compounds were found to be effective in reducing the SARS-CoV-2 load, with EC50 values in the low micromolar concentration range. However, these compounds also exhibited inhibitory activity IC50 against PLpro at approximately 10-fold higher micromolar concentrations. Although originally developed as PLpro inhibitors, the comparison between IC50 and EC50 of BBC indicates that the mechanism of their in vitro antiviral activity is probably not directly related to inhibition of viral cysteine proteases. In conclusion, our study has identified new potential noncytotoxic antiviral compounds suitable for in vivo testing and further improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Nemčovičová
- Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Katarína Lopušná
- Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Iveta Štibrániová
- Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Fabio Benedetti
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Federico Berti
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Fulvia Felluga
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Sara Drioli
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Mattia Vidali
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Jaroslav Katrlík
- Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Pažitná
- Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Alena Holazová
- Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jana Blahutová
- Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Simona Lenhartová
- Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Monika Sláviková
- Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Boris Klempa
- Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Miroslav Ondrejovič
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Trnava, Slovakia
- ICARST n.o, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Daniela Chmelová
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Trnava, Slovakia
| | - Barbora Legerská
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Trnava, Slovakia
| | - Stanislav Miertuš
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Trnava, Slovakia
- ICARST n.o, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Mária Klacsová
- Department of Physical Chemistry of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Daniela Uhríková
- Department of Physical Chemistry of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lukáš Kerti
- Department of Physical Chemistry of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Vladimír Frecer
- Department of Physical Chemistry of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Shahbazi E, Moradi A, Mollasalehi H, Mohebbi SR. Unravelling the diagnostic methodologies for SARS-CoV-2; the Indispensable need for developing point-of-care testing. Talanta 2024; 275:126139. [PMID: 38696900 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.126139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-caused COVID-19 pandemic that continues to be a global menace and since its emergence in the late 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has been vigorously spreading throughout the globe putting the whole world into a multidimensional calamity. The suitable diagnosis strategies are on the front line of the battle against preventing the spread of infections. Since the clinical manifestation of COVID-19 is shared between various diseases, detection of the unique impacts of the pathogen on the host along with the diagnosis of the virus itself should be addressed. Employing the most suitable approaches to specifically, sensitively and effectively recognize the infected cases may be a real game changer in controlling the outbreak and the crisis management. In that matter, point-of-care assays (POC) appears to be the potential option, due to sensitivity, specificity, affordable, and availability. Here we brief the most recent findings about the virus, its variants, and the conventional methods that have been used for its detection, along with the POC strategies that have been applied to the virus diagnosis and the developing technologies which can accelerate the diagnosis procedure yet maintain its efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erfan Shahbazi
- Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Asma Moradi
- Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Mollasalehi
- Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Seyed Reza Mohebbi
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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3
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Xiao B, Wu L, Sun Q, Shu C, Hu S. Dynamic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 evolution based on different countries. Gene 2024; 916:148426. [PMID: 38575101 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Since late 2019, COVID-19 has significantly impacted the world. Understanding the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for protecting against future infectious pathogens. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive chronological analysis of SARS-CoV-2 evolution by examining mutation prevalence from the source countries of VOCs: United Kingdom, India, Brazil, South Africa, plus two countries: United States, Russia, utilizing genomic sequences from GISAID. Our methodological approach involved large-scale genomic sequence alignment using MAFFT, Python-based data processing on a high-performance computing platform, and advanced statistical methods the Maximal Information Coefficient (MIC), and also Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models for correlation analysis. Our findings elucidate the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 evolution, highlighting the virus's changing behaviour over various pandemic stages. Key results include the discovery of three temporal mutation patterns-lineage distinct, long-span, and competitive mutations-with varying levels of impact on the virus. Notably, we observed a convergence of advantageous mutations in the spike protein, especially in the later stages of the pandemic, indicating a substantial evolutionary pressure on the virus. One of the most significant revelations is the predominant role of natural immunity over vaccination-induced immunity in driving these evolutionary changes. This emphasizes the critical need for regular vaccine updates to maintain efficacy against evolving strains. In conclusion, our study not only sheds light on the evolutionary trajectory of SARS-CoV-2 but also underscores the urgency for robust, continuous global data collection and sharing. It highlights the necessity for rapid adaptations in medical countermeasures, including vaccine development, to stay ahead of pathogen evolution. This research provides valuable insights for future pandemic preparedness and response strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binghan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Linhuan Wu
- Microbial Resource and Big Data Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Chinese National Microbiology Data Center (NMDC), Beijing 100101, China
| | - Qinglan Sun
- Microbial Resource and Big Data Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Chinese National Microbiology Data Center (NMDC), Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chang Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Songnian Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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4
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Hattab D, Amer MFA, Al-Alami ZM, Bakhtiar A. SARS-CoV-2 journey: from alpha variant to omicron and its sub-variants. Infection 2024; 52:767-786. [PMID: 38554253 PMCID: PMC11143066 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-024-02223-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected hundreds of millions of individuals and caused more than six million deaths. The prolonged pandemic duration and the continual inter-individual transmissibility have contributed to the emergence of a wide variety of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Genomic surveillance and phylogenetic studies have shown that substantial mutations in crucial supersites of spike glycoprotein modulate the binding affinity of the evolved SARS-COV-2 lineages to ACE2 receptors and modify the binding of spike protein with neutralizing antibodies. The immunological spike mutations have been associated with differential transmissibility, infectivity, and therapeutic efficacy of the vaccines and the immunological therapies among the new variants. This review highlights the diverse genetic mutations assimilated in various SARS-CoV-2 variants. The implications of the acquired mutations related to viral transmission, infectivity, and COVID-19 severity are discussed. This review also addresses the effectiveness of human neutralizing antibodies induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection or immunization and the therapeutic antibodies against the ascended variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dima Hattab
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Queen Rania Street, Amman, Jordan
| | - Mumen F A Amer
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Zina M Al-Alami
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Athirah Bakhtiar
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
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5
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Takada K, Orba Y, Kida Y, Wu J, Ono C, Matsuura Y, Nakagawa S, Sawa H, Watanabe T. Genes involved in the limited spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the lower respiratory airways of hamsters may be associated with adaptive evolution. J Virol 2024; 98:e0178423. [PMID: 38624229 PMCID: PMC11092350 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01784-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Novel respiratory viruses can cause a pandemic and then evolve to coexist with humans. The Omicron strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has spread worldwide since its emergence in late 2021, and its sub-lineages are now established in human society. Compared to previous strains, Omicron is markedly less invasive in the lungs and causes less severe disease. One reason for this is that humans are acquiring immunity through previous infection and vaccination, but the nature of the virus itself is also changing. Using our newly established low-volume inoculation system, which reflects natural human infection, we show that the Omicron strain spreads less efficiently into the lungs of hamsters compared with an earlier Wuhan strain. Furthermore, by characterizing chimeric viruses with the Omicron gene in the Wuhan strain genetic background and vice versa, we found that viral genes downstream of ORF3a, but not the S gene, were responsible for the limited spread of the Omicron strain in the lower airways of the virus-infected hamsters. Moreover, molecular evolutionary analysis of SARS-CoV-2 revealed a positive selection of genes downstream of ORF3a (M and E genes). Our findings provide insight into the adaptive evolution of the virus in humans during the pandemic convergence phase.IMPORTANCEThe severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant has spread worldwide since its emergence in late 2021, and its sub-lineages are established in human society. Compared to previous strains, the Omicron strain is less invasive in the lower respiratory tract, including the lungs, and causes less severe disease; however, the mechanistic basis for its restricted replication in the lower airways is poorly understood. In this study, using a newly established low-volume inoculation system that reflects natural human infection, we demonstrated that the Omicron strain spreads less efficiently into the lungs of hamsters compared with an earlier Wuhan strain and found that viral genes downstream of ORF3a are responsible for replication restriction in the lower respiratory tract of Omicron-infected hamsters. Furthermore, we detected a positive selection of genes downstream of ORF3a (especially the M and E genes) in SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that these genes may undergo adaptive changes in humans.
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Grants
- 16H06429, 16K21723, 16H06434, JP22H02521 MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
- JP21H02736 MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
- JP16K21723, JP16H06432 MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
- 22K15469, 21J01036 MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
- JP20fk0108281, JP19fk0108113, JP20pc0101047 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
- JP20fk0108401, JP21fk0108493 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
- JP23wm0125008, JP223fa627005 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
- JP19fk018113, JP223fa627002h, 22gm1610010h0001 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
- JPMJMS2025 MEXT | Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
- JPMJCR20H6 MEXT | Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
- Takeda Science Foundation (TSF)
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Takada
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yasuko Orba
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- International Collaboration Unit, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yurie Kida
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jiaqi Wu
- Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Chikako Ono
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshiharu Matsuura
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - So Nakagawa
- Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
- Bioinformation and DDBJ Center, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Sawa
- One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- Global Virus Network, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tokiko Watanabe
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Advanced Modalities and DDS, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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6
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Combe M, Cherif E, Deremarque T, Rivera-Ingraham G, Seck-Thiam F, Justy F, Doudou JC, Carod JF, Carage T, Procureur A, Gozlan RE. Wastewater sequencing as a powerful tool to reveal SARS-CoV-2 variant introduction and spread in French Guiana, South America. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 924:171645. [PMID: 38479523 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The origin of introduction of a new pathogen in a country, the evolutionary dynamics of an epidemic within a country, and the role of cross-border areas on pathogen dynamics remain complex to disentangle and are often poorly understood. For instance, cross-border areas represent the ideal location for the sharing of viral variants between countries, with international air travel, land travel and waterways playing an important role in the cross-border spread of infectious diseases. Unfortunately, monitoring the point of entry and the evolutionary dynamics of viruses in space and time within local populations remain challenging. Here we tested the efficiency of wastewater-based epidemiology and genotyping in monitoring Covid-19 epidemiology and SARS-CoV-2 variant dynamics in French Guiana, a tropical country located in South America. Our results suggest that wastewater-based epidemiology and genotyping are powerful tools to monitor variant introduction and disease evolution within a tropical country but the inclusion of both clinical and wastewater samples could still improve our understanding of genetic diversity co-circulating. Wastewater sequencing also revealed the cryptic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variants within the country. Interestingly, we found some amino acid changes specific to the variants co-circulating in French Guiana, suggesting a local evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 variants after their introduction. More importantly, our results showed that the proximity to bordering countries was not the origin of the emergence of the French Guianese B.1.160.25 variant, but rather that this variant emerged from an ancestor B.1.160 variant introduced by European air plane travelers, suggesting thus that air travel remains a significant risk for cross-border spread of infectious diseases. Overall, we suggest that wastewater-based epidemiology and genotyping provides a cost effective and non-invasive approach for pathogen monitoring and an early-warning tool for disease emergence and spread within a tropical country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Combe
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France.
| | - Emira Cherif
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Georgina Rivera-Ingraham
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France; Centre IRD de Cayenne, Guyane Française, France
| | | | | | | | - Jean-François Carod
- Laboratoire et Pôle Appui aux Fonctions Cliniques, Centre Hospitalier de l'Ouest Guyanais (CHOG), 97320 Saint-Laurent du Maroni, Guyane Française, France
| | - Thierry Carage
- Laboratoire de Biologie Médicale Carage de Kourou, 6 avenue Leopold Heder, 97310 Kourou, Guyane Française, France
| | - Angélique Procureur
- Laboratoire de Biologie Médicale Carage de Kourou, 6 avenue Leopold Heder, 97310 Kourou, Guyane Française, France
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Tran-Kiem C, Bedford T. Estimating the reproduction number and transmission heterogeneity from the size distribution of clusters of identical pathogen sequences. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2305299121. [PMID: 38568971 PMCID: PMC11009662 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2305299121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Quantifying transmission intensity and heterogeneity is crucial to ascertain the threat posed by infectious diseases and inform the design of interventions. Methods that jointly estimate the reproduction number R and the dispersion parameter k have however mainly remained limited to the analysis of epidemiological clusters or contact tracing data, whose collection often proves difficult. Here, we show that clusters of identical sequences are imprinted by the pathogen offspring distribution, and we derive an analytical formula for the distribution of the size of these clusters. We develop and evaluate an inference framework to jointly estimate the reproduction number and the dispersion parameter from the size distribution of clusters of identical sequences. We then illustrate its application across a range of epidemiological situations. Finally, we develop a hypothesis testing framework relying on clusters of identical sequences to determine whether a given pathogen genetic subpopulation is associated with increased or reduced transmissibility. Our work provides tools to estimate the reproduction number and transmission heterogeneity from pathogen sequences without building a phylogenetic tree, thus making it easily scalable to large pathogen genome datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Tran-Kiem
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA98109
| | - Trevor Bedford
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA98109
- HHMI, Seattle, WA98109
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8
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Mohebbi F, Zelikovsky A, Mangul S, Chowell G, Skums P. Early detection of emerging viral variants through analysis of community structure of coordinated substitution networks. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2838. [PMID: 38565543 PMCID: PMC10987511 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47304-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of viral variants with altered phenotypes is a public health challenge underscoring the need for advanced evolutionary forecasting methods. Given extensive epistatic interactions within viral genomes and known viral evolutionary history, efficient genomic surveillance necessitates early detection of emerging viral haplotypes rather than commonly targeted single mutations. Haplotype inference, however, is a significantly more challenging problem precluding the use of traditional approaches. Here, using SARS-CoV-2 evolutionary dynamics as a case study, we show that emerging haplotypes with altered transmissibility can be linked to dense communities in coordinated substitution networks, which become discernible significantly earlier than the haplotypes become prevalent. From these insights, we develop a computational framework for inference of viral variants and validate it by successful early detection of known SARS-CoV-2 strains. Our methodology offers greater scalability than phylogenetic lineage tracing and can be applied to any rapidly evolving pathogen with adequate genomic surveillance data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Mohebbi
- Department of Computer Science, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alex Zelikovsky
- Department of Computer Science, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Serghei Mangul
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gerardo Chowell
- School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Pavel Skums
- Department of Computer Science, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- School of Computing, College of Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
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9
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Valleriani F, Di Pancrazio C, Spedicato M, Di Teodoro G, Malatesta D, Petrova T, Profeta F, Colaianni ML, Berjaoui S, Puglia I, Caporale M, Rossi E, Marcacci M, Luciani M, Sacchini F, Portanti O, Bencivenga F, Decaro N, Bonfante F, Lorusso A. A cell-adapted SARS-CoV-2 mutant, showing a deletion in the spike protein spanning the furin cleavage site, has reduced virulence at the lung level in K18-hACE2 mice. Virology 2024; 592:109997. [PMID: 38324940 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.109997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Here we investigated the virulence properties of a unique cell-adapted SARS-CoV-2 mutant showing a ten-amino acid deletion encompassing the furin cleavage site of the spike protein (Δ680SPRAARSVAS689; Δ680-689-B.1) in comparison to its parental strain (wt-B.1) and two Delta variants (AY.122 and AY.21) of concern. After intranasal inoculation, transgenic K18-hACE2 mice were monitored for 14 days for weight change, lethality, and clinical score; oral swabs were daily collected and tested for the presence of N protein subgenomic RNA. At 3 and 7 dpi mice were also sacrificed and organs collected for molecular, histopathological, and immune response profile investigations. The Δ680-689-B.1-infected mice exhibited reduced shedding, lower virulence at the lung level, and milder pulmonary lesions. In the lung, infection with Δ680-689-B.1 was associated with a significant lower expression of some cytokines at 3 dpi (IL-4, IL-27, and IL-28) and 7 dpi (IL-4, IL-27, IL-28, IFN-γ and IL-1α).
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizia Valleriani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Chiara Di Pancrazio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Massimo Spedicato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Giovanni Di Teodoro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Daniela Malatesta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Tetyana Petrova
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Francesca Profeta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | | | - Shadia Berjaoui
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Ilaria Puglia
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Marialuigia Caporale
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Emanuela Rossi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Maurilia Marcacci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Mirella Luciani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Flavio Sacchini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | - Ottavio Portanti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy
| | | | - Nicola Decaro
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano-Italy
| | - Francesco Bonfante
- IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy; Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro-Italy
| | - Alessio Lorusso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise (IZSAM), Teramo-Italy; IZSVe-IZSAM Joint FAO Reference Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses, Italy.
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10
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Zhang L, Parvin R, Lin S, Chen M, Zheng R, Fan Q, Ye F. Peptide Nucleic Acid Clamp-Assisted Photothermal Multiplexed Digital PCR for Identifying SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2306088. [PMID: 38243642 PMCID: PMC10987151 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
The unprecedented demand for variants diagnosis in response to the COVID-19 epidemic has brought the spotlight onto rapid and accurate detection assays for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at multiple locations. However, it is still challenging to ensure simplicity, affordability, and compatibility with multiplexing. Here, a novel technique is presented that combines peptide nucleic acid (PNA) clamps and near-infrared (NIR)-driven digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) to identify the Omicron and Delta variants. This is achieved by simultaneously identifying highly conserved mutated signatures at codons 19, 614, and 655 of the spike protein gene. By microfluidically introducing graphene-oxide-nanocomposite into the assembled gelatin microcarriers, they achieved a rapid temperature ramping-up rate and switchable gel-to-sol phase transformation synchronized with PCR activation under NIR irradiation. Two sets of duplex PCR reactions, each classifying respective PNA probes, are emulsified in parallel and illuminated together using a homemade vacuum-based droplet generation device and a programmable NIR control module. This allowed for selective amplification of mutant sequences due to single-base-pair mismatch with PNA blockers. Sequence-recognized bioreactions and fluorescent-color scoring enabled quick identification of variants. This technique achieved a detection limit of 5,100 copies and a 5-fold quantitative resolution, which is promising to unfold minor differences and dynamic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lexiang Zhang
- Joint Centre of Translational Medicinethe First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouZhejiang325035China
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health); Wenzhou InstituteUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesWenzhou325000China
- Key Laboratory of Structural Malformations in Children of Zhejiang Provincethe Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouZhejiang325027China
| | - Rokshana Parvin
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health); Wenzhou InstituteUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesWenzhou325000China
| | - Siyue Lin
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringColumbia UniversityNew YorkNY10027USA
| | - Mingshuo Chen
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health); Wenzhou InstituteUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesWenzhou325000China
| | - Ruixuan Zheng
- Joint Centre of Translational Medicinethe First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouZhejiang325035China
| | - Qihui Fan
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter PhysicsInstitute of PhysicsChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina100190
| | - Fangfu Ye
- Joint Centre of Translational Medicinethe First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouZhejiang325035China
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health); Wenzhou InstituteUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesWenzhou325000China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter PhysicsInstitute of PhysicsChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina100190
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11
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Park C, Hwang IY, Yan SLS, Vimonpatranon S, Wei D, Van Ryk D, Girard A, Cicala C, Arthos J, Kehrl JH. Murine alveolar macrophages rapidly accumulate intranasally administered SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein leading to neutrophil recruitment and damage. eLife 2024; 12:RP86764. [PMID: 38507462 PMCID: PMC10954308 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The trimeric SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein mediates viral attachment facilitating cell entry. Most COVID-19 vaccines direct mammalian cells to express the Spike protein or deliver it directly via inoculation to engender a protective immune response. The trafficking and cellular tropism of the Spike protein in vivo and its impact on immune cells remains incompletely elucidated. In this study, we inoculated mice intranasally, intravenously, and subcutaneously with fluorescently labeled recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. Using flow cytometry and imaging techniques, we analyzed its localization, immune cell tropism, and acute functional impact. Intranasal administration led to rapid lung alveolar macrophage uptake, pulmonary vascular leakage, and neutrophil recruitment and damage. When injected near the inguinal lymph node medullary, but not subcapsular macrophages, captured the protein, while scrotal injection recruited and fragmented neutrophils. Widespread endothelial and liver Kupffer cell uptake followed intravenous administration. Human peripheral blood cells B cells, neutrophils, monocytes, and myeloid dendritic cells all efficiently bound Spike protein. Exposure to the Spike protein enhanced neutrophil NETosis and augmented human macrophage TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α) and IL-6 production. Human and murine immune cells employed C-type lectin receptors and Siglecs to help capture the Spike protein. This study highlights the potential toxicity of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein for mammalian cells and illustrates the central role for alveolar macrophage in pathogenic protein uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung Park
- B-Cell Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Il-Young Hwang
- B-Cell Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Serena Li-Sue Yan
- B-Cell Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Sinmanus Vimonpatranon
- Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesBethesdaUnited States
- Department of Retrovirology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences – United States ComponentBangkokThailand
| | - Danlan Wei
- Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesBethesdaUnited States
| | - Don Van Ryk
- Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesBethesdaUnited States
| | - Alexandre Girard
- Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesBethesdaUnited States
| | - Claudia Cicala
- Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesBethesdaUnited States
| | - James Arthos
- Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesBethesdaUnited States
| | - John H Kehrl
- B-Cell Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
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12
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Lv JX, Liu X, Pei YY, Song ZG, Chen X, Hu SJ, She JL, Liu Y, Chen YM, Zhang YZ. Evolutionary trajectory of diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants at the beginning of COVID-19 outbreak. Virus Evol 2024; 10:veae020. [PMID: 38562953 PMCID: PMC10984623 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veae020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite extensive scientific efforts directed toward the evolutionary trajectory of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in humans at the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, it remains unclear how the virus jumped into and evolved in humans so far. Herein, we recruited almost all adult coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases appeared locally or imported from abroad during the first 8 months of the outbreak in Shanghai. From these patients, SARS-CoV-2 genomes occupying the important phylogenetic positions in the virus phylogeny were recovered. Phylogenetic and mutational landscape analyses of viral genomes recovered here and those collected in and outside of China revealed that all known SARS-CoV-2 variants exhibited the evolutionary continuity despite the co-circulation of multiple lineages during the early period of the epidemic. Various mutations have driven the rapid SARS-CoV-2 diversification, and some of them favor its better adaptation and circulation in humans, which may have determined the waxing and waning of various lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Xin Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Greater Bay Area Institute of Precision Medicine (Guangzhou), School of Life Sciences and Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, No. 2005 Songhu Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Xiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Greater Bay Area Institute of Precision Medicine (Guangzhou), School of Life Sciences and Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, No. 2005 Songhu Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Greater Bay Area Institute of Precision Medicine (Guangzhou), School of Life Sciences and Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, No. 2005 Songhu Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200438, China
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, No. 2901 Canglang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai 210508, China
| | - Zhi-Gang Song
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Greater Bay Area Institute of Precision Medicine (Guangzhou), School of Life Sciences and Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, No. 2005 Songhu Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200438, China
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, No. 2901 Canglang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai 210508, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Shu-Jian Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Greater Bay Area Institute of Precision Medicine (Guangzhou), School of Life Sciences and Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, No. 2005 Songhu Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Jia-Lei She
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, No. 2901 Canglang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai 210508, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, No. 2901 Canglang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai 210508, China
| | - Yan-Mei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Greater Bay Area Institute of Precision Medicine (Guangzhou), School of Life Sciences and Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, No. 2005 Songhu Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yong-Zhen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Greater Bay Area Institute of Precision Medicine (Guangzhou), School of Life Sciences and Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, No. 2005 Songhu Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200438, China
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13
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Wilson C, Thomson EC. Resilience to emerging infectious diseases and the importance of scientific innovation. Future Healthc J 2024; 11:100023. [PMID: 38646044 PMCID: PMC11025050 DOI: 10.1016/j.fhj.2024.100023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
This opinion piece emphasies the critical role of translational research in enhancing the UK's resilience against future pandemics. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the lifesaving potential of scientific innovation, including genomic tracking of SARS-CoV-2, vaccine development, data linkage, modelling, and new treatments. These advances, achieved through collaborations between academic institutions, industry, government, public health bodies, and the NHS, occurred at an unprecedented pace. However, the UK's pandemic preparedness planning, as reflected in the 2016 Exercise Cygnus report, notably lacked provision for scientific innovation. This oversight highlights the necessity of integrating innovation and research into future preparedness strategies, not as a luxury but as a vital component of the healthcare infrastructure. The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the importance of surge capacity for diagnostic labs, vaccine development and deployment strategies, real-time research embedded within the NHS, efficient data sharing, clear public communication, and the use of genomic tools for outbreak surveillance and monitoring pathogen response. Despite world-leading aspects of some of the UK's research response, the need to build much of the infrastructure in real-time led to avoidable delays. A proactive approach in incorporating research and innovation into the NHS's operational framework will be needed to ensure swift, evidence-based responses to future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emma C. Thomson
- NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHS GG&C), Glasgow, United Kingdom
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR), Glasgow, United Kingdom
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, United Kingdom
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14
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Avivi MY, Touitou N, Rohana H, Lerrer B, Shav-Tal Y, Peretz A, Cohen HY. Nucleic acid hybridization-based detection of pathogenic RNA using microscale thermophoresis. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105676. [PMID: 38278326 PMCID: PMC10881438 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases are one of the world's leading causes of morbidity. Their rapid spread emphasizes the need for accurate and fast diagnostic methods for large-scale screening. Here, we describe a robust method for the detection of pathogens based on microscale thermophoresis (MST). The method involves the hybridization of a fluorescently labeled DNA probe to a target RNA and the assessment of thermophoretic migration of the resulting complex in solution within a 2 to 30-time window. We found that the thermophoretic migration of the nucleic acid-based probes is primarily determined by the fluorescent molecule used, rather than the nucleic acid sequence of the probe. Furthermore, a panel of uniformly labeled probes that bind to the same target RNA yields a more responsive detection pattern than a single probe, and moreover, can be used for the detection of specific pathogen variants. In addition, intercalating agents (ICA) can be used to alter migration directionality to improve detection sensitivity and resolving power by several orders of magnitude. We show that this approach can rapidly diagnose viral SARS-CoV2, influenza H1N1, artificial pathogen targets, and bacterial infections. Furthermore, it can be used for anti-microbial resistance testing within 2 h, demonstrating its diagnostic potential for early pathogen detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matan Yosef Avivi
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Noga Touitou
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Hanan Rohana
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Tiberias, Israel; Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Batia Lerrer
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Yaron Shav-Tal
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Avi Peretz
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Tiberias, Israel; Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Haim Yosef Cohen
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
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15
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Yao Z, Zhang L, Duan Y, Tang X, Lu J. Molecular insights into the adaptive evolution of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. J Infect 2024; 88:106121. [PMID: 38367704 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has substantially damaged the global economy and human health. The spike (S) protein of coronaviruses plays a pivotal role in viral entry by binding to host cell receptors. Additionally, it acts as the primary target for neutralizing antibodies in those infected and is the central focus for currently utilized or researched vaccines. During the virus's adaptation to the human host, the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 has undergone significant evolution. As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded, new mutations have arisen and vanished, giving rise to distinctive amino acid profiles within variant of concern strains of SARS-CoV-2. Notably, many of these changes in the S protein have been positively selected, leading to substantial alterations in viral characteristics, such as heightened transmissibility and immune evasion capabilities. This review aims to provide an overview of our current understanding of the structural implications associated with key amino acid changes in the S protein of SARS-CoV-2. These research findings shed light on the intricate and dynamic nature of viral evolution, underscoring the importance of continuous monitoring and analysis of viral genomes. Through these molecular-level investigations, we can attain deeper insights into the virus's adaptive evolution, offering valuable guidance for designing vaccines and developing antiviral drugs to combat the ever-evolving viral threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuocheng Yao
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- College of Fishery, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Yuange Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xiaolu Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jian Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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16
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Choi H, Hwang M, Cornelius L, Navarathna DH, Chatterjee P, Jinadatha C. Evolution of a Distinct SARS-CoV-2 Lineage Identified during an Investigation of a Hospital Outbreak. Viruses 2024; 16:337. [PMID: 38543703 PMCID: PMC10974601 DOI: 10.3390/v16030337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 virus steadily evolves, and numerous antigenically distinct variants have emerged over the past three years. Tracking the evolution of the virus would help us understand the process that generates the diverse variants and predict the future evolutionary trajectory of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we report the evolutionary trajectory of a unique Omicron lineage identified during an outbreak investigation that occurred in a residence unit in the healthcare system. The new lineage had four distinct non-synonymous and two distinct synonymous mutations apart from its parental lineage. Since this lineage of virus was exclusively found during the outbreak, we were able to track the detailed evolutionary history of the entire lineage along the transmission path. Furthermore, we estimated the evolutionary rate of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant from the analysis of the evolution of the lineage. This new Omicron sub-lineage acquired 3 mutations in a 12-day period, and the evolutionary rate was estimated as 3.05 × 10-3 subs/site/year. This study provides more insight into an ever-evolving virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hosoon Choi
- Department of Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504, USA; (M.H.); (P.C.)
| | - Munok Hwang
- Department of Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504, USA; (M.H.); (P.C.)
| | - Lisa Cornelius
- Department of Medicine, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504, USA; (L.C.); (C.J.)
| | - Dhammika H. Navarathna
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504, USA;
| | - Piyali Chatterjee
- Department of Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504, USA; (M.H.); (P.C.)
| | - Chetan Jinadatha
- Department of Medicine, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504, USA; (L.C.); (C.J.)
- School of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
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17
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Ortiz-Gómez T, Gomez AC, Chuima B, Zevallos A, Ocampo K, Torres D, Pinto JA. Frequency of SARS-CoV-2 variants identified by real-time PCR in the AUNA healthcare network, Peru. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1244662. [PMID: 38410127 PMCID: PMC10894931 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1244662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction In Peru, on 11 February 2023, the Ministry of Health registered 4 million patients infected with COVID-19 and around 219,260 deaths. In 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 virus was acquiring mutations that impacted the properties of transmissibility, infectivity, and immune evasion, leading to new lineages. In the present study, the frequency of COVID-19 variants was determined during 2021 and 2022 in patients treated in the AUNA healthcare network. Methods The methodology used to detect mutations and identify variants was the Allplex™ SARS-CoV-2 Variants Assay I, II, and VII kit RT-PCR. The frequency of variants was presented by epidemiological weeks. Results In total, 544 positive samples were evaluated, where the Delta, Omicron, and Gamma variants were identified. The Delta variant was found in 242 (44.5%) patients between epidemiological weeks 39 and 52 in 2021. In the case of Gamma, it was observed in 8 (1.5%) patients at weeks 39, 41, 43, 45, and 46 of 2021. The Omicron variant was the most frequent with 289 (53.1%) patients during weeks 49 to 52 of 2021 and 1 to 22 of 2022. During weeks 1 through 22 of 2022, it was possible to discriminate between BA. 1 (n = 32) and BA.2 (n = 82). Conclusion The rapid identification of COVID-19 variants through the RT-PCR methodology contributes to timely epidemiological surveillance, as well as appropriate patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea C. Gomez
- Centro de Investigación Básica y Translacional, AUNA IDEAS, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Alejandra Zevallos
- Escuela Profesional de Medicina Humana, Universidad Privada San Juan Bautista, Lima, Peru
| | - Karen Ocampo
- Laboratorios AUNA, Área de Biología Molecular, Lima, Peru
| | - Diana Torres
- Laboratorios AUNA, Área de Biología Molecular, Lima, Peru
- Escuela Profesional de Medicina Humana, Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener, Lima, Peru
| | - Joseph A. Pinto
- Centro de Investigación Básica y Translacional, AUNA IDEAS, Lima, Peru
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18
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Zhang L, Li J. Molecular Dynamics Simulations on Spike Protein Mutants Binding with Human β Defensin Type 2. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:415-428. [PMID: 38189674 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c05460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Human β defensin type 2 (hBD-2), a cationic cysteine-rich peptide secreted from the human innate immune system, can bind Spike-RBD at the same site as receptor ACE2, thus blocking viral entry into ACE2-expressing cells. In order to find out the impact of CoV-2 mutations on hBD-2's antiviral activity, it is important to investigate the binding and interaction of hBD-2 with RBD mutants. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations were conducted on typical RBD mutants, including N501Y, E484K, P479S, T478I, S477N, N439K, K417N, and N501Y-E484K-K417N, binding with hBD-2. Starting from the stable binding structure of hBD-2 and wt-RBD and ClusPro and HADDOCK docking-predicted initial structures, the RBD variants bound with hBD-2 simulations were set up, and NAMD simulations were conducted. Based on the structure and dynamics analysis, it was found that most RBD variants can still form a similar number of hydrogen bonds with hBD-2, in addition to having a similar-sized buried surface area (BSA) and a similar binding interface to the RBD wildtype. However, the RBD triple mutant formed a less stable binding structure with hBD-2 than other variants. Additionally, the free energy perturbation (FEP) method was applied to calculate the contribution of key mutant residues to the binding and the free energy change caused by the mutations. The result shows that N439K, K417N, and the trimutation increase the binding free energy of RBD with hBD-2; thus, RBD should bind less stably with hBD-2. E484K decreases the binding free energy, thus it should bind more stably with hBD-2, while N501Y, S477N, T478I, and P479S almost do not change the binding free energy with hBD-2. The MM-GBSA method predicted the binding interaction energy which shows that the trimutant should be able to escape the binding with hBD-2 but N501Y should not. The result can provide insight into understanding the functional mechanism of hBD-2 combating SARS-CoV-2 mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Zhang
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
| | - Jadeson Li
- Newton North High School, 457 Walnut Street, Newton, Massachusetts 02460, United States
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19
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Ling-Hu T, Simons LM, Dean TJ, Rios-Guzman E, Caputo MT, Alisoltani A, Qi C, Malczynski M, Blanke T, Jennings LJ, Ison MG, Achenbach CJ, Larkin PM, Kaul KL, Lorenzo-Redondo R, Ozer EA, Hultquist JF. Integration of individualized and population-level molecular epidemiology data to model COVID-19 outcomes. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101361. [PMID: 38232695 PMCID: PMC10829796 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with enhanced transmissibility and immune escape have emerged periodically throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but the impact of these variants on disease severity has remained unclear. In this single-center, retrospective cohort study, we examined the association between SARS-CoV-2 clade and patient outcome over a two-year period in Chicago, Illinois. Between March 2020 and March 2022, 14,252 residual diagnostic specimens were collected from SARS-CoV-2-positive inpatients and outpatients alongside linked clinical and demographic metadata, of which 2,114 were processed for viral whole-genome sequencing. When controlling for patient demographics and vaccination status, several viral clades were associated with risk for hospitalization, but this association was negated by the inclusion of population-level confounders, including case count, sampling bias, and shifting standards of care. These data highlight the importance of integrating non-virological factors into disease severity and outcome models for the accurate assessment of patient risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ted Ling-Hu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Northwestern University Havey Institute for Global Health, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Lacy M Simons
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Northwestern University Havey Institute for Global Health, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Taylor J Dean
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Northwestern University Havey Institute for Global Health, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Estefany Rios-Guzman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Northwestern University Havey Institute for Global Health, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Matthew T Caputo
- Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Arghavan Alisoltani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Northwestern University Havey Institute for Global Health, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Chao Qi
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Michael Malczynski
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Timothy Blanke
- Diagnostic Molecular Biology Laboratory, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Lawrence J Jennings
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Michael G Ison
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Chad J Achenbach
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Paige M Larkin
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Northshore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
| | - Karen L Kaul
- Department of Pathology, Northshore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
| | - Ramon Lorenzo-Redondo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Northwestern University Havey Institute for Global Health, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Egon A Ozer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Northwestern University Havey Institute for Global Health, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Judd F Hultquist
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Northwestern University Havey Institute for Global Health, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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20
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Anand A, Long C, Chandran K. NYC metropolitan wastewater reveals links between SARS-CoV-2 amino acid mutations and disease outcomes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:167971. [PMID: 37914132 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Since late 2020, diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants with enhanced infectivity and transmissibility have emerged. In contrast to the focus on amino acid mutations in the spike protein, mutations in non-spike proteins and their associated impacts remain relatively understudied. New York City metropolitan wastewater revealed over 60 % of the most frequently occurring amino acid mutations in regions outside the spike protein. Strikingly, ~50 % of the mutations detected herein remain uncharacterized for functional impacts. Our results suggest that there are several understudied mutations within non-spike proteins N, ORF1a, ORF1b, ORF9b, and ORF9c, that could increase transmissibility, and infectivity among human populations. We also demonstrate significant correlations of P314L, D614G, T95I, G50E, G50R, G204R, R203K, G662S, P10S, and P13L with documented mortality rates, hospitalization rates, and percent positivity suggesting that amino acid mutations are likely to be indicators of COVID-19 infection outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Anand
- Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, United States of America
| | - Chenghua Long
- Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 500 W. 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, United States of America
| | - Kartik Chandran
- Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 500 W. 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, United States of America.
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21
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Zaidi AK, Singh RB. Epidemiology of COVID-19. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2024; 202:25-38. [PMID: 38237988 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
This chapter provides a detailed exploration of the epidemiology of COVID-19, focusing on several key aspects that offer valuable insights into the disease progression. A comprehensive comparison is made between the three related coronaviruses: SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, elucidating their similarities and differences in terms of transmission dynamics, clinical presentation, laboratory and radiological findings, infection mechanisms, and mortality rates. The concept of herd immunity is then discussed, exploring its relevance and potential implications for controlling the spread of COVID-19. Next, the chapter delves into the changing epidemiology of the disease, examining how various factors such as human behavior, public health interventions, and viral mutations have influenced its transmission patterns and severity over time. Finally, the timelines and evolution of COVID-19 are outlined, tracing the origins of the virus, its rapid global spread, and the emergence of new variants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rohan Bir Singh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United State; Department of Population, Policy and Practice, Greater Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, United Kingdom; Discipline of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Australia
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22
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Ulrichs T, Rolland M, Wu J, Nunes MC, El Guerche-Séblain C, Chit A. Changing epidemiology of COVID-19: potential future impact on vaccines and vaccination strategies. Expert Rev Vaccines 2024; 23:510-522. [PMID: 38656834 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2024.2346589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION COVID-19 was an unprecedented challenge worldwide; however, disease epidemiology has evolved, and COVID-19 no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. Nonetheless, COVID-19 remains a global threat and uncertainties remain, including definition of the end of the pandemic and transition to endemicity, and understanding true rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection/transmission. AREAS COVERED Six international experts convened (April 2023) to interpret changing COVID-19 epidemiology and public health challenges. We report the panel's recommendations and knowledge gaps in COVID-19 epidemiology, SARS-CoV-2 evolution, and future vaccination strategies, informed by peer-reviewed publications, surveillance data, health authority assessments, and clinical experience. EXPERT OPINION High population SARS-CoV-2 immunity indicates the likely end to the pandemic's acute phase. Continued emergence of variants/sublineages that can evade the vaccine-induced antibody response are likely, but widespread immunity reduces the risk of disease severity. Continued surveillance is required to capture transition to endemicity, seasonality, and emergence of novel variants/sublineages, to inform future vaccination strategies. COVID-19 vaccination should be integrated into routine vaccination programs throughout life. Co-circulation with other respiratory viruses should be monitored to avoid a combined peak, which could overrun healthcare systems. Effective, combined vaccines and improved education may help overcome vaccine hesitancy/booster fatigue and increase vaccination uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo Ulrichs
- Department of Global Health, Akkon University for Human Sciences, Berlin, Germany
| | - Morgane Rolland
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
- Viral Genomics Section & Systems Serology Core Laboratory, Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jianhong Wu
- York Emergency Mitigation, Engagement, Response, and Governance Institute, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Marta C Nunes
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon, Lyon, France
- University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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23
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So RTY, Chu DKW, Hui KPY, Mok CKP, Shum MHH, Sanyal S, Nicholls JM, Ho JCW, Cheung MC, Ng KC, Yeung HW, Chan MCW, Poon LLM, Zhao J, Lam TTY, Peiris M. Amino acid substitution L232F in non-structural protein 6 identified as a possible human-adaptive mutation in clade B MERS coronaviruses. J Virol 2023; 97:e0136923. [PMID: 38038429 PMCID: PMC10734512 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01369-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Viral host adaptation plays an important role in inter-species transmission of coronaviruses and influenza viruses. Multiple human-adaptive mutations have been identified in influenza viruses but not so far in MERS-CoV that circulates widely in dromedary camels in the Arabian Peninsula leading to zoonotic transmission. Here, we analyzed clade B MERS-CoV sequences and identified an amino acid substitution L232F in nsp6 that repeatedly occurs in human MERS-CoV. Using a loss-of-function reverse genetics approach, we found the nsp6 L232F conferred increased viral replication competence in vitro, in cultures of the upper human respiratory tract ex vivo, and in lungs of mice infected in vivo. Our results showed that nsp6 L232F may be an adaptive mutation associated with zoonotic transmission of MERS-CoV. This study highlighted the capacity of MERS-CoV to adapt to transmission to humans and also the need for continued surveillance of MERS-CoV in camels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ray T. Y. So
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Daniel K. W. Chu
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
- UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kenrie P. Y. Hui
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Chris K. P. Mok
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Marcus H. H. Shum
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Sumana Sanyal
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - John M. Nicholls
- Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - John C. W. Ho
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Man-chun Cheung
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Ka-chun Ng
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Hin-Wo Yeung
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Michael C. W. Chan
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Leo L. M. Poon
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Jincun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Tommy T. Y. Lam
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Malik Peiris
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
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24
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Mandal M, Mandal S. Spatiotemporal genome diversity of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater: a two-year global epidemiological study. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 196:44. [PMID: 38102322 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12228-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater surveillance locally and globally is important for the investigation of the molecular epidemiological features of SARS-CoV-2 in the environment. The current study investigated the genomic diversity and mutation profile of SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater for the period spanning COVID-19 pandemic up to December, 2022. A total of 3618 complete SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from waste water samples submitted to the GISAID database were retrieved. The SARS-CoV-2 sequences were subjected to pairwise alignment against reference, followed by clade and lineage assignment (based on Nextstrain, GISAID and Pango), distance metric phylogenetic analysis, and detection of substitution mutations. Following GISAID, Nextstrain, and Pango nomenclatures, an overall agreement in clade and lineage determination in wastewater samples was observed. There was successive appearance, dissemination, and disappearance of SARS-CoV-2 lineages along time in wastewater. The SARS-CoV-2 genomes from wastewater were clustered into the variants of concern (VOC) as Alpha GRY (B.1.1.7 + Q.7), Delta GK (B.1.617.2 + AY.*), and Omicron GRA (BA.1*, BA.2* + B.1.1.529, BA.5*). The evolutionary rate was 9.63e-04 substitutions/site/year for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. B.1.1.7 was less prevalent than B.1.617.2 in 2021, appeared in succession, and BA.1, BA.2, BA.5 were serially detected in 2022, the latter strain continued to persist in wastewater. The N501Y, E484K/Q, K417N/T, L452R, T478K spike substitutions remained dominant attribute of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. The study underlines the importance of wastewater surveillance for enumerating spatiotemporal diversity of SARS-CoV-2 variants and mutations, which might pave the way for novel antiviral and vaccine designing towards management and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manisha Mandal
- Department of Physiology, MGM Medical College, Kishanganj, 855107, India
| | - Shyamapada Mandal
- Department of Zoology, University of Gour Banga, Malda, 732103, West Bengal, India.
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25
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y Castro TR, Piccoli BC, Vieira AA, Casarin BC, Tessele LF, Salvato RS, Gregianini TS, Martins LG, Resende PC, Pereira EC, Moreira FRR, de Jesus JG, Seerig AP, Lobato MAO, de Campos MMA, Goularte JS, da Silva MS, Demoliner M, Filippi M, Pereira VMAG, Schwarzbold AV, Spilki FR, Trindade PA. Introduction, Dispersal, and Predominance of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: A Retrospective Analysis. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2938. [PMID: 38138081 PMCID: PMC10745878 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome can alter the virus' fitness, leading to the emergence of variants of concern (VOC). In Brazil, the Gamma variant dominated the pandemic in the first half of 2021, and from June onwards, the first cases of Delta infection were documented. Here, we investigate the introduction and dispersal of the Delta variant in the RS state by sequencing 1077 SARS-CoV-2-positive samples from June to October 2021. Of these samples, 34.7% were identified as Gamma and 65.3% as Delta. Notably, 99.2% of Delta sequences were clustered within the 21J lineage, forming a significant Brazilian clade. The estimated clock rate was 5.97 × 10-4 substitutions per site per year. The Delta variant was first reported on 17 June in the Vinhedos Basalto microregion and rapidly spread, accounting for over 70% of cases within nine weeks. Despite this, the number of cases and deaths remained stable, possibly due to vaccination, prior infections, and the continued mandatory mask use. In conclusion, our study provides insights into the Delta variant circulating in the RS state, highlighting the importance of genomic surveillance for monitoring viral evolution, even when the impact of new variants may be less severe in a given region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaís Regina y Castro
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Bioinformática Aplicadas a Microbiologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Bruna C. Piccoli
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Bioinformática Aplicadas a Microbiologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Andressa A. Vieira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Bioinformática Aplicadas a Microbiologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Bruna C. Casarin
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Bioinformática Aplicadas a Microbiologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Luíza F. Tessele
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Bioinformática Aplicadas a Microbiologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Richard S. Salvato
- Centro Estadual de Vigilância em Saúde, Secretaria Estadual da Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul (CEVS/SES-RS), Porto Alegre 90610-000, Brazil
| | - Tatiana S. Gregianini
- Centro Estadual de Vigilância em Saúde, Secretaria Estadual da Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul (CEVS/SES-RS), Porto Alegre 90610-000, Brazil
| | - Leticia G. Martins
- Centro Estadual de Vigilância em Saúde, Secretaria Estadual da Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul (CEVS/SES-RS), Porto Alegre 90610-000, Brazil
| | - Paola Cristina Resende
- Laboratório de Vírus Respiratórios e Sarampo, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Elisa C. Pereira
- Laboratório de Vírus Respiratórios e Sarampo, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Filipe R. R. Moreira
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-853, Brazil
| | - Jaqueline G. de Jesus
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-220, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Seerig
- Vigilância em Saúde, Secretaria Municipal da Saúde de Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97060-001, Brazil
| | - Marcos Antonio O. Lobato
- Departamento de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Marli M. A. de Campos
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Juliana S. Goularte
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular, Universidade FEEVALE, Novo Hamburgo 93510-235, Brazil
| | - Mariana S. da Silva
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular, Universidade FEEVALE, Novo Hamburgo 93510-235, Brazil
| | - Meriane Demoliner
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular, Universidade FEEVALE, Novo Hamburgo 93510-235, Brazil
| | - Micheli Filippi
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular, Universidade FEEVALE, Novo Hamburgo 93510-235, Brazil
| | | | - Alexandre V. Schwarzbold
- Departamento de Clínica Médica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Fernando R. Spilki
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular, Universidade FEEVALE, Novo Hamburgo 93510-235, Brazil
| | - Priscila A. Trindade
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Bioinformática Aplicadas a Microbiologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil
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26
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Tang CY, Li T, Haynes TA, McElroy JA, Ritter D, Hammer RD, Sampson C, Webby R, Hang J, Wan XF. Rural populations facilitated early SARS-CoV-2 evolution and transmission in Missouri, USA. NPJ VIRUSES 2023; 1:7. [PMID: 38186942 PMCID: PMC10769004 DOI: 10.1038/s44298-023-00005-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
In the United States, rural populations comprise 60 million individuals and suffered from high COVID-19 disease burdens. Despite this, surveillance efforts are biased toward urban centers. Consequently, how rurally circulating SARS-CoV-2 viruses contribute toward emerging variants remains poorly understood. In this study, we aim to investigate the role of rural communities in the evolution and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during the early pandemic. We collected 544 urban and 435 rural COVID-19-positive respiratory specimens from an overall vaccine-naïve population in Southwest Missouri between July and December 2020. Genomic analyses revealed 53 SARS-CoV-2 Pango lineages in our study samples, with 14 of these lineages identified only in rural samples. Phylodynamic analyses showed that frequent bi-directional diffusions occurred between rural and urban communities in Southwest Missouri, and that four out of seven Missouri rural-origin lineages spread globally. Further analyses revealed that the nucleocapsid protein (N):R203K/G204R paired substitutions, which were detected disproportionately across multiple Pango lineages, were more associated with urban than rural sequences. Positive selection was detected at N:204 among rural samples but was not evident in urban samples, suggesting that viruses may encounter distinct selection pressures in rural versus urban communities. This study demonstrates that rural communities may be a crucial source of SARS-CoV-2 evolution and transmission, highlighting the need to expand surveillance and resources to rural populations for COVID-19 mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Y. Tang
- Center for Influenza and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- These authors contributed equally: Cynthia Y. Tang, Tao Li
| | - Tao Li
- Viral Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
- These authors contributed equally: Cynthia Y. Tang, Tao Li
| | - Tricia A. Haynes
- Center for Influenza and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Jane A. McElroy
- Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouriś, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Detlef Ritter
- Anatomic Pathology & Clinical Pathology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Richard D. Hammer
- Anatomic Pathology & Clinical Pathology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | | | - Richard Webby
- Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jun Hang
- Viral Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Xiu-Feng Wan
- Center for Influenza and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, College of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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27
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Park C, Hwang IY, Yan SLS, Vimonpatranon S, Wei D, Van Ryk D, Girard A, Cicala C, Arthos J, Kehrl JH. Murine Alveolar Macrophages Rapidly Accumulate Intranasally Administered SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein leading to Neutrophil Recruitment and Damage. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.13.532446. [PMID: 37090605 PMCID: PMC10120727 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.13.532446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
The trimeric SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein mediates viral attachment facilitating cell entry. Most COVID-19 vaccines direct mammalian cells to express the Spike protein or deliver it directly via inoculation to engender a protective immune response. The trafficking and cellular tropism of the Spike protein in vivo and its impact on immune cells remains incompletely elucidated. In this study we inoculated mice intranasally, intravenously, and subcutaneously with fluorescently labeled recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. Using flow cytometry and imaging techniques we analyzed its localization, immune cell tropism, and acute functional impact. Intranasal administration led to rapid lung alveolar macrophage uptake, pulmonary vascular leakage, and neutrophil recruitment and damage. When injected near the inguinal lymph node medullary, but not subcapsular macrophages, captured the protein, while scrotal injection recruited and fragmented neutrophils. Wide-spread endothelial and liver Kupffer cell uptake followed intravenous administration. Human peripheral blood cells B cells, neutrophils, monocytes, and myeloid dendritic cells all efficiently bound Spike protein. Exposure to the Spike protein enhanced neutrophil NETosis and augmented human macrophage TNF-α and IL-6 production. Human and murine immune cells employed C-type lectin receptors and Siglecs to help capture the Spike protein. This study highlights the potential toxicity of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein for mammalian cells and illustrates the central role for alveolar macrophage in pathogenic protein uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung Park
- B-cell Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Il-Young Hwang
- B-cell Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Serena Li-Sue Yan
- B-cell Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Sinmanus Vimonpatranon
- Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Retrovirology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences – United States Component, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Danlan Wei
- Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Don Van Ryk
- Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alexandre Girard
- Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Claudia Cicala
- Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - James Arthos
- Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - John H. Kehrl
- B-cell Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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Lin J, Anjum Huma F, Irfan A, Ali SS, Waheed Y, Mohammad A, Munir M, Khan A, Wei DQ. Structural plasticity of omicron BA.5 and BA.2.75 for enhanced ACE-dependent entry into cells. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:10762-10773. [PMID: 36541923 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2158944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The current study investigated the binding variations among the wilt type, Omicron sub-variants BA.2.75 and BA.5, using protein-protein docking, protein structural graphs (P SG), and molecular simulation methods. HADDOCK predicted docking scores and dissociation constant (KD) revealed tighter binding of these sub-variants in contrast to the WT. Further investigation revealed variations in the hub residues, protein sub-networks, and GlobalMetapath in these variants as compared to the WT. A very unusual dynamic for BA.2.75 and BA.5 was observed, and secondary structure transition can also be witnessed in the loops (44-505). The results show that the flexibility of these three loops is increased by the mutations as an allosteric effect and thus enhances the chances of bonding with the nearby residues to connect and form a stable connection. Furthermore, the additional hydrogen bonding contacts steer the robust binding of these variants in contrast to the wild type. The total binding free energy for the wild type was calculated to be -61.38 kcal/mol, while for BA.2.75 and BA.5 variants the T BE was calculated to be -70.42 kcal/mol and 69.78 kcal/mol, respectively. We observed that the binding of BA.2.75 is steered by the electrostatic interactions while the BA.5 additional contacts are due to the vdW (Van der Waal) energy. From these findings, it can be observed the Spike (S) protein is undergoing structural adjustments to bind efficiently to the hACE2 (human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) receptor and, in turn, increase entry to the host cells. The current study will aid the development of structure-based drugs against these variants.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqi Lin
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Aiza Irfan
- Rawalpindi Medical University, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Syed Shujait Ali
- Center for Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Swat, Swat, Pakistan
| | - Yasir Waheed
- Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Anwar Mohammad
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Muhammad Munir
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Abbas Khan
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biological Statistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Zhongjing Research and Industrialization Institute of Chinese Medicine, Zhongguancun Scientific Park, Nanyang, Henan, P.R. China
| | - Dong-Qing Wei
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biological Statistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Zhongjing Research and Industrialization Institute of Chinese Medicine, Zhongguancun Scientific Park, Nanyang, Henan, P.R. China
- Peng Cheng Laboratory, Nashan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R China
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He S, Gou H, Zhou Y, Wu C, Ren X, Wu X, Guan G, Jin B, Huang J, Jin Z, Zhao T. The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein suppresses innate immunity by remodeling stress granules to atypical foci. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23269. [PMID: 37889852 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202201973rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Viruses deploy multiple strategies to suppress the host innate immune response to facilitate viral replication and pathogenesis. Typical G3BP1+ stress granules (SGs) are usually formed in host cells after virus infection to restrain viral translation and to stimulate innate immunity. Thus, viruses have evolved various mechanisms to inhibit SGs or to repurpose SG components such as G3BP1. Previous studies showed that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection inhibited host immunity during the early stage of COVID-19. However, the precise mechanism is not yet well understood. Here we showed that the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (SARS2-N) protein suppressed the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-induced innate immune response, concomitant with inhibition of SGs and the induction of atypical SARS2-N+ /G3BP1+ foci (N+ foci). The SARS2-N protein-induced formation of N+ foci was dependent on the ability of its ITFG motif to hijack G3BP1, which contributed to suppress the innate immune response. Importantly, SARS2-N protein facilitated viral replication by inducing the formation of N+ foci. Viral mutations within SARS2-N protein that impair the formation of N+ foci are associated with the inability of the SARS2-N protein to suppress the immune response. Taken together, our study has revealed a novel mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 suppresses the innate immune response via induction of atypical N+ foci. We think that this is a critical strategy for viral pathogenesis and has potential therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su He
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hongwei Gou
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
- School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yulin Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chunxiu Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xinxin Ren
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
- School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiajunpeng Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
- School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guanwen Guan
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Boxing Jin
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinhua Huang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
- School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhigang Jin
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tiejun Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
- School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Dadonaite B, Brown J, McMahon TE, Farrell AG, Asarnow D, Stewart C, Logue J, Murrell B, Chu HY, Veesler D, Bloom JD. Full-spike deep mutational scanning helps predict the evolutionary success of SARS-CoV-2 clades. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.13.566961. [PMID: 38014024 PMCID: PMC10680755 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.13.566961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 variants acquire mutations in spike that promote immune evasion and impact other properties that contribute to viral fitness such as ACE2 receptor binding and cell entry. Knowledge of how mutations affect these spike phenotypes can provide insight into the current and potential future evolution of the virus. Here we use pseudovirus deep mutational scanning to measure how >9,000 mutations across the full XBB.1.5 and BA.2 spikes affect ACE2 binding, cell entry, or escape from human sera. We find that mutations outside the receptor-binding domain (RBD) have meaningfully impacted ACE2 binding during SARS-CoV-2 evolution. We also measure how mutations to the XBB.1.5 spike affect neutralization by serum from individuals who recently had SARS-CoV-2 infections. The strongest serum escape mutations are in the RBD at sites 357, 420, 440, 456, and 473-however, the antigenic impacts of these mutations vary across individuals. We also identify strong escape mutations outside the RBD; however many of them decrease ACE2 binding, suggesting they act by modulating RBD conformation. Notably, the growth rates of human SARS-CoV-2 clades can be explained in substantial part by the measured effects of mutations on spike phenotypes, suggesting our data could enable better prediction of viral evolution.
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Kim D, Kim J, Kim M, Park H, Park S, Maharjan S, Baek K, Kang BM, Kim S, Park MS, Lee Y, Kwon HJ. Analysis of spike protein variants evolved in a novel in vivo long-term replication model for SARS-CoV-2. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1280686. [PMID: 38029235 PMCID: PMC10655031 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1280686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 mutations have increased over time, resulting in the emergence of several variants of concern. Persistent infection is assumed to be involved in the evolution of the variants. Calu-3 human lung cancer cells persistently grow without apoptosis and release low virus titers after infection. Methods We established a novel in vivo long-term replication model using xenografts of Calu-3 human lung cancer cells in immunodeficient mice. Virus replication in the tumor was monitored for 30 days and occurrence of mutations in the viral genome was determined by whole-genome deep sequencing. Viral isolates with mutations were selected after plaque forming assays and their properties were determined in cells and in K18-hACE2 mice. Results After infection with parental SARS-CoV-2, viruses were found in the tumor tissues for up to 30 days and acquired various mutations, predominantly in the spike (S) protein, some of which increased while others fluctuated for 30 days. Three viral isolates with different combination of mutations produced higher virus titers than the parental virus in Calu-3 cells without cytopathic effects. In K18-hACE2 mice, the variants were less lethal than the parental virus. Infection with each variant induced production of cross-reactive antibodies to the receptor binding domain of parental SARS-CoV-2 S protein and provided protective immunity against subsequent challenge with parental virus. Discussion These results suggest that most of the SARS-CoV-2 variants acquired mutations promoting host adaptation in the Calu-3 xenograft mice. This model can be used in the future to further study SARS-CoV-2 variants upon long-term replication in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongbum Kim
- Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinsoo Kim
- Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Minyoung Kim
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Heedo Park
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Vaccine Innovation Center, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangkyu Park
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sony Maharjan
- Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeongbin Baek
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo Min Kang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Suyeon Kim
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Man-Seong Park
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Vaccine Innovation Center, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Younghee Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Joo Kwon
- Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
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Pillay A, Yeola A, Tea F, Denkova M, Houston S, Burrell R, Merheb V, Lee FXZ, Lopez JA, Moran L, Jadhav A, Sterling K, Lai CL, Vitagliano TL, Aggarwal A, Catchpoole D, Wood N, Phan TG, Nanan R, Hsu P, Turville SG, Britton PN, Brilot F. Infection and Vaccine Induced Spike Antibody Responses Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern in COVID-19-Naïve Children and Adults. J Clin Immunol 2023; 43:1706-1723. [PMID: 37405544 PMCID: PMC10661752 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-023-01540-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Although a more efficient adaptive humoral immune response has been proposed to underlie the usually favorable outcome of pediatric COVID-19, the breadth of viral and vaccine cross-reactivity toward the ever-mutating Spike protein among variants of concern (VOCs) has not yet been compared between children and adults. We assessed antibodies to conformational Spike in COVID-19-naïve children and adults vaccinated by BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1, and naturally infected with SARS-CoV-2 Early Clade, Delta, and Omicron. Sera were analyzed against Spike including naturally occurring VOCs Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.5, BQ.1.1, BA2.75.2, and XBB.1, and variants of interest Epsilon, Kappa, Eta, D.2, and artificial mutant Spikes. There was no notable difference between breadth and longevity of antibody against VOCs in children and adults. Vaccinated individuals displayed similar immunoreactivity profiles across variants compared with naturally infected individuals. Delta-infected patients had an enhanced cross-reactivity toward Delta and earlier VOCs compared to patients infected by Early Clade SARS-CoV-2. Although Omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.5, BQ.1.1, BA2.75.2, and XBB.1 antibody titers were generated after Omicron infection, cross-reactive binding against Omicron subvariants was reduced across all infection, immunization, and age groups. Some mutations, such as 498R and 501Y, epistatically combined to enhance cross-reactive binding, but could not fully compensate for antibody-evasive mutations within the Omicron subvariants tested. Our results reveal important molecular features central to the generation of high antibody titers and broad immunoreactivity that should be considered in future vaccine design and global serosurveillance in the context of limited vaccine boosters available to the pediatric population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleha Pillay
- Brain Autoimmunity Group, Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Avani Yeola
- Brain Autoimmunity Group, Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Fiona Tea
- Brain Autoimmunity Group, Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Martina Denkova
- Brain Autoimmunity Group, Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Samuel Houston
- Brain Autoimmunity Group, Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rebecca Burrell
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Vera Merheb
- Brain Autoimmunity Group, Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Fiona X Z Lee
- Brain Autoimmunity Group, Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Joseph A Lopez
- Brain Autoimmunity Group, Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lilly Moran
- Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- National Center for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ajay Jadhav
- Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- National Center for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Katrina Sterling
- Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- National Center for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Catherine L Lai
- Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tennille L Vitagliano
- Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Anupriya Aggarwal
- The Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dan Catchpoole
- Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nicholas Wood
- Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- National Center for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tri Giang Phan
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- St Vincent's Healthcare Clinical Campus, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ralph Nanan
- Charles Perkins Center and Sydney Medical School Nepean, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Peter Hsu
- Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Allergy and Immunology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stuart G Turville
- The Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Philip N Britton
- Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Fabienne Brilot
- Brain Autoimmunity Group, Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Islam MA, Marzan AA, Arman MS, Shahi S, Sakif TI, Hossain M, Islam T, Hoque MN. Some common deleterious mutations are shared in SARS-CoV-2 genomes from deceased COVID-19 patients across continents. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18644. [PMID: 37903828 PMCID: PMC10616235 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45517-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The identification of deleterious mutations in different variants of SARS-CoV-2 and their roles in the morbidity of COVID-19 patients has yet to be thoroughly investigated. To unravel the spectrum of mutations and their effects within SARS-CoV-2 genomes, we analyzed 5,724 complete genomes from deceased COVID-19 patients sourced from the GISAID database. This analysis was conducted using the Nextstrain platform, applying a generalized time-reversible model for evolutionary phylogeny. These genomes were compared to the reference strain (hCoV-19/Wuhan/WIV04/2019) using MAFFT v7.470. Our findings revealed that SARS-CoV-2 genomes from deceased individuals belonged to 21 Nextstrain clades, with clade 20I (Alpha variant) being the most predominant, followed by clade 20H (Beta variant) and clade 20J (Gamma variant). The majority of SARS-CoV-2 genomes from deceased patients (33.4%) were sequenced in North America, while the lowest percentage (0.98%) came from Africa. The 'G' clade was dominant in the SARS-CoV-2 genomes of Asian, African, and North American regions, while the 'GRY' clade prevailed in Europe. In our analysis, we identified 35,799 nucleotide (NT) mutations throughout the genome, with the highest frequency (11,402 occurrences) found in the spike protein. Notably, we observed 4150 point-specific amino acid (AA) mutations in SARS-CoV-2 genomes, with D614G (20%) and N501Y (14%) identified as the top two deleterious mutations in the spike protein on a global scale. Furthermore, we detected five common deleterious AA mutations, including G18V, W45S, I33T, P30L, and Q418H, which play a key role in defining each clade of SARS-CoV-2. Our novel findings hold potential value for genomic surveillance, enabling the monitoring of the evolving pattern of SARS-CoV-2 infection, its emerging variants, and their impact on the development of effective vaccination and control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Aminul Islam
- Advanced Molecular Lab, Department of Microbiology, President Abdul Hamid Medical College, Karimganj, Kishoreganj, 2310, Bangladesh.
- COVID-19 Diagnostic Lab, Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, 3814, Bangladesh.
| | - Abdullah Al Marzan
- Advanced Molecular Lab, Department of Microbiology, President Abdul Hamid Medical College, Karimganj, Kishoreganj, 2310, Bangladesh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, Bangladesh
| | - Md Sakil Arman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, Bangladesh
| | - Shatila Shahi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, Bangladesh
| | - Tahsin Islam Sakif
- Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506-6109, USA
| | - Maqsud Hossain
- University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, LE12 5RD, Loughborough, NG7 2RD, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Tofazzal Islam
- Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (IBGE), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, 1706, Bangladesh.
| | - M Nazmul Hoque
- Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Reproductive Health, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, 1706, Bangladesh.
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Franco-Miraglia F, Martins-Freitas B, Doi AM, Santana RAF, Pinho JRR, Avelino-Silva VI. Associations of SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold values with age, gender, sample collection setting, and pandemic period. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2023; 65:e53. [PMID: 37878970 PMCID: PMC10588986 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946202365053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cycle threshold (Ct) values in COVID-19 reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests estimate the viral load in biological samples. Studies have investigated variables associated with SARS-CoV-2 viral load, aiming to identify factors associated with higher transmissibility. Using the results from tests performed between May/2020-July/2022 obtained from the database of a referent hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, we investigated associations between Ct values and patient's age, gender, sample collection setting and pandemic period according to the predominant SARS-CoV-2 variant locally. We also examined variations in Ct values, COVID-19 incidence, mortality, and vaccination coverage over time. The study sample included 42,741 tests. Gender was not significantly associated with Ct values. Age, sample collection setting and the pandemic period were significantly associated with Ct values even after adjustment to the multivariable model. Results showed lower Ct values in older groups, during the Gamma and Delta periods, and in samples collected in emergency units; and higher Ct values in children under 10 years old, home-based tests, during the Omicron period. We found evidence of a linear trend in the association between age and Ct values, with Ct values decreasing as age increases. We found no clear temporal associations between Ct values and local indicators of COVID-19 incidence, mortality, or vaccination between February/2020-November/2022. Our findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 Ct values, a proxy for viral load and transmissibility, can be influenced by demographic and epidemiological variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Franco-Miraglia
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Martins-Freitas
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - André Mario Doi
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Vivian I. Avelino-Silva
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Rucker G, Qin H, Zhang L. Structure, dynamics and free energy studies on the effect of point mutations on SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding with ACE2 receptor. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289432. [PMID: 37796794 PMCID: PMC10553274 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to infect people worldwide, and the virus continues to evolve in significant ways which can pose challenges to the efficiency of available vaccines and therapeutic drugs and cause future pandemic. Therefore, it is important to investigate the binding and interaction of ACE2 with different RBD variants. A comparative study using all-atom MD simulations was conducted on ACE2 binding with 8 different RBD variants, including N501Y, E484K, P479S, T478I, S477N, N439K, K417N and N501Y-E484K-K417N on RBD. Based on the RMSD, RMSF, and DSSP results, overall the binding of RBD variants with ACE2 is stable, and the secondary structure of RBD and ACE2 are consistent after the point mutation. Besides that, a similar buried surface area, a consistent binding interface and a similar amount of hydrogen bonds formed between RBD and ACE2 although the exact residue pairs on the binding interface were modified. The change of binding free energy from point mutation was predicted using the free energy perturbation (FEP) method. It is found that N501Y, N439K, and K417N can strengthen the binding of RBD with ACE2, while E484K and P479S weaken the binding, and S477N and T478I have negligible effect on the binding. Point mutations modified the dynamic correlation of residues in RBD based on the dihedral angle covariance matrix calculation. Doing dynamic network analysis, a common intrinsic network community extending from the tail of RBD to central, then to the binding interface region was found, which could communicate the dynamics in the binding interface region to the tail thus to the other sections of S protein. The result can supply unique methodology and molecular insight on studying the molecular structure and dynamics of possible future pandemics and design novel drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Rucker
- Chemical Engineering Department, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN, United States of America
| | - Hong Qin
- Computer Science Department, University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, United States of America
| | - Liqun Zhang
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States of America
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Kim IH, No JS, Kim JA, Park AK, Lee H, Kim JM, Lee NJ, Kim CK, Lee CY, Woo S, Lee J, Rhee J, Kim EJ. Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 variants in South Korea between January 2020 and February 2023. Virology 2023; 587:109869. [PMID: 37673001 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2023.109869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has been conducting national genomic surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). To monitor and characterize circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in South Korea, 102,873 oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swab samples collected from patients with confirmed COVID-19 were sequenced, assigned lineages, and phylogenetically analyzed. Each wave followed a pattern of variants emerging first abroad and then spreading domestically. In 2020, B.41 lineage led the first wave, and B.1.497 dominated the second and third waves. In 2021, the fourth wave was driven by Delta (AY.69 and AY.122.5). In 2022, the fifth to seventh waves were dominated by Omicron sub-lineages BA.1/BA.1.1 and BA.2/BA.2.3, BA.5/BA.5.2, and BN.1, sequentially. The KDCA detected and monitored increasing variants in advance prior to large-scale epidemics, but the repeated emergence of new variants could threaten public health again. Therefore, it is important to continue to monitor and characterize emerging and circulating variants through national genomic surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Il-Hwan Kim
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Jin Sun No
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Jeong-Ah Kim
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Ae Kyung Park
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - HyeokJin Lee
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Jeong-Min Kim
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Nam-Joo Lee
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Chi-Kyeong Kim
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Chae Young Lee
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - SangHee Woo
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Jaehee Lee
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - JeeEun Rhee
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Eun-Jin Kim
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, South Korea.
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Zaheer M, Ali N, Javed H, Munir R, Jamil N. Uncovering the impact of SARS-CoV2 spike protein variants on human receptors: A molecular dynamics docking and simulation approach. J Infect Public Health 2023; 16:1544-1555. [PMID: 37566991 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2023.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus, has posed a significant global health threat since its emergence in late 2019. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020, due to its rapid global spread and impact on public health. New variants have raised concerns about their potential impact on the transmission of the virus and the effectiveness of current diagnostic tools, treatments, and vaccines. This study aims to investigate the effect of new variants in Pakistani virus strains on human receptors, specifically ACE2 and NRP1. In-silico analysis provides a powerful tool to analyze the potential impact of new variants on protein structure, function, and interactions. OBJECTIVES The SARS-CoV-2 virus is evolving quickly. After being exposed in Wuhan, SARS-CoV-2 underwent numerous mutations, leading to several variants' emergence. These variants stabilize the interaction of spike protein with human receptors ACE2 and NRP1. The study aims to check the molecular effect of these variants on human receptors using the in-silico approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS We use in-silico mutational tools to analyze new variants in SARS-CoV-2 and to check the molecular interaction of spike protein with human receptors (ACE2 and NRP1). Genomic sequences of 41 SARS-CoV-2 strains were sequenced using Ion Torrent (NGS) and submitted to the GISAID database. Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 sequence trimmed and translated into a protein sequence using ExPasy. We used multiple sequence alignments to check for variants in the spike protein of strains. We utilized mutation tools such as Mupro, SIFT, SNAP2, and Mutpred2.3D structures of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins (wild and mutated) to analyze further the mutations, ACE2 and NRP1 modelled by the ITASSER protein modelling server. Interactions of spike proteins (wild and mutant) analyzed by MD Docking, Simulation, and MMGBSA RESULTS: Variants I210T, V213G, S371F, S373P, T478K, F486V, Y505H, and D796Y were identified in SARS-CoV-2 Pakistani strains' spike protein. Variant Y505H were found to affect protein function. MD Docking, MMGBSA and MD simulation revealed that these variants increased spike protein's binding affinity with human receptors (ACE2 and NRP1). MD simulation revealed that mutated spike protein stabilized earlier than wild when interacting with ACE2 after 40 ns and interaction with NRP1 stabilized after 30 ns for mutated spike protein compared to wild. CONCLUSION These variants in Pakistani strains of SARS-CoV-2 are increasing the stability of spike protein with human receptors. These findings provide insight into how the SARS-CoV-2 virus evolves and adapts to human hosts. This information may help develop strategies to control the virus's spread and develop effective treatments and vaccines in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Zaheer
- Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
| | - Nouman Ali
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Hasnain Javed
- Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan; Primary Secondary Health Care Department, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Rimsha Munir
- Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan; Molecular Geneticist, Hormone Lab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Nazia Jamil
- Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan.
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Volz E. Fitness, growth and transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:724-734. [PMID: 37328556 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00610-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The massive scale of the global SARS-CoV-2 sequencing effort created new opportunities and challenges for understanding SARS-CoV-2 evolution. Rapid detection and assessment of new variants has become one of the principal objectives of genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2. Because of the pace and scale of sequencing, new strategies have been developed for characterizing fitness and transmissibility of emerging variants. In this Review, I discuss a wide range of approaches that have been rapidly developed in response to the public health threat posed by emerging variants, ranging from new applications of classic population genetics models to contemporary synthesis of epidemiological models and phylodynamic analysis. Many of these approaches can be adapted to other pathogens and will have increasing relevance as large-scale pathogen sequencing becomes a regular feature of many public health systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Volz
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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Onigbinde S, Reyes CDG, Fowowe M, Daramola O, Atashi M, Bennett AI, Mechref Y. Variations in O-Glycosylation Patterns Influence Viral Pathogenicity, Infectivity, and Transmissibility in SARS-CoV-2 Variants. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1467. [PMID: 37892149 PMCID: PMC10604390 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The highly glycosylated S protein plays a vital role in host cell invasion, making it the principal target for vaccine development. Differences in mutations observed on the spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 variants may result in distinct glycosylation patterns, thus influencing immunological evasion, infectivity, and transmissibility. The glycans can mask key epitopes on the S1 protein and alter its structural conformation, allowing the virus to escape the immune system. Therefore, we comprehensively characterize O-glycosylation in eleven variants of SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunits to understand the differences observed in the biology of the variants. In-depth characterization was performed with a double digestion strategy and an efficient LC-MS/MS approach. We observed that O-glycosylation is highly conserved across all variants in the region between the NTD and RBD, whereas other domains and regions exhibit variation in O-glycosylation. Notably, omicron has the highest number of O-glycosylation sites on the S1 subunit. Also, omicron has the highest level of sialylation in the RBD and RBM functional motifs. Our findings may shed light on how differences in O-glycosylation impact viral pathogenicity in variants of SARS-CoV-2 and facilitate the development of a robust vaccine with high protective efficacy against the variants of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Yehia Mechref
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (S.O.); (C.D.G.R.); (M.F.); (O.D.); (M.A.); (A.I.B.)
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40
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Carter AR, Clayton GL, Borges MC, Howe LD, Hughes RA, Smith GD, Lawlor DA, Tilling K, Griffith GJ. Time-sensitive testing pressures and COVID-19 outcomes: are socioeconomic inequalities over the first year of the pandemic explained by selection bias? BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1863. [PMID: 37752486 PMCID: PMC10521522 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16767-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are many ways in which selection bias might impact COVID-19 research. Here we focus on selection for receiving a polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) SARS-CoV-2 test and how known changes to selection pressures over time may bias research into COVID-19 infection. METHODS Using UK Biobank (N = 420,231; 55% female; mean age = 66.8 [SD = 8·11]) we estimate the association between socio-economic position (SEP) and (i) being tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection versus not being tested (ii) testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection versus testing negative and (iii) testing negative for SARS-CoV-2 infection versus not being tested. We construct four distinct time-periods between March 2020 and March 2021, representing distinct periods of testing pressures and lockdown restrictions and specify both time-stratified and combined models for each outcome. We explore potential selection bias by examining associations with positive and negative control exposures. RESULTS The association between more disadvantaged SEP and receiving a SARS-CoV-2 test attenuated over time. Compared to individuals with a degree, individuals whose highest educational qualification was a GCSE or equivalent had an OR of 1·27 (95% CI: 1·18 to 1·37) in March-May 2020 and 1·13 (95% CI: 1.·10 to 1·16) in January-March 2021. The magnitude of the association between educational attainment and testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection increased over the same period. For the equivalent comparison, the OR for testing positive increased from 1·25 (95% CI: 1·04 to 1·47), to 1·69 (95% CI: 1·55 to 1·83). We found little evidence of an association between control exposures, and any considered outcome. CONCLUSIONS The association between SEP and SARS-CoV-2 testing changed over time, highlighting the potential of time-specific selection pressures to bias analyses of COVID-19. Positive and negative control analyses suggest that changes in the association between SEP and SARS-CoV-2 infection over time likely reflect true increases in socioeconomic inequalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice R Carter
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Gemma L Clayton
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - M Carolina Borges
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Laura D Howe
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Rachael A Hughes
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - George Davey Smith
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Deborah A Lawlor
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Kate Tilling
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Gareth J Griffith
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.
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Chauhan N, Xiong Y, Ren S, Dwivedy A, Magazine N, Zhou L, Jin X, Zhang T, Cunningham BT, Yao S, Huang W, Wang X. Net-Shaped DNA Nanostructures Designed for Rapid/Sensitive Detection and Potential Inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:20214-20228. [PMID: 35881910 PMCID: PMC9344894 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c04835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We present a net-shaped DNA nanostructure (called "DNA Net" herein) design strategy for selective recognition and high-affinity capture of intact SARS-CoV-2 virions through spatial pattern-matching and multivalent interactions between the aptamers (targeting wild-type spike-RBD) positioned on the DNA Net and the trimeric spike glycoproteins displayed on the viral outer surface. Carrying a designer nanoswitch, the DNA Net-aptamers release fluorescence signals upon virus binding that are easily read with a handheld fluorimeter for a rapid (in 10 min), simple (mix-and-read), sensitive (PCR equivalent), room temperature compatible, and inexpensive (∼$1.26/test) COVID-19 test assay. The DNA Net-aptamers also impede authentic wild-type SARS-CoV-2 infection in cell culture with a near 1 × 103-fold enhancement of the monomeric aptamer. Furthermore, our DNA Net design principle and strategy can be customized to tackle other life-threatening and economically influential viruses like influenza and HIV, whose surfaces carry class-I viral envelope glycoproteins like the SARS-CoV-2 spikes in trimeric forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Chauhan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Nick Holonyak Jr. Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory (HMNTL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Yanyu Xiong
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Shaokang Ren
- Nick Holonyak Jr. Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory (HMNTL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Abhisek Dwivedy
- Nick Holonyak Jr. Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory (HMNTL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Nicholas Magazine
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Lifeng Zhou
- Nick Holonyak Jr. Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory (HMNTL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | | | - Tianyi Zhang
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Brian T. Cunningham
- Nick Holonyak Jr. Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory (HMNTL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | | | - Weishan Huang
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Xing Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Nick Holonyak Jr. Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory (HMNTL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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42
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Scheuermann SE, Goff K, Rowe LA, Beddingfield BJ, Maness NJ. Real-Time Analysis of SARS-CoV-2-Induced Cytolysis Reveals Distinct Variant-Specific Replication Profiles. Viruses 2023; 15:1937. [PMID: 37766343 PMCID: PMC10537736 DOI: 10.3390/v15091937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of each new SARS-CoV-2 variant to evade host humoral immunity is the focus of intense research. Each variant may also harbor unique replication capabilities relevant for disease and transmission. Here, we demonstrate a new approach to assessing viral replication kinetics using real-time cell analysis (RTCA). Virus-induced cell death is measured in real time as changes in electrical impedance through cell monolayers while images are acquired at defined intervals via an onboard microscope and camera. Using this system, we quantified replication kinetics of five clinically important viral variants: WA1/2020 (ancestral), Delta, and Omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.4, and BA.5. Multiple measures proved useful in variant replication comparisons, including the elapsed time to, and the slope at, the maximum rate of cell death. Important findings include significantly weaker replication kinetics of BA.1 by all measures, while BA.5 harbored replication kinetics at or near ancestral levels, suggesting evolution to regain replicative capacity, and both an altered profile of cell killing and enhanced fusogenicity of the Delta variant. Together, these data show that RTCA is a robust method to assess replicative capacity of any given SARS-CoV-2 variant rapidly and quantitatively, which may be useful in assessment of newly emerging variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Scheuermann
- Division of Microbiology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; (S.E.S.); (K.G.); (L.A.R.)
| | - Kelly Goff
- Division of Microbiology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; (S.E.S.); (K.G.); (L.A.R.)
| | - Lori A. Rowe
- Division of Microbiology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; (S.E.S.); (K.G.); (L.A.R.)
| | - Brandon J. Beddingfield
- Division of Microbiology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; (S.E.S.); (K.G.); (L.A.R.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Maness
- Division of Microbiology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; (S.E.S.); (K.G.); (L.A.R.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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Middleton C, Kubatko L. Assessment of positive selection across SARS-CoV-2 variants via maximum likelihood. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291271. [PMID: 37708144 PMCID: PMC10501574 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Study of the genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, particularly with regard to understanding evolution of the virus, is crucial for managing the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, we sample viral genomes from the GISAID repository and use several of the maximum likelihood approaches implemented in PAML, a collection of open source programs for phylogenetic analyses of DNA and protein sequences, to assess evidence for positive selection in the protein-coding regions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Across all major variants identified by June 2021, we find limited evidence for positive selection. In particular, we identify positive selection in a small proportion of sites (5-15%) in the protein-coding region of the spike protein across variants. Most other variants did not show a strong signal for positive selection overall, though there were indications of positive selection in the Delta and Kappa variants for the nucleocapsid protein. We additionally use a forward selection procedure to fit a model that allows branch-specific estimates of selection along a phylogeny relating the variants, and find that there is variation in the selective pressure across variants for the spike protein. Our results highlight the utility of computational approaches for identifying genomic regions under selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Middleton
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States of America
- Division of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Laura Kubatko
- Department of Statistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
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44
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Liu Y, Ye Q. The Key Site Variation and Immune Challenges in SARS-CoV-2 Evolution. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1472. [PMID: 37766148 PMCID: PMC10537874 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11091472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a worldwide public health and economic threat, and virus variation amplifies the difficulty in epidemic prevention and control. The structure of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been studied extensively and is now well defined. The S protein is the most distinguishing feature in terms of infection and immunity, mediating virus entrance and inducing neutralizing antibodies. The S protein and its essential components are also the most promising target to develop vaccines and antibody-based drugs. Therefore, the key site mutation in the S gene is of high interest. Among them, RBD, NTD, and furin cleavage sites are the most mutable regions with the most mutation sites and the most serious consequences for SARS-CoV-2 biological characteristics, including infectivity, pathogenicity, natural immunity, vaccine efficacy, and antibody therapeutics. We are also aware that this outbreak may not be the last. Therefore, in this narrative review, we summarized viral variation and prevalence condition, discussed specific amino acid replacement and associated immune challenges and attempted to sum up some prevention and control strategies by reviewing the literature on previously published research about SARS-CoV-2 variation to assist in clarifying the mutation pathway and consequences of SARS-CoV-2 for developing countermeasures against such viruses as soon as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Qing Ye
- Department of ‘A’, Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou 310052, China;
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45
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Li J, Wang Y, Rajpoot S, Lavrijsen M, Pan Q, Li P, Baig MS. Investigating theobromine as a potential anti-human coronaviral agent. Microbiol Immunol 2023; 67:404-412. [PMID: 37415325 DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.13086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) have long been known to infect humans, mainly alpha-CoV and beta-CoV. The vaccines developed for SARS-CoV-2 are likely not effective against other coronavirus species, whereas the risk of the emergence of new strains that may cause the next epidemic/pandemic is high. The development of antiviral drugs that are effective across different CoVs represents a viable strategy for improving pandemic preparedness. In this study, we aim to identify pan-coronaviral agents by targeting the conserved main protease (Mpro). For drug screening, the catalytic dyad of four human CoVs (HCoVs: SARS-CoV-2, and seasonal CoV NL63, OC43, and 229E) was targeted by molecular docking. The identified leading candidate theobromine, a xanthine derivative, was further tested in cell culture models of coronavirus infection. Theobromine binds strongly with the catalytic dyad (His41 and Cys144/145) of SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-NL63 Mpro, mildly with HCoV-OC43, but not with HCoV-229E. However, theobromine only shows dose-dependent inhibition in Calu3 cells inoculated with SARS-CoV-2, but not in cells inoculated with seasonal CoVs. Theobromine exerts antiviral activity against coronavirus infections potentially through targeting Mpro. However, the antiviral potency is distinct among different CoVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajing Li
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yining Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sajjan Rajpoot
- Department of Biosciences & Biomedical Engineering (BSBE), Indian Institute of Technology Indore (IITI), Indore, India
| | - Marla Lavrijsen
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Qiuwei Pan
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pengfei Li
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mirza S Baig
- Department of Biosciences & Biomedical Engineering (BSBE), Indian Institute of Technology Indore (IITI), Indore, India
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46
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Hossain MS, Kerkvliet JG, Hoppe AD. Whole genome CRISPR screening strategy to identify genes contributing to SARS-CoV-2 spike and VSV-G mediated entry. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e29087. [PMID: 37707319 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the cellular host factors that promote and inhibit viral entry is important for identifying viral countermeasures. CRISPR whole-genome screens can be used to rapidly discover host factors that contribute to or impair viral entry. However, when using live viruses and cellular lethality for selection, these screens can identify an overwhelming number of genes without specificity for the stage of the viral infection cycle. New screening methods are needed to identify host machinery contributing to specific steps of viral infection. Here, we developed a CRISPR whole-genome screen and counter-screen strategy based on a pseudoviral platform that allowed identification of genes specific to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike and vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G) mediated entry. Screening of SARS-CoV-2 spike and VSV-G on the same lentiviral pseudovirus allowed the identification of entry-specific genes relative to genes associated with retro-transcription, integration, and reporter expression from the lentiviral pseudovirus. Second, a Cre-Gag fusion protein packaged into the pseudovirus was used to bypass retro-transcription and integration by directly activating a floxed fluorescent protein reporter upon entry reduced the number of gene hits and increase specificity for viral entry. Our approach correctly identified SARS-CoV-2 and VSV-G receptors ACE2 and low-density lipoprotein receptors, respectively, and distinguished genes associated with retroviral reporter expression from envelope-mediated entry. Moreover, the CRE-Gag fusion/flox reporter increased the screen specificity for viral entry-associated genes. Validation of a few hits demonstrates that this approach distinguishes envelope-specific host factors from genes affecting reporter expression. Overall, this approach provides a new strategy for identifying host genes influencing viral entry without the confounding complexity of live-viral screens which produce long gene lists associated with all aspects of viral pathogenesis and replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Saddam Hossain
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA
- BioSNTR, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA
| | - Jason G Kerkvliet
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA
- BioSNTR, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA
| | - Adam D Hoppe
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA
- BioSNTR, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA
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47
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Qing E, Gallagher T. Adaptive variations in SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins: effects on distinct virus-cell entry stages. mBio 2023; 14:e0017123. [PMID: 37382441 PMCID: PMC10470846 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00171-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Evolved SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) spread through human populations in succession. Major virus variations are in the entry-facilitating viral spike (S) proteins; Omicron VOCs have 29-40 S mutations relative to ancestral D614G viruses. The impacts of this Omicron divergence on S protein structure, antigenicity, cell entry pathways, and pathogenicity have been extensively evaluated, yet gaps remain in correlating specific alterations with S protein functions. In this study, we compared the functions of ancestral D614G and Omicron VOCs using cell-free assays that can reveal differences in several distinct steps of the S-directed virus entry process. Relative to ancestral D614G, Omicron BA.1 S proteins were hypersensitized to receptor activation, to conversion into intermediate conformational states, and to membrane fusion-activating proteases. We identified mutations conferring these changes in S protein character by evaluating domain-exchanged D614G/Omicron recombinants in the cell-free assays. Each of the three functional alterations was mapped to specific S protein domains, with the recombinants providing insights on inter-domain interactions that fine-tune S-directed virus entry. Our results provide a structure-function atlas of the S protein variations that may promote the transmissibility and infectivity of current and future SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. IMPORTANCE Continuous SARS-CoV-2 adaptations generate increasingly transmissible variants. These succeeding variants show ever-increasing evasion of suppressive antibodies and host factors, as well as increasing invasion of susceptible host cells. Here, we evaluated the adaptations enhancing invasion. We used reductionist cell-free assays to compare the entry steps of ancestral (D614G) and Omicron (BA.1) variants. Relative to D614G, Omicron entry was distinguished by heightened responsiveness to entry-facilitating receptors and proteases and by enhanced formation of intermediate states that execute virus-cell membrane fusion. We found that these Omicron-specific characteristics arose from mutations in specific S protein domains and subdomains. The results reveal the inter-domain networks controlling S protein dynamics and efficiencies of entry steps, and they offer insights on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants that arise and ultimately dominate infections worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enya Qing
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Tom Gallagher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
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Feng S, O'Brien A, Chen DY, Saeed M, Baker SC. SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 6 from Alpha to Omicron: evolution of a transmembrane protein. mBio 2023; 14:e0068823. [PMID: 37477426 PMCID: PMC10470488 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00688-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
We recently reported that mutations in both the spike glycoprotein and nonstructural protein 6 (nsp6) were associated with attenuation of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 variant. While mutations in spike allow evasion of neutralizing antibodies and promote specific modes of viral entry, the role of nsp6 mutations in pathogenesis is less clear. Nsp6 is essential for modifying the endoplasmic reticulum and generating double-membrane vesicles, the site of viral RNA replication. To investigate the evolution of nsp6, we evaluated 91,596 high-confidence human SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequences across 19 variants and lineages. While nsp6 of early variants of concern, such as Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, carried a triple amino acid deletion (106-108, termed ΔSGF), the Delta, Epsilon, and Mu lineages retained the ancestral nsp6 sequence. For nsp6 in the emerging Omicron variants, we report a transition from an amino acid 105-107 ΔLSG deletion in BA.1 to increased dominance of the ΔSGF in BA.2 and subsequent lineages. Our findings indicate that deletion within nsp6 was independently selected in multiple lineages of SARS-CoV-2, both early and late in the pandemic. Analysis of SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses in bats and pangolins revealed nsp6 sequences similar to the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 virus, indicating that the deletion in nsp6 may be an adaptation to replication in humans. Analysis of nsp6 sequences from multiple coronaviruses predicts a multipass transmembrane protein with a conserved C-terminal domain. Monitoring and evaluating changes in nsp6 and other nonstructural proteins will contribute to our understanding of factors associated with the attenuation of pandemic coronaviruses. IMPORTANCE There is an ongoing need to evaluate genetic changes in SARS-CoV-2 for effects on transmission and pathogenesis. We recently reported an unexpected role for replicase component nsp6, in addition to changes in spike, in the attenuation of Omicron BA.1. In this commentary, we document a triple-amino-acid deletion in a predicted lumenal domain of nsp6 that was found in multiple, independent variants of SARS-CoV-2, including all recent Omicron lineages. Furthermore, we modeled the predicted structure of nsp6, implicating a multipass transmembrane architecture as conserved in members of the Coronaviridae family. This information can guide future studies investigating the role of nsp6 in the pathogenesis of existing and emerging coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuchen Feng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Amornrat O'Brien
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Da-Yuan Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL), Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mohsan Saeed
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL), Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Susan C. Baker
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Xi B, Zeng X, Chen Z, Zeng J, Huang L, Du H. SARS-CoV-2 within-host diversity of human hosts and its implications for viral immune evasion. mBio 2023; 14:e0067923. [PMID: 37273216 PMCID: PMC10470530 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00679-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is continuously evolving, bringing great challenges to the control of the virus. In the present study, we investigated the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 within-host diversity of human hosts and its implications for immune evasion using about 2,00,000 high-depth next-generation genome sequencing data of SARS-CoV-2. A total of 44% of the samples showed within-host variations (iSNVs), and the average number of iSNVs in the samples with iSNV was 1.90. C-to-U is the dominant substitution pattern for iSNVs. C-to-U/G-to-A and A-to-G/U-to-C preferentially occur in 5'-CG-3' and 5'-AU-3' motifs, respectively. In addition, we found that SARS-CoV-2 within-host variations are under negative selection. About 15.6% iSNVs had an impact on the content of the CpG dinucleotide (CpG) in SARS-CoV-2 genomes. We detected signatures of faster loss of CpG-gaining iSNVs, possibly resulting from zinc-finger antiviral protein-mediated antiviral activities targeting CpG, which could be the major reason for CpG depletion in SARS-CoV-2 consensus genomes. The non-synonymous iSNVs in the S gene can largely alter the S protein's antigenic features, and many of these iSNVs are distributed in the amino-terminal domain (NTD) and receptor-binding domain (RBD). These results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 interacts actively with human hosts and attempts to take different evolutionary strategies to escape human innate and adaptive immunity. These new findings further deepen and widen our understanding of the within-host evolutionary features of SARS-CoV-2. IMPORTANCE Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative pathogen of the coronavirus disease 2019, has evolved rapidly since it was discovered. Recent studies have pointed out that some mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 S protein could confer SARS-CoV-2 the ability to evade the human adaptive immune system. In addition, it is observed that the content of the CpG dinucleotide in SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences has decreased over time, reflecting the adaptation to the human host. The significance of our research is revealing the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 within-host diversity of human hosts, identifying the causes of CpG depletion in SARS-CoV-2 consensus genomes, and exploring the potential impacts of non-synonymous within-host variations in the S gene on immune escape, which could further deepen and widen our understanding of the evolutionary features of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Xi
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xi Zeng
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zixi Chen
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiong Zeng
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lizhen Huang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongli Du
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
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Hussein HA, Kandeil A, Gomaa M, Hassan RYA. Double-antibody-based nano-biosensing system for the onsite monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 variants. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2023; 9:105. [PMID: 37614970 PMCID: PMC10442362 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-023-00578-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
The fast and reliable diagnosis of COVID-19 is the foremost priority for promoting public health interventions. Therefore, double-antibody-based immunobiosensor chips were designed, constructed, and exploited for clinical diagnosis. Gold nanoparticles/tungsten oxide/carbon nanotubes (AuNPs/WO3/CNTs) were used as the active working sensor surface to support the chemical immobilization of a mixture of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (anti-RBD-S and anti-RBD-S-anti-Llama monoclonal antibodies). The morphology and chemical functionalization of the fabricated disposable immunochips was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). After full assay optimization, the immunobiosensor showed a high sensitivity to detect SARS-CoV-2-S protein with limits of detection and quantification of 1.8 and 5.6 pg/mL, respectively. On the other hand, for the SARS-CoV-2 whole virus particle analysis, the detection and quantification limits were determined to be 5.7 and 17 pg/mL, respectively. The biosensor showed a highly selective response toward SARS-CoV-2, even in the presence of influenza, nontargeting human coronaviruses, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The immunochips exhibited distinct responses toward the variants of concern: B.1>C.36.3>Omicron> Delta> Alpha coronavirus variants. For biosensor validation, twenty-nine clinical specimens were analyzed, and the impedimetric responses were positively detected for two Delta samples, eighteen Omicron samples, and six B.1-type samples in addition to three negative samples. Eventually, the immunobiosensor was fabricated in the form of ready-to-use chips capable of sensitive detection of virus variants, especially variants of concern (VOC) and interest, in a specimen within 15 min. The chips provided instantaneous detection with the direct application of clinical samples and are considered a point-of-care device that could be used in public places and hot spots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heba A. Hussein
- Virology Department, Animal Health Research Institute (AHRI), Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza, 12619 Egypt
- Biosensors Research Laboratory, Zewail City of Science and Technology, 6th October City, Giza, 12578 Egypt
| | - Ahmed Kandeil
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza, 12622 Egypt
| | - Mokhtar Gomaa
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza, 12622 Egypt
| | - Rabeay Y. A. Hassan
- Biosensors Research Laboratory, Zewail City of Science and Technology, 6th October City, Giza, 12578 Egypt
- Nanoscience Program, University of Science and Technology (UST), Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, 12578 Egypt
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