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Inoue T, Yamamoto Y, Sato K, Okemoto-Nakamura Y, Shimizu Y, Ogawa M, Onodera T, Takahashi Y, Wakita T, Kaneko MK, Fukasawa M, Kato Y, Noguchi K. Overcoming antibody-resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants with bispecific antibodies constructed using non-neutralizing antibodies. iScience 2024; 27:109363. [PMID: 38500835 PMCID: PMC10946335 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
A current challenge is the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as BQ.1.1 and XBB.1.5, that can evade immune defenses, thereby limiting antibody drug effectiveness. Emergency-use antibody drugs, including the widely effective bebtelovimab, are losing their benefits. One potential approach to address this issue are bispecific antibodies which combine the targeting abilities of two antibodies with distinct epitopes. We engineered neutralizing bispecific antibodies in the IgG-scFv format from two initially non-neutralizing antibodies, CvMab-6 (which binds to the receptor-binding domain [RBD]) and CvMab-62 (targeting a spike protein S2 subunit epitope adjacent to the known anti-S2 antibody epitope). Furthermore, we created a bispecific antibody by incorporating the scFv of bebtelovimab with our anti-S2 antibody, demonstrating significant restoration of effectiveness against bebtelovimab-resistant BQ.1.1 variants. This study highlights the potential of neutralizing bispecific antibodies, which combine existing less effective anti-RBD antibodies with anti-S2 antibodies, to revive the effectiveness of antibody therapeutics compromised by immune-evading variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Inoue
- Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Yamazaki 2641, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Yamazaki 2641, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Kaoru Sato
- Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Yamazaki 2641, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Yuko Okemoto-Nakamura
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Yoshimi Shimizu
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teikyo Heisei University, 4-21-2 Nakano, Nakano-ku 164-8530, Japan
| | - Motohiko Ogawa
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Taishi Onodera
- Research Center for Drug and Vaccine Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Yoshimasa Takahashi
- Research Center for Drug and Vaccine Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Takaji Wakita
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Mika K. Kaneko
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Fukasawa
- Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Yamazaki 2641, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Yukinari Kato
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Kohji Noguchi
- Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Yamazaki 2641, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
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Poulakou G, Royer PJ, Evgeniev N, Evanno G, Shneiker F, Marcelin AG, Vanhove B, Duvaux O, Marot S, Calvez V. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 glyco-humanized polyclonal antibody XAV-19: phase II/III randomized placebo-controlled trial shows acceleration to recovery for mild to moderate patients with COVID-19. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1330178. [PMID: 38694503 PMCID: PMC11061480 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1330178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction XAV-19 is a glyco-humanized swine polyclonal antibody targeting SARS-CoV-2 with high neutralizing activity. The safety and clinical efficacy of XAV-19 were investigated in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19. Methods This phase II/III, multicentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of XAV-19 in patients with a seven-point WHO score of 2 to 4 at randomization, i.e., inpatients with COVID-19 requiring or not requiring low-flow oxygen therapy, and outpatients not requiring oxygen (EUROXAV trial, NCT04928430). Adult patients presenting in specialized or emergency units with confirmed COVID-19 and giving their consent to participate in the study were randomized to receive 150 mg of XAV-19 or placebo. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with aggravation within 8 days after treatment, defined as a worsening of the seven-point WHO score of at least one point between day 8 and day 1 (inclusion). The neutralization activity of XAV-19 against variants circulating during the trial was tested in parallel. Results From March 2021 to October 2022, 279 patients received either XAV-19 (N = 140) or placebo (N = 139). A slow enrollment and a low rate of events forced the termination of the premature trial. XAV-19 was well tolerated. Underpowered statistics did not allow the detection of any difference in the primary endpoint between the two groups or in stratified groups. Interestingly, analysis of the time to improvement (secondary endpoint) showed that XAV-19 significantly accelerated the recovery for patients with a WHO score of 2 or 3 (median at 7 days vs. 14 days, p = 0.0159), and even more for patients with a WHO score of 2 (4 days vs. 14 days, p = 0.0003). The neutralizing activity against Omicron and BA.2, BA.2.12.1, BA.4/5, and BQ.1.1 subvariants was shown. Discussion In this randomized placebo- controlled trial with premature termination, reduction of aggravation by XAV-19 at day 8 in patients with COVID-19 was not detectable. However, a significant reduction of the time to improvement for patients not requiring oxygen was observed. XAV-19 maintained a neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Altogether, these data support a possible therapeutic interest for patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 requiring anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. Clinical Trial Registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT04928430; https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/about.html (EudraCT), identifier 2020-005979-12.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garyfallia Poulakou
- 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Sotiria General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Nikolay Evgeniev
- Department of Medical Oncology, Complex Oncology Center, Russe, Bulgaria
| | | | | | - Anne-Geneviève Marcelin
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) 1136, Institut Pierre Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Virology, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Stéphane Marot
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) 1136, Institut Pierre Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Virology, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Calvez
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) 1136, Institut Pierre Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Virology, Paris, France
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3
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Raisinghani N, Alshahrani M, Gupta G, Verkhivker G. Ensemble-Based Mutational Profiling and Network Analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Omicron XBB Lineages for Interactions with the ACE2 Receptor and Antibodies: Cooperation of Binding Hotspots in Mediating Epistatic Couplings Underlies Binding Mechanism and Immune Escape. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4281. [PMID: 38673865 PMCID: PMC11049863 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we performed a computational study of binding mechanisms for the SARS-CoV-2 spike Omicron XBB lineages with the host cell receptor ACE2 and a panel of diverse class one antibodies. The central objective of this investigation was to examine the molecular factors underlying epistatic couplings among convergent evolution hotspots that enable optimal balancing of ACE2 binding and antibody evasion for Omicron variants BA.1, BA2, BA.3, BA.4/BA.5, BQ.1.1, XBB.1, XBB.1.5, and XBB.1.5 + L455F/F456L. By combining evolutionary analysis, molecular dynamics simulations, and ensemble-based mutational scanning of spike protein residues in complexes with ACE2, we identified structural stability and binding affinity hotspots that are consistent with the results of biochemical studies. In agreement with the results of deep mutational scanning experiments, our quantitative analysis correctly reproduced strong and variant-specific epistatic effects in the XBB.1.5 and BA.2 variants. It was shown that Y453W and F456L mutations can enhance ACE2 binding when coupled with Q493 in XBB.1.5, while these mutations become destabilized when coupled with the R493 position in the BA.2 variant. The results provided a molecular rationale of the epistatic mechanism in Omicron variants, showing a central role of the Q493/R493 hotspot in modulating epistatic couplings between convergent mutational sites L455F and F456L in XBB lineages. The results of mutational scanning and binding analysis of the Omicron XBB spike variants with ACE2 receptors and a panel of class one antibodies provide a quantitative rationale for the experimental evidence that epistatic interactions of the physically proximal binding hotspots Y501, R498, Q493, L455F, and F456L can determine strong ACE2 binding, while convergent mutational sites F456L and F486P are instrumental in mediating broad antibody resistance. The study supports a mechanism in which the impact on ACE2 binding affinity is mediated through a small group of universal binding hotspots, while the effect of immune evasion could be more variant-dependent and modulated by convergent mutational sites in the conformationally adaptable spike regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishank Raisinghani
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA; (N.R.); (M.A.); (G.G.)
| | - Mohammed Alshahrani
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA; (N.R.); (M.A.); (G.G.)
| | - Grace Gupta
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA; (N.R.); (M.A.); (G.G.)
| | - Gennady Verkhivker
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA; (N.R.); (M.A.); (G.G.)
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA 92618, USA
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4
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Nguyen HL, Nguyen TQ, Li MS. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Subvariants Do Not Differ Much in Binding Affinity to Human ACE2: A Molecular Dynamics Study. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:3340-3349. [PMID: 38564480 PMCID: PMC11017248 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c06270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of the variant of concern Omicron (B.1.1.529) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exacerbates the COVID-19 pandemic due to its high contagious ability. Studies have shown that the Omicron binds human ACE2 more strongly than the wild type. The prevalence of Omicron in new cases of COVID-19 promotes novel lineages with improved receptor binding affinity and immune evasion. To shed light on this open problem, in this work, we investigated the binding free energy of the receptor binding domain of the Omicron lineages BA.2, BA.2.3.20, BA.3, BA4/BA5, BA.2.75, BA.2.75.2, BA.4.6, XBB.1, XBB.1.5, BJ.1, BN.1, BQ.1.1, and CH.1.1 to human ACE2 using all-atom molecular dynamics simulation and the molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area method. The results show that these lineages have increased binding affinity compared to the BA.1 lineage, and BA.2.75 and BA.2.75.2 subvariants bind ACE2 more strongly than others. However, in general, the binding affinities of the Omicron lineages do not differ significantly from each other. The electrostatic force dominates over the van der Waals force in the interaction between Omicron lineages and human cells. Based on our results, we argue that viral evolution does not further improve the affinity of SARS-CoV-2 for ACE2 but may increase immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoang Linh Nguyen
- Institute
of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Duy
Tan University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
- Faculty
of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Duy
Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam
| | - Thai Quoc Nguyen
- Faculty
of Physics, VNU University of Science, Vietnam
National University, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
- Dong
Thap University, 783 Pham Huu Lau Street, Ward 6, Cao Lanh
City, Dong Thap 81000, Vietnam
| | - Mai Suan Li
- Institute
of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Lotnikow 32/46, Warsaw 02-668, Poland
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5
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Raisinghani N, Alshahrani M, Gupta G, Xiao S, Tao P, Verkhivker G. Predicting Functional Conformational Ensembles and Binding Mechanisms of Convergent Evolution for SARS-CoV-2 Spike Omicron Variants Using AlphaFold2 Sequence Scanning Adaptations and Molecular Dynamics Simulations. bioRxiv 2024:2024.04.02.587850. [PMID: 38617283 PMCID: PMC11014522 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.02.587850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we combined AlphaFold-based approaches for atomistic modeling of multiple protein states and microsecond molecular simulations to accurately characterize conformational ensembles and binding mechanisms of convergent evolution for the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Omicron variants BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.75, BA.3, BA.4/BA.5 and BQ.1.1. We employed and validated several different adaptations of the AlphaFold methodology for modeling of conformational ensembles including the introduced randomized full sequence scanning for manipulation of sequence variations to systematically explore conformational dynamics of Omicron Spike protein complexes with the ACE2 receptor. Microsecond atomistic molecular dynamic simulations provide a detailed characterization of the conformational landscapes and thermodynamic stability of the Omicron variant complexes. By integrating the predictions of conformational ensembles from different AlphaFold adaptations and applying statistical confidence metrics we can expand characterization of the conformational ensembles and identify functional protein conformations that determine the equilibrium dynamics for the Omicron Spike complexes with the ACE2. Conformational ensembles of the Omicron RBD-ACE2 complexes obtained using AlphaFold-based approaches for modeling protein states and molecular dynamics simulations are employed for accurate comparative prediction of the binding energetics revealing an excellent agreement with the experimental data. In particular, the results demonstrated that AlphaFold-generated extended conformational ensembles can produce accurate binding energies for the Omicron RBD-ACE2 complexes. The results of this study suggested complementarities and potential synergies between AlphaFold predictions of protein conformational ensembles and molecular dynamics simulations showing that integrating information from both methods can potentially yield a more adequate characterization of the conformational landscapes for the Omicron RBD-ACE2 complexes. This study provides insights in the interplay between conformational dynamics and binding, showing that evolution of Omicron variants through acquisition of convergent mutational sites may leverage conformational adaptability and dynamic couplings between key binding energy hotspots to optimize ACE2 binding affinity and enable immune evasion.
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6
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Anzai I, Fujita J, Ono C, Kosaka Y, Miyamoto Y, Shichinohe S, Takada K, Torii S, Taguwa S, Suzuki K, Makino F, Kajita T, Inoue T, Namba K, Watanabe T, Matsuura Y. Characterization of a neutralizing antibody that recognizes a loop region adjacent to the receptor-binding interface of the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0365523. [PMID: 38415660 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03655-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the global crisis caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is over, the global epidemic of the disease continues. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of COVID-19, initiates infection via the binding of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of its spike protein to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) receptor, and this interaction has been the primary target for the development of COVID-19 therapeutics. Here, we identified neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by screening mouse monoclonal antibodies and characterized an antibody, CSW1-1805, that targets a narrow region at the RBD ridge of the spike protein. CSW1-1805 neutralized several variants in vitro and completely protected mice from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Cryo-EM and biochemical analyses revealed that this antibody recognizes the loop region adjacent to the ACE2-binding interface with the RBD in both a receptor-inaccessible "down" state and a receptor-accessible "up" state and could stabilize the RBD conformation in the up-state. CSW1-1805 also showed different binding orientations and complementarity determining region properties compared to other RBD ridge-targeting antibodies with similar binding epitopes. It is important to continuously characterize neutralizing antibodies to address new variants that continue to emerge. Our characterization of this antibody that recognizes the RBD ridge of the spike protein will aid in the development of future neutralizing antibodies.IMPORTANCESARS-CoV-2 cell entry is initiated by the interaction of the viral spike protein with the host cell receptor. Therefore, mechanistic findings regarding receptor recognition by the spike protein help uncover the molecular mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 infection and guide neutralizing antibody development. Here, we characterized a SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody that recognizes an epitope, a loop region adjacent to the receptor-binding interface, that may be involved in the conformational transition of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein from a receptor-inaccessible "down" state into a receptor-accessible "up" state, and also stabilizes the RBD in the up-state. Our mechanistic findings provide new insights into SARS-CoV-2 receptor recognition and guidance for neutralizing antibody development.
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Grants
- JP16H06429, JP16K21723, JP16H06432 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
- JP16H06429, JP16K21723, JP16H06434 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
- JP22H02521 MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
- JP21K15042 MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
- JP21H02736 MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
- JP25K000013 MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
- JP20K22630 MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
- JP223fa627002, JP22am0401030, JP23fk0108659, JP20jk0210021, JP22gm1610010, JP19fk0108113 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
- JP223fa627002 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
- JP19fk0108113, JP20fk0108281, JP20pc0101047 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
- JP20fk0108401, JP21fk0108493 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
- JP21am0101117, JP17pc0101020 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
- JPMJOP1861 MEXT | Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
- JPMJMS2025 MEXT | Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
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Affiliation(s)
- Itsuki Anzai
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Junso Fujita
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- JEOL YOKOGUSHI Research Alliance Laboratories, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Chikako Ono
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | | | | | - Shintaro Shichinohe
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kosuke Takada
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shiho Torii
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shuhei Taguwa
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Advanced Modalities and DDS, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koichiro Suzuki
- The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University (BIKEN), Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Fumiaki Makino
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- JEOL YOKOGUSHI Research Alliance Laboratories, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- JEOL Ltd., Akishima, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Tsuyoshi Inoue
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keiichi Namba
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- JEOL YOKOGUSHI Research Alliance Laboratories, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research and Spring-8 Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tokiko Watanabe
- Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Advanced Modalities and DDS, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshiharu Matsuura
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Advanced Modalities and DDS, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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7
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He X, Zhang X, Wu B, Deng J, Zhang Y, Zhu A, Yuan Y, Lin Y, Chen A, Feng J, Wang X, Wu S, Liu Y, Liu J, Wang Y, Li R, Liang C, Yuan Q, Liang Y, Fang Q, Xi Z, Li W, Liang L, Zhang Z, Tang H, Peng Y, Ke C, Ma X, Cai W, Pan T, Liu B, Deng K, Chen J, Zhao J, Wei X, Chen R, Zhang Y, Zhang H. The receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants targets Siglec-9 to decrease its immunogenicity by preventing macrophage phagocytosis. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:622-632. [PMID: 38454157 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01776-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
The development of a vaccine specific to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron has been hampered due to its low immunogenicity. Here, using reverse mutagenesis, we found that a phenylalanine-to-serine mutation at position 375 (F375S) in the spike protein of Omicron to revert it to the sequence found in Delta and other ancestral strains significantly enhanced the immunogenicity of Omicron vaccines. Sequence FAPFFAF at position 371-377 in Omicron spike had a potent inhibitory effect on macrophage uptake of receptor-binding domain (RBD) nanoparticles or spike-pseudovirus particles containing this sequence. Omicron RBD enhanced binding to Siglec-9 on macrophages to impair phagocytosis and antigen presentation and promote immune evasion, which could be abrogated by the F375S mutation. A bivalent F375S Omicron RBD and Delta-RBD nanoparticle vaccine elicited potent and broad nAbs in mice, rabbits and rhesus macaques. Our research suggested that manipulation of the Siglec-9 pathway could be a promising approach to enhance vaccine response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin He
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiantao Zhang
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bolin Wu
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jieyi Deng
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongli Zhang
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Airu Zhu
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Bio-island, Guangzhou, China
- 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, China
| | - Yaochang Yuan
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingtong Lin
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Achun Chen
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinzhu Feng
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiumei Wang
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shijian Wu
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingying Liu
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yalin Wang
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rong Li
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chaofeng Liang
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Quyu Yuan
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Liang
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiannan Fang
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guanzhou, China
| | - Zhihui Xi
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guanzhou, China
| | - Wenjie Li
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liting Liang
- Qianyang Biomedical Research Institute, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Hui Tang
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Peng
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Changwen Ke
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiancai Ma
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Bio-island, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weibin Cai
- Laboratory Animal Center, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ting Pan
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Center for Infection and Immunity Study, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bingfeng Liu
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kai Deng
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Laboratory Animal Center, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jincun Zhao
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Bio-island, Guangzhou, China.
- 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, China.
| | - Xuepeng Wei
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Bio-island, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Ran Chen
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yiwen Zhang
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Hui Zhang
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Bio-island, Guangzhou, China.
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8
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Zhou D, Supasa P, Liu C, Dijokaite-Guraliuc A, Duyvesteyn HME, Selvaraj M, Mentzer AJ, Das R, Dejnirattisai W, Temperton N, Klenerman P, Dunachie SJ, Fry EE, Mongkolsapaya J, Ren J, Stuart DI, Screaton GR. The SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody response to SD1 and its evasion by BA.2.86. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2734. [PMID: 38548763 PMCID: PMC10978878 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46982-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Under pressure from neutralising antibodies induced by vaccination or infection the SARS-CoV-2 spike gene has become a hotspot for evolutionary change, leading to the failure of all mAbs developed for clinical use. Most potent antibodies bind to the receptor binding domain which has become heavily mutated. Here we study responses to a conserved epitope in sub-domain-1 (SD1) of spike which have become more prominent because of mutational escape from antibodies directed to the receptor binding domain. Some SD1 reactive mAbs show potent and broad neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants. We structurally map the dominant SD1 epitope and provide a mechanism of action by blocking interaction with ACE2. Mutations in SD1 have not been sustained to date, but one, E554K, leads to escape from mAbs. This mutation has now emerged in several sublineages including BA.2.86, reflecting selection pressure on the virus exerted by the increasing prominence of the anti-SD1 response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daming Zhou
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Division of Structural Biology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Piyada Supasa
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Chang Liu
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Helen M E Duyvesteyn
- Division of Structural Biology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK
| | - Muneeswaran Selvaraj
- Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alexander J Mentzer
- Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Raksha Das
- Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Wanwisa Dejnirattisai
- Division of Emerging Infectious Disease, Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok-Noi, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Nigel Temperton
- Viral Pseudotype Unit, Medway School of Pharmacy, University of Kent and Greenwich Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
| | - Paul Klenerman
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Susanna J Dunachie
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- NDM Centre For Global Health Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Elizabeth E Fry
- Division of Structural Biology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK.
| | - Juthathip Mongkolsapaya
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Jingshan Ren
- Division of Structural Biology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK.
| | - David I Stuart
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Division of Structural Biology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK.
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK.
| | - Gavin R Screaton
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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9
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Raisinghani N, Alshahrani M, Gupta G, Xiao S, Tao P, Verkhivker G. AlphaFold2-Enabled Atomistic Modeling of Structure, Conformational Ensembles, and Binding Energetics of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.86 Spike Protein with ACE2 Host Receptor and Antibodies: Compensatory Functional Effects of Binding Hotspots in Modulating Mechanisms of Receptor Binding and Immune Escape. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:1657-1681. [PMID: 38373700 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
The latest wave of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants displayed a growth advantage and increased viral fitness through convergent evolution of functional hotspots that work synchronously to balance fitness requirements for productive receptor binding and efficient immune evasion. In this study, we combined AlphaFold2-based structural modeling approaches with atomistic simulations and mutational profiling of binding energetics and stability for prediction and comprehensive analysis of the structure, dynamics, and binding of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.86 spike variant with ACE2 host receptor and distinct classes of antibodies. We adapted several AlphaFold2 approaches to predict both the structure and conformational ensembles of the Omicron BA.2.86 spike protein in the complex with the host receptor. The results showed that the AlphaFold2-predicted structural ensemble of the BA.2.86 spike protein complex with ACE2 can accurately capture the main conformational states of the Omicron variant. Complementary to AlphaFold2 structural predictions, microsecond molecular dynamics simulations reveal the details of the conformational landscape and produced equilibrium ensembles of the BA.2.86 structures that are used to perform mutational scanning of spike residues and characterize structural stability and binding energy hotspots. The ensemble-based mutational profiling of the receptor binding domain residues in the BA.2 and BA.2.86 spike complexes with ACE2 revealed a group of conserved hydrophobic hotspots and critical variant-specific contributions of the BA.2.86 convergent mutational hotspots R403K, F486P, and R493Q. To examine the immune evasion properties of BA.2.86 in atomistic detail, we performed structure-based mutational profiling of the spike protein binding interfaces with distinct classes of antibodies that displayed significantly reduced neutralization against the BA.2.86 variant. The results revealed the molecular basis of compensatory functional effects of the binding hotspots, showing that BA.2.86 lineage may have evolved to outcompete other Omicron subvariants by improving immune evasion while preserving binding affinity with ACE2 via through a compensatory effect of R493Q and F486P convergent mutational hotspots. This study demonstrated that an integrative approach combining AlphaFold2 predictions with complementary atomistic molecular dynamics simulations and robust ensemble-based mutational profiling of spike residues can enable accurate and comprehensive characterization of structure, dynamics, and binding mechanisms of newly emerging Omicron variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishank Raisinghani
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, California 92866, United States of America
| | - Mohammed Alshahrani
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, California 92866, United States of America
| | - Grace Gupta
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, California 92866, United States of America
| | - Sian Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research Computing, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275, United States of America
| | - Peng Tao
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research Computing, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275, United States of America
| | - Gennady Verkhivker
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, California 92866, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, California 92618, United States of America
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10
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Zhang L, Kempf A, Nehlmeier I, Cossmann A, Richter A, Bdeir N, Graichen L, Moldenhauer AS, Dopfer-Jablonka A, Stankov MV, Simon-Loriere E, Schulz SR, Jäck HM, Čičin-Šain L, Behrens GMN, Drosten C, Hoffmann M, Pöhlmann S. SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 enters lung cells and evades neutralizing antibodies with high efficiency. Cell 2024; 187:596-608.e17. [PMID: 38194966 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
BA.2.86, a recently identified descendant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron BA.2 sublineage, contains ∼35 mutations in the spike (S) protein and spreads in multiple countries. Here, we investigated whether the virus exhibits altered biological traits, focusing on S protein-driven viral entry. Employing pseudotyped particles, we show that BA.2.86, unlike other Omicron sublineages, enters Calu-3 lung cells with high efficiency and in a serine- but not cysteine-protease-dependent manner. Robust lung cell infection was confirmed with authentic BA.2.86, but the virus exhibited low specific infectivity. Further, BA.2.86 was highly resistant against all therapeutic antibodies tested, efficiently evading neutralization by antibodies induced by non-adapted vaccines. In contrast, BA.2.86 and the currently circulating EG.5.1 sublineage were appreciably neutralized by antibodies induced by the XBB.1.5-adapted vaccine. Collectively, BA.2.86 has regained a trait characteristic of early SARS-CoV-2 lineages, robust lung cell entry, and evades neutralizing antibodies. However, BA.2.86 exhibits low specific infectivity, which might limit transmissibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zhang
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Amy Kempf
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Inga Nehlmeier
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anne Cossmann
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Anja Richter
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Najat Bdeir
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Luise Graichen
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Alexandra Dopfer-Jablonka
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Metodi V Stankov
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Etienne Simon-Loriere
- G5 Evolutionary Genomics of RNA Viruses, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, 75015 Paris, France; National Reference Center for Viruses of respiratory Infections, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Sebastian R Schulz
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hans-Martin Jäck
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Luka Čičin-Šain
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Center for Individualized Infection Medicine, a joint venture of HZI and MHH, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Georg M N Behrens
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Center for Individualized Infection Medicine, a joint venture of HZI and MHH, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Markus Hoffmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
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11
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Shi G, Li T, Lai KK, Johnson RF, Yewdell JW, Compton AA. Omicron Spike confers enhanced infectivity and interferon resistance to SARS-CoV-2 in human nasal tissue. Nat Commun 2024; 15:889. [PMID: 38291024 PMCID: PMC10828397 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45075-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Omicron emerged following COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, displaced previous SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern worldwide, and gave rise to lineages that continue to spread. Here, we show that Omicron exhibits increased infectivity in primary adult upper airway tissue relative to Delta. Using recombinant forms of SARS-CoV-2 and nasal epithelial cells cultured at the liquid-air interface, we show that mutations unique to Omicron Spike enable enhanced entry into nasal tissue. Unlike earlier variants of SARS-CoV-2, our findings suggest that Omicron enters nasal cells independently of serine transmembrane proteases and instead relies upon metalloproteinases to catalyze membrane fusion. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this entry pathway unlocked by Omicron Spike enables evasion from constitutive and interferon-induced antiviral factors that restrict SARS-CoV-2 entry following attachment. Therefore, the increased transmissibility exhibited by Omicron in humans may be attributed not only to its evasion of vaccine-elicited adaptive immunity, but also to its superior invasion of nasal epithelia and resistance to the cell-intrinsic barriers present therein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoli Shi
- HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Tiansheng Li
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kin Kui Lai
- HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Reed F Johnson
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jonathan W Yewdell
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alex A Compton
- HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA.
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12
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Raisinghani N, Alshahrani M, Gupta G, Xiao S, Tao P, Verkhivker G. AlphaFold2-Enabled Atomistic Modeling of Epistatic Binding Mechanisms for the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Omicron XBB.1.5, EG.5 and FLip Variants: Convergent Evolution Hotspots Cooperate to Control Stability and Conformational Adaptability in Balancing ACE2 Binding and Antibody Resistance. bioRxiv 2023:2023.12.11.571185. [PMID: 38168257 PMCID: PMC10760024 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.11.571185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we combined AI-based atomistic structural modeling and microsecond molecular simulations of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike complexes with the host receptor ACE2 for XBB.1.5+L455F, XBB.1.5+F456L(EG.5) and XBB.1.5+L455F/F456L (FLip) lineages to examine the mechanisms underlying the role of convergent evolution hotspots in balancing ACE2 binding and antibody evasion. Using the ensemble-based mutational scanning of the spike protein residues and physics-based rigorous computations of binding affinities, we identified binding energy hotspots and characterized molecular basis underlying epistatic couplings between convergent mutational hotspots. Consistent with the experiments, the results revealed the mediating role of Q493 hotspot in synchronization of epistatic couplings between L455F and F456L mutations providing a quantitative insight into the mechanism underlying differences between XBB lineages. Mutational profiling is combined with network-based model of epistatic couplings showing that the Q493, L455 and F456 sites mediate stable communities at the binding interface with ACE2 and can serve as stable mediators of non-additive couplings. Structure-based mutational analysis of Spike protein binding with the class 1 antibodies quantified the critical role of F456L and F486P mutations in eliciting strong immune evasion response. The results of this analysis support a mechanism in which the emergence of EG.5 and FLip variants may have been dictated by leveraging strong epistatic effects between several convergent revolutionary hotspots that provide synergy between the improved ACE2 binding and broad neutralization resistance. This interpretation is consistent with the notion that functionally balanced substitutions which simultaneously optimize immune evasion and high ACE2 affinity may continue to emerge through lineages with beneficial pair or triplet combinations of RBD mutations involving mediators of epistatic couplings and sites in highly adaptable RBD regions.
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13
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Plans-Rubió P. Effectiveness of Adapted COVID-19 Vaccines and Ability to Establish Herd Immunity against Omicron BA.1 and BA4-5 Variants of SARS-CoV-2. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1836. [PMID: 38140240 PMCID: PMC10747774 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11121836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants has raised concerns about the ability of COVID-19 vaccination programs to establish adequate herd immunity levels in the population. This study assessed the effectiveness of adapted vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and the ability of the adapted vaccines to establish herd immunity against emerging Omicron variants. A systematic literature review was conducted to estimate the absolute vaccine effectiveness (aVE) in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection using adapted vaccines targeting Omicron variants. The ability of the adapted vaccines to establish herd immunity was assessed by taking into account the following factors: aVE, Ro values of SARS-CoV-2 and the use of non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs). This study found meta-analysis-based aVEs in preventing severe disease and SARS-CoV-2 infection of 56-60% and 36-39%, respectively. Adapted vaccines could not establish herd immunity against the Omicron BA.1 and BA.4-5 variants without using non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs). The adapted vaccines could establish herd immunity only by achieving >80% vaccination coverage, using NPIs with greater effectiveness and when 20-30% of individuals were already protected against SARS-CoV-2 in the population. New adapted COVID-19 vaccines with greater effectiveness in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection must be developed to increase herd immunity levels against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants in the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Plans-Rubió
- Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Department of Health of Catalonia, 08005 Barcelona, Spain;
- Ciber of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28028 Madrid, Spain
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14
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Raisinghani N, Alshahrani M, Gupta G, Xiao S, Tao P, Verkhivker G. Accurate Characterization of Conformational Ensembles and Binding Mechanisms of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 and BA.2.86 Spike Protein with the Host Receptor and Distinct Classes of Antibodies Using AlphaFold2-Augmented Integrative Computational Modeling. bioRxiv 2023:2023.11.18.567697. [PMID: 38045395 PMCID: PMC10690158 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.18.567697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The latest wave SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants displayed a growth advantage and the increased viral fitness through convergent evolution of functional hotspots that work synchronously to balance fitness requirements for productive receptor binding and efficient immune evasion. In this study, we combined AlphaFold2-based structural modeling approaches with all-atom MD simulations and mutational profiling of binding energetics and stability for prediction and comprehensive analysis of the structure, dynamics, and binding of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.86 spike variant with ACE2 host receptor and distinct classes of antibodies. We adapted several AlphaFold2 approaches to predict both structure and conformational ensembles of the Omicron BA.2.86 spike protein in the complex with the host receptor. The results showed that AlphaFold2-predicted conformational ensemble of the BA.2.86 spike protein complex can accurately capture the main dynamics signatures obtained from microscond molecular dynamics simulations. The ensemble-based dynamic mutational scanning of the receptor binding domain residues in the BA.2 and BA.2.86 spike complexes with ACE2 dissected the role of the BA.2 and BA.2.86 backgrounds in modulating binding free energy changes revealing a group of conserved hydrophobic hotspots and critical variant-specific contributions of the BA.2.86 mutational sites R403K, F486P and R493Q. To examine immune evasion properties of BA.2.86 in atomistic detail, we performed large scale structure-based mutational profiling of the S protein binding interfaces with distinct classes of antibodies that displayed significantly reduced neutralization against BA.2.86 variant. The results quantified specific function of the BA.2.86 mutations to ensure broad resistance against different classes of RBD antibodies. This study revealed the molecular basis of compensatory functional effects of the binding hotspots, showing that BA.2.86 lineage may have primarily evolved to improve immune escape while modulating binding affinity with ACE2 through cooperative effect of R403K, F486P and R493Q mutations. The study supports a hypothesis that the impact of the increased ACE2 binding affinity on viral fitness is more universal and is mediated through cross-talk between convergent mutational hotspots, while the effect of immune evasion could be more variant-dependent.
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15
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Pastorio C, Noettger S, Nchioua R, Zech F, Sparrer KM, Kirchhoff F. Impact of mutations defining SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/5 on Spike function and neutralization. iScience 2023; 26:108299. [PMID: 38026181 PMCID: PMC10661123 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Additional mutations in the viral Spike protein helped the BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/5 SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants to outcompete the parental BA.2 subvariant. Here, we determined the functional impact of mutations that newly emerged in the BA.2.12.1 (L452Q, S704L) and BA.4/5 (Δ69-70, L452R, F486V, R493Q) Spike proteins. Our results show that mutation of L452Q/R or F486V typically increases and R493Q or S704L impair BA.2 Spike-mediated infection. In combination, changes of Δ69-70, L452R, and F486V contribute to the higher infectiousness and fusogenicity of the BA.4/5 Spike. L452R/Q and F486V in Spike are mainly responsible for reduced sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies. However, the combined mutations are required for full infectivity, reduced TMPRSS2 dependency, and immune escape of BA.4/5 Spike. Thus, it is the specific combination of mutations in BA.4/5 Spike that allows increased functionality and immune evasion, which helps to explain the temporary dominance and increased pathogenicity of these Omicron subvariants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Pastorio
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Centre, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Sabrina Noettger
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Centre, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Rayhane Nchioua
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Centre, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Fabian Zech
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Centre, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Frank Kirchhoff
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Centre, 89081 Ulm, Germany
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16
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Balupuri A, Kim JM, Choi KE, No JS, Kim IH, Rhee JE, Kim EJ, Kang NS. Comparative Computational Analysis of Spike Protein Structural Stability in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Subvariants. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16069. [PMID: 38003257 PMCID: PMC10671153 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The continuous emergence of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with multiple spike (S) protein mutations pose serious threats to current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) therapies. A comprehensive understanding of the structural stability of SARS-CoV-2 variants is vital for the development of effective therapeutic strategies as it can offer valuable insights into their potential impact on viral infectivity. S protein mediates a virus' attachment to host cells by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) through its receptor-binding domain (RBD), and mutations in this protein can affect its stability and binding affinity. We analyzed S protein structural stability in various Omicron subvariants computationally. Notably, the S protein sequences analyzed in this work were obtained directly from our own sample collection. We evaluated the binding free energy between S protein and ACE2 in several complex forms. Additionally, we measured distances between the RBD of each chain in S protein to analyze conformational changes. Unlike most of the prior studies, we analyzed full-length S protein-ACE2 complexes instead of only RBD-ACE2 complexes. Omicron subvariants including BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.12.1, BA.4/BA.5, BA.2.75, BA.2.75_K147E, BA.4.6 and BA.4.6_N658S showed enhanced stability compared to wild type, potentially due to distinct S protein mutations. Among them, BA.2.75 and BA.4.6_N658S exhibited the highest and lowest level of stability, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand Balupuri
- Graduate School of New Drug Discovery and Development, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea; (A.B.); (K.-E.C.)
| | - Jeong-Min Kim
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease, Control and Prevention Agency, 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28159, Republic of Korea; (J.-M.K.); (J.S.N.); (I.-H.K.); (J.E.R.)
| | - Kwang-Eun Choi
- Graduate School of New Drug Discovery and Development, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea; (A.B.); (K.-E.C.)
| | - Jin Sun No
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease, Control and Prevention Agency, 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28159, Republic of Korea; (J.-M.K.); (J.S.N.); (I.-H.K.); (J.E.R.)
| | - Il-Hwan Kim
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease, Control and Prevention Agency, 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28159, Republic of Korea; (J.-M.K.); (J.S.N.); (I.-H.K.); (J.E.R.)
| | - Jee Eun Rhee
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease, Control and Prevention Agency, 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28159, Republic of Korea; (J.-M.K.); (J.S.N.); (I.-H.K.); (J.E.R.)
| | - Eun-Jin Kim
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease, Control and Prevention Agency, 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28159, Republic of Korea; (J.-M.K.); (J.S.N.); (I.-H.K.); (J.E.R.)
| | - Nam Sook Kang
- Graduate School of New Drug Discovery and Development, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea; (A.B.); (K.-E.C.)
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17
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Singh J, Vashishtha S, Kundu B. Spike Protein Mutation-Induced Changes in the Kinetic and Thermodynamic Behavior of Its Receptor Binding Domains Explain Their Higher Propensity to Attain Open States in SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern. ACS Cent Sci 2023; 9:1894-1904. [PMID: 37901170 PMCID: PMC10604015 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c00810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Spike (S) protein opening in SARS-CoV-2 controls the accessibility of its receptor binding domains (RBDs) to host receptors and immune recognition. Along the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 to its variants of concern (VOC)-alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and omicron-their S proteins showed a higher propensity to attain open states. Deciphering how mutations in S protein can shape its conformational dynamics will contribute to the understanding of viral host tropism. Here using microsecond-scale multiple molecular dynamics simulations (MDS), we provide insights into the kinetic and thermodynamic contributions of these mutations to RBD opening pathways in S proteins of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Mutational effects were analyzed using atomistic (i) equilibrium MDS of closed and open states of S proteins and (ii) nonequilibrium MDS for closed-to-open transitions. In MDS of closed or open states, RBDs in S proteins of VOCs showed lower thermodynamic stability with higher kinetic fluctuations, compared to S proteins of ancestral SARS-CoV-2. For closed-to-open transitions in S proteins of VOCs, we observed apparently faster RBD opening with a 1.5-2-fold decrease in the thermodynamic free-energy barrier (ΔGclosed→open). Saturation mutagenesis studies highlighted S protein mutations that may control its conformational dynamics and presentation to host receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasdeep Singh
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80208, United States
| | - Shubham Vashishtha
- Kusuma
School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute
of Technology-Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Bishwajit Kundu
- Kusuma
School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute
of Technology-Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India
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18
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Shi G, Li T, Lai KK, Johnson RF, Yewdell JW, Compton AA. Omicron Spike confers enhanced infectivity and interferon resistance to SARS-CoV-2 in human nasal tissue. bioRxiv 2023:2023.05.06.539698. [PMID: 37425811 PMCID: PMC10327209 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.06.539698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Omicron emerged following COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, displaced previous SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern worldwide, and gave rise to lineages that continue to spread. Here, we show that Omicron exhibits increased infectivity in primary adult upper airway tissue relative to Delta. Using recombinant forms of SARS-CoV-2 and nasal epithelial cells cultured at the liquid-air interface, enhanced infectivity maps to the step of cellular entry and evolved recently through mutations unique to Omicron Spike. Unlike earlier variants of SARS-CoV-2, Omicron enters nasal cells independently of serine transmembrane proteases and instead relies upon metalloproteinases to catalyze membrane fusion. This entry pathway unlocked by Omicron Spike enables evasion of constitutive and interferon-induced antiviral factors that restrict SARS-CoV-2 entry following attachment. Therefore, the increased transmissibility exhibited by Omicron in humans may be attributed not only to its evasion of vaccine-elicited adaptive immunity, but also to its superior invasion of nasal epithelia and resistance to the cell-intrinsic barriers present therein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoli Shi
- HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD
| | - Tiansheng Li
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD
| | - Kin Kui Lai
- HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD
| | - Reed F. Johnson
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD
| | - Jonathan W Yewdell
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD
| | - Alex A Compton
- HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD
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19
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Alshahrani M, Gupta G, Xiao S, Tao P, Verkhivker G. Comparative Analysis of Conformational Dynamics and Systematic Characterization of Cryptic Pockets in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2, BA.2.75 and XBB.1 Spike Complexes with the ACE2 Host Receptor: Confluence of Binding and Structural Plasticity in Mediating Networks of Conserved Allosteric Sites. Viruses 2023; 15:2073. [PMID: 37896850 PMCID: PMC10612107 DOI: 10.3390/v15102073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In the current study, we explore coarse-grained simulations and atomistic molecular dynamics together with binding energetics scanning and cryptic pocket detection in a comparative examination of conformational landscapes and systematic characterization of allosteric binding sites in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2, BA.2.75 and XBB.1 spike full-length trimer complexes with the host receptor ACE2. Microsecond simulations, Markov state models and mutational scanning of binding energies of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2 and BA.2.75 receptor binding domain complexes revealed the increased thermodynamic stabilization of the BA.2.75 variant and significant dynamic differences between these Omicron variants. Molecular simulations of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike full-length trimer complexes with the ACE2 receptor complemented atomistic studies and enabled an in-depth analysis of mutational and binding effects on conformational dynamic and functional adaptability of the Omicron variants. Despite considerable structural similarities, Omicron variants BA.2, BA.2.75 and XBB.1 can induce unique conformational dynamic signatures and specific distributions of the conformational states. Using conformational ensembles of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike trimer complexes with ACE2, we conducted a comprehensive cryptic pocket screening to examine the role of Omicron mutations and ACE2 binding on the distribution and functional mechanisms of the emerging allosteric binding sites. This analysis captured all experimentally known allosteric sites and discovered networks of inter-connected and functionally relevant allosteric sites that are governed by variant-sensitive conformational adaptability of the SARS-CoV-2 spike structures. The results detailed how ACE2 binding and Omicron mutations in the BA.2, BA.2.75 and XBB.1 spike complexes modulate the distribution of conserved and druggable allosteric pockets harboring functionally important regions. The results are significant for understanding the functional roles of druggable cryptic pockets that can be used for allostery-mediated therapeutic intervention targeting conformational states of the Omicron variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Alshahrani
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA; (M.A.); (G.G.)
| | - Grace Gupta
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA; (M.A.); (G.G.)
| | - Sian Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research Computing, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX 75275, USA; (S.X.); (P.T.)
| | - Peng Tao
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research Computing, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX 75275, USA; (S.X.); (P.T.)
| | - Gennady Verkhivker
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA; (M.A.); (G.G.)
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA 92618, USA
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20
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Abstract
SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, emerged in China in December 2019. Vaccines developed were very effective initially, however, the virus has shown remarkable evolution with multiple variants spreading globally over the last three years. Nowadays, newly emerging Omicron lineages are gaining substitutions at a fast rate, resulting in escape from neutralization by antibodies that target the Spike protein. Tools to map the impact of substitutions on the further antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2, such as antigenic cartography, may be helpful to update SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. In this review, we focus on the antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2, highlighting the impact of Spike protein substitutions individually and in combination on immune escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Z Mykytyn
- Viroscience Department, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ron Am Fouchier
- Viroscience Department, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bart L Haagmans
- Viroscience Department, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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21
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Alshahrani M, Gupta G, Xiao S, Tao P, Verkhivker G. Examining Functional Linkages Between Conformational Dynamics, Protein Stability and Evolution of Cryptic Binding Pockets in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Spike Complexes with the ACE2 Host Receptor: Recombinant Omicron Variants Mediate Variability of Conserved Allosteric Sites and Binding Epitopes. bioRxiv 2023:2023.09.11.557205. [PMID: 37745525 PMCID: PMC10515794 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.11.557205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
In the current study, we explore coarse-grained simulations and atomistic molecular dynamics together with binding energetics scanning and cryptic pocket detection in a comparative examination of conformational landscapes and systematic characterization of allosteric binding sites in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2, BA.2.75 and XBB.1 spike full-length trimer complexes with the host receptor ACE2. Microsecond simulations, Markov state models and mutational scanning of binding energies of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2 and BA.2.75 receptor binding domain complexes revealed the increased thermodynamic stabilization of the BA.2.75 variant and significant dynamic differences between these Omicron variants. Molecular simulations of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike full length trimer complexes with the ACE2 receptor complemented atomistic studies and enabled an in-depth analysis of mutational and binding effects on conformational dynamic and functional adaptability of the Omicron variants. Despite considerable structural similarities, Omicron variants BA.2, BA.2.75 and XBB.1 can induce unique conformational dynamic signatures and specific distributions of the conformational states. Using conformational ensembles of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike trimer complexes with ACE2, we conducted a comprehensive cryptic pocket screening to examine the role of Omicron mutations and ACE2 binding on the distribution and functional mechanisms of the emerging allosteric binding sites. This analysis captured all experimentally known allosteric sites and discovered networks of inter-connected and functionally relevant allosteric sites that are governed by variant-sensitive conformational adaptability of the SARS-CoV-2 spike structures. The results detailed how ACE2 binding and Omicron mutations in the BA.2, BA.2.75 and XBB.1 spike complexes modulate the distribution of conserved and druggable allosteric pockets harboring functionally important regions. The results of are significant for understanding functional roles of druggable cryptic pockets that can be used for allostery-mediated therapeutic intervention targeting conformational states of the Omicron variants.
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22
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Williams AH, Zhan CG. Staying Ahead of the Game: How SARS-CoV-2 has Accelerated the Application of Machine Learning in Pandemic Management. BioDrugs 2023; 37:649-674. [PMID: 37464099 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-023-00611-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, machine learning (ML) techniques have garnered considerable interest for their potential use in accelerating the rate of drug discovery. With the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, the utilization of ML has become even more crucial in the search for effective antiviral medications. The pandemic has presented the scientific community with a unique challenge, and the rapid identification of potential treatments has become an urgent priority. Researchers have been able to accelerate the process of identifying drug candidates, repurposing existing drugs, and designing new compounds with desirable properties using machine learning in drug discovery. To train predictive models, ML techniques in drug discovery rely on the analysis of large datasets, including both experimental and clinical data. These models can be used to predict the biological activities, potential side effects, and interactions with specific target proteins of drug candidates. This strategy has proven to be an effective method for identifying potential coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other disease treatments. This paper offers a thorough analysis of the various ML techniques implemented to combat COVID-19, including supervised and unsupervised learning, deep learning, and natural language processing. The paper discusses the impact of these techniques on pandemic drug development, including the identification of potential treatments, the understanding of the disease mechanism, and the creation of effective and safe therapeutics. The lessons learned can be applied to future outbreaks and drug discovery initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander H Williams
- Molecular Modeling and Biopharmaceutical Center, University of Kentucky, 789 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
- GSK Upper Providence, 1250 S. Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
| | - Chang-Guo Zhan
- Molecular Modeling and Biopharmaceutical Center, University of Kentucky, 789 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.
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23
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Xiao S, Alshahrani M, Gupta G, Tao P, Verkhivker G. Markov State Models and Perturbation-Based Approaches Reveal Distinct Dynamic Signatures and Hidden Allosteric Pockets in the Emerging SARS-Cov-2 Spike Omicron Variant Complexes with the Host Receptor: The Interplay of Dynamics and Convergent Evolution Modulates Allostery and Functional Mechanisms. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:5272-5296. [PMID: 37549201 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
The new generation of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants displayed a significant growth advantage and increased viral fitness by acquiring convergent mutations, suggesting that the immune pressure can promote convergent evolution leading to the sudden acceleration of SARS-CoV-2 evolution. In the current study, we combined structural modeling, microsecond molecular dynamics simulations, and Markov state models to characterize conformational landscapes and identify specific dynamic signatures of the SARS-CoV-2 spike complexes with the host receptor ACE2 for the recently emerged highly transmissible XBB.1, XBB.1.5, BQ.1, and BQ.1.1 Omicron variants. Microsecond simulations and Markovian modeling provided a detailed characterization of the functional conformational states and revealed the increased thermodynamic stabilization of the XBB.1.5 subvariant, which can be contrasted to more dynamic BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 subvariants. Despite considerable structural similarities, Omicron mutations can induce unique dynamic signatures and specific distributions of the conformational states. The results suggested that variant-specific changes of the conformational mobility in the functional interfacial loops of the receptor-binding domain in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can be fine-tuned through crosstalk between convergent mutations which could provide an evolutionary path for modulation of immune escape. By combining atomistic simulations and Markovian modeling analysis with perturbation-based approaches, we determined important complementary roles of convergent mutation sites as effectors and receivers of allosteric signaling involved in modulation of conformational plasticity and regulation of allosteric communications. This study also revealed hidden allosteric pockets and suggested that convergent mutation sites could control evolution and distribution of allosteric pockets through modulation of conformational plasticity in the flexible adaptable regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sian Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research Computing, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275, United States
| | - Mohammed Alshahrani
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, California 92866, United States
| | - Grace Gupta
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, California 92866, United States
| | - Peng Tao
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research Computing, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275, United States
| | - Gennady Verkhivker
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, California 92866, United States
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, California 92618, United States
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24
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Verkhivker G, Alshahrani M, Gupta G, Xiao S, Tao P. Probing conformational landscapes of binding and allostery in the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant complexes using microsecond atomistic simulations and perturbation-based profiling approaches: hidden role of omicron mutations as modulators of allosteric signaling and epistatic relationships. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:21245-21266. [PMID: 37548589 PMCID: PMC10536792 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp02042h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we systematically examine the conformational dynamics, binding and allosteric communications in the Omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and BA.4/BA.5 spike protein complexes with the ACE2 host receptor using molecular dynamics simulations and perturbation-based network profiling approaches. Microsecond atomistic simulations provided a detailed characterization of the conformational landscapes and revealed the increased thermodynamic stabilization of the BA.2 variant which can be contrasted with the BA.4/BA.5 variants inducing a significant mobility of the complexes. Using the dynamics-based mutational scanning of spike residues, we identified structural stability and binding affinity hotspots in the Omicron complexes. Perturbation response scanning and network-based mutational profiling approaches probed the effect of the Omicron mutations on allosteric interactions and communications in the complexes. The results of this analysis revealed specific roles of Omicron mutations as conformationally plastic and evolutionary adaptable modulators of binding and allostery which are coupled to the major regulatory positions through interaction networks. Through perturbation network scanning of allosteric residue potentials in the Omicron variant complexes performed in the background of the original strain, we characterized regions of epistatic couplings that are centered around the binding affinity hotspots N501Y and Q498R. Our results dissected the vital role of these epistatic centers in regulating protein stability, efficient ACE2 binding and allostery which allows for accumulation of multiple Omicron immune escape mutations at other sites. Through integrative computational approaches, this study provides a systematic analysis of the effects of Omicron mutations on thermodynamics, binding and allosteric signaling in the complexes with ACE2 receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gennady Verkhivker
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA.
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA 92618, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Mohammed Alshahrani
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA.
| | - Grace Gupta
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA.
| | - Sian Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research Computing, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, 75275, USA.
| | - Peng Tao
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research Computing, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, 75275, USA.
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25
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Xiao S, Alshahrani M, Gupta G, Tao P, Verkhivker G. Markov State Models and Perturbation-Based Approaches Reveal Distinct Dynamic Signatures and Hidden Allosteric Pockets in the Emerging SARS-Cov-2 Spike Omicron Variants Complexes with the Host Receptor: The Interplay of Dynamics and Convergent Evolution Modulates Allostery and Functional Mechanisms. bioRxiv 2023:2023.05.20.541592. [PMID: 37292827 PMCID: PMC10245745 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.20.541592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The new generation of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants displayed a significant growth advantage and the increased viral fitness by acquiring convergent mutations, suggesting that the immune pressure can promote convergent evolution leading to the sudden acceleration of SARS-CoV-2 evolution. In the current study, we combined structural modeling, extensive microsecond MD simulations and Markov state models to characterize conformational landscapes and identify specific dynamic signatures of the SARS-CoV-2 spike complexes with the host receptor ACE2 for the recently emerged highly transmissible XBB.1, XBB.1.5, BQ.1, and BQ.1.1 Omicron variants. Microsecond simulations and Markovian modeling provided a detailed characterization of the conformational landscapes and revealed the increased thermodynamic stabilization of the XBB.1.5 subvariant which is contrasted to more dynamic BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 subvariants. Despite considerable structural similarities, Omicron mutations can induce unique dynamic signatures and specific distributions of conformational states. The results suggested that variant-specific changes of conformational mobility in the functional interfacial loops of the spike receptor binding domain can be fine-tuned through cross-talk between convergent mutations thereby providing an evolutionary path for modulation of immune escape. By combining atomistic simulations and Markovian modeling analysis with perturbation-based approaches, we determined important complementary roles of convergent mutation sites as effectors and receivers of allosteric signaling involved in modulating conformational plasticity at the binding interface and regulating allosteric responses. This study also characterized the dynamics-induced evolution of allosteric pockets in the Omicron complexes that revealed hidden allosteric pockets and suggested that convergent mutation sites could control evolution and distribution of allosteric pockets through modulation of conformational plasticity in the flexible adaptable regions. Through integrative computational approaches, this investigation provides a systematic analysis and comparison of the effects of Omicron subvariants on conformational dynamics and allosteric signaling in the complexes with the ACE2 receptor. For Table of Contents Use Only
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Tamura T, Ito J, Uriu K, Zahradnik J, Kida I, Anraku Y, Nasser H, Shofa M, Oda Y, Lytras S, Nao N, Itakura Y, Deguchi S, Suzuki R, Wang L, Begum MM, Kita S, Yajima H, Sasaki J, Sasaki-Tabata K, Shimizu R, Tsuda M, Kosugi Y, Fujita S, Pan L, Sauter D, Yoshimatsu K, Suzuki S, Asakura H, Nagashima M, Sadamasu K, Yoshimura K, Yamamoto Y, Nagamoto T, Schreiber G, Maenaka K, Hashiguchi T, Ikeda T, Fukuhara T, Saito A, Tanaka S, Matsuno K, Takayama K, Sato K. Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 XBB variant derived from recombination of two Omicron subvariants. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2800. [PMID: 37193706 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38435-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In late 2022, SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants have become highly diversified, and XBB is spreading rapidly around the world. Our phylogenetic analyses suggested that XBB emerged through the recombination of two cocirculating BA.2 lineages, BJ.1 and BM.1.1.1 (a progeny of BA.2.75), during the summer of 2022. XBB.1 is the variant most profoundly resistant to BA.2/5 breakthrough infection sera to date and is more fusogenic than BA.2.75. The recombination breakpoint is located in the receptor-binding domain of spike, and each region of the recombinant spike confers immune evasion and increases fusogenicity. We further provide the structural basis for the interaction between XBB.1 spike and human ACE2. Finally, the intrinsic pathogenicity of XBB.1 in male hamsters is comparable to or even lower than that of BA.2.75. Our multiscale investigation provides evidence suggesting that XBB is the first observed SARS-CoV-2 variant to increase its fitness through recombination rather than substitutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomokazu Tamura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development, HU-IVReD, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Jumpei Ito
- Division of Systems Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiya Uriu
- Division of Systems Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jiri Zahradnik
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- First Medical Faculty at Biocev, Charles University, Vestec-Prague, Czechia
| | - Izumi Kida
- Division of Risk Analysis and Management, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yuki Anraku
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Science and Center for Research and Education on Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hesham Nasser
- Division of Molecular Virology and Genetics, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Maya Shofa
- Department of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Oda
- Department of Cancer Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Spyros Lytras
- Medical Research Council-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Naganori Nao
- Division of International Research Promotion, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yukari Itakura
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development, HU-IVReD, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Sayaka Deguchi
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Rigel Suzuki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development, HU-IVReD, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Cancer Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Mst Monira Begum
- Division of Molecular Virology and Genetics, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Kita
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Science and Center for Research and Education on Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hisano Yajima
- Laboratory of Medical Virology, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jiei Sasaki
- Laboratory of Medical Virology, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kaori Sasaki-Tabata
- Department of Medicinal Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Ryo Shimizu
- Division of Molecular Virology and Genetics, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Masumi Tsuda
- Department of Cancer Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yusuke Kosugi
- Division of Systems Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeru Fujita
- Division of Systems Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Lin Pan
- Division of Systems Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Daniel Sauter
- Division of Systems Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Saori Suzuki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development, HU-IVReD, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | | | - Mami Nagashima
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji Sadamasu
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Gideon Schreiber
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Katsumi Maenaka
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development, HU-IVReD, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Science and Center for Research and Education on Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Global Station for Biosurfaces and Drug Discovery, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Division of Pathogen Structure, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takao Hashiguchi
- Laboratory of Medical Virology, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan
| | - Terumasa Ikeda
- Division of Molecular Virology and Genetics, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Takasuke Fukuhara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development, HU-IVReD, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- AMED-CREST, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), Tokyo, Japan
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Akatsuki Saito
- Department of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Shinya Tanaka
- Department of Cancer Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
- Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
| | - Keita Matsuno
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development, HU-IVReD, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
- Division of Risk Analysis and Management, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
- One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
- International Collaboration Unit, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
| | - Kazuo Takayama
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
- CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan.
| | - Kei Sato
- Division of Systems Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
- Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan.
- CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan.
- International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
- International Vaccine Design Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
- Collaboration Unit for Infection, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
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Ito J, Suzuki R, Uriu K, Itakura Y, Zahradnik J, Kimura KT, Deguchi S, Wang L, Lytras S, Tamura T, Kida I, Nasser H, Shofa M, Begum MM, Tsuda M, Oda Y, Suzuki T, Sasaki J, Sasaki-Tabata K, Fujita S, Yoshimatsu K, Ito H, Nao N, Asakura H, Nagashima M, Sadamasu K, Yoshimura K, Yamamoto Y, Nagamoto T, Kuramochi J, Schreiber G, Saito A, Matsuno K, Takayama K, Hashiguchi T, Tanaka S, Fukuhara T, Ikeda T, Sato K. Convergent evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants leading to the emergence of BQ.1.1 variant. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2671. [PMID: 37169744 PMCID: PMC10175283 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38188-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In late 2022, various Omicron subvariants emerged and cocirculated worldwide. These variants convergently acquired amino acid substitutions at critical residues in the spike protein, including residues R346, K444, L452, N460, and F486. Here, we characterize the convergent evolution of Omicron subvariants and the properties of one recent lineage of concern, BQ.1.1. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that these five substitutions are recurrently acquired, particularly in younger Omicron lineages. Epidemic dynamics modelling suggests that the five substitutions increase viral fitness, and a large proportion of the fitness variation within Omicron lineages can be explained by these substitutions. Compared to BA.5, BQ.1.1 evades breakthrough BA.2 and BA.5 infection sera more efficiently, as demonstrated by neutralization assays. The pathogenicity of BQ.1.1 in hamsters is lower than that of BA.5. Our multiscale investigations illuminate the evolutionary rules governing the convergent evolution for known Omicron lineages as of 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jumpei Ito
- Division of Systems Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Rigel Suzuki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Keiya Uriu
- Division of Systems Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukari Itakura
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Jiri Zahradnik
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- First Medical Faculty at Biocev, Charles University, Vestec-Prague, Czechia
| | - Kanako Terakado Kimura
- Laboratory of Medical Virology, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Sayaka Deguchi
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Cancer Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Spyros Lytras
- Medical Research Council-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Tomokazu Tamura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Izumi Kida
- Division of Risk Analysis and Management, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hesham Nasser
- Division of Molecular Virology and Genetics, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Maya Shofa
- Department of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Mst Monira Begum
- Division of Molecular Virology and Genetics, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Masumi Tsuda
- Department of Cancer Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Oda
- Department of Cancer Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tateki Suzuki
- Laboratory of Medical Virology, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jiei Sasaki
- Laboratory of Medical Virology, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kaori Sasaki-Tabata
- Department of Medicinal Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shigeru Fujita
- Division of Systems Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Hayato Ito
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Naganori Nao
- Division of International Research Promotion, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development: HU-IVReD, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | | | - Mami Nagashima
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji Sadamasu
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Jin Kuramochi
- Interpark Kuramochi Clinic, Utsunomiya, Japan
- Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gideon Schreiber
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Akatsuki Saito
- Department of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Keita Matsuno
- Division of Risk Analysis and Management, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development: HU-IVReD, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- International Collaboration Unit, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kazuo Takayama
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- AMED-CREST, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takao Hashiguchi
- Laboratory of Medical Virology, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Shinya Tanaka
- Department of Cancer Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
- Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
| | - Takasuke Fukuhara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
- AMED-CREST, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), Tokyo, Japan.
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
| | - Terumasa Ikeda
- Division of Molecular Virology and Genetics, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
| | - Kei Sato
- Division of Systems Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
- Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
- International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
- International Vaccine Design Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan.
- Collaboration Unit for Infection, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
- CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan.
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Verkhivker G, Alshahrani M, Gupta G. Balancing Functional Tradeoffs between Protein Stability and ACE2 Binding in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2, BA.2.75 and XBB Lineages: Dynamics-Based Network Models Reveal Epistatic Effects Modulating Compensatory Dynamic and Energetic Changes. Viruses 2023; 15:1143. [PMID: 37243229 PMCID: PMC10221141 DOI: 10.3390/v15051143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary and functional studies suggested that the emergence of the Omicron variants can be determined by multiple fitness trade-offs including the immune escape, binding affinity for ACE2, conformational plasticity, protein stability and allosteric modulation. In this study, we systematically characterize conformational dynamics, structural stability and binding affinities of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Omicron complexes with the host receptor ACE2 for BA.2, BA.2.75, XBB.1 and XBB.1.5 variants. We combined multiscale molecular simulations and dynamic analysis of allosteric interactions together with the ensemble-based mutational scanning of the protein residues and network modeling of epistatic interactions. This multifaceted computational study characterized molecular mechanisms and identified energetic hotspots that can mediate the predicted increased stability and the enhanced binding affinity of the BA.2.75 and XBB.1.5 complexes. The results suggested a mechanism driven by the stability hotspots and a spatially localized group of the Omicron binding affinity centers, while allowing for functionally beneficial neutral Omicron mutations in other binding interface positions. A network-based community model for the analysis of epistatic contributions in the Omicron complexes is proposed revealing the key role of the binding hotspots R498 and Y501 in mediating community-based epistatic couplings with other Omicron sites and allowing for compensatory dynamics and binding energetic changes. The results also showed that mutations in the convergent evolutionary hotspot F486 can modulate not only local interactions but also rewire the global network of local communities in this region allowing the F486P mutation to restore both the stability and binding affinity of the XBB.1.5 variant which may explain the growth advantages over the XBB.1 variant. The results of this study are consistent with a broad range of functional studies rationalizing functional roles of the Omicron mutation sites that form a coordinated network of hotspots enabling a balance of multiple fitness tradeoffs and shaping up a complex functional landscape of virus transmissibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gennady Verkhivker
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA; (M.A.); (G.G.)
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA 92618, USA
| | - Mohammed Alshahrani
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA; (M.A.); (G.G.)
| | - Grace Gupta
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA; (M.A.); (G.G.)
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Verkhivker G, Alshahrani M, Gupta G, Xiao S, Tao P. Probing Conformational Landscapes of Binding and Allostery in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Complexes Using Microsecond Atomistic Simulations and Perturbation-Based Profiling Approaches: Hidden Role of Omicron Mutations as Modulators of Allosteric Signaling and Epistatic Relationships. bioRxiv 2023:2023.05.03.539337. [PMID: 37205479 PMCID: PMC10187228 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.03.539337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we systematically examine the conformational dynamics, binding and allosteric communications in the Omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and BA.4/BA.5 complexes with the ACE2 host receptor using molecular dynamics simulations and perturbation-based network profiling approaches. Microsecond atomistic simulations provided a detailed characterization of the conformational landscapes and revealed the increased thermodynamic stabilization of the BA.2 variant which is contrasted with the BA.4/BA.5 variants inducing a significant mobility of the complexes. Using ensemble-based mutational scanning of binding interactions, we identified binding affinity and structural stability hotspots in the Omicron complexes. Perturbation response scanning and network-based mutational profiling approaches probed the effect of the Omicron variants on allosteric communications. The results of this analysis revealed specific roles of Omicron mutations as "plastic and evolutionary adaptable" modulators of binding and allostery which are coupled to the major regulatory positions through interaction networks. Through perturbation network scanning of allosteric residue potentials in the Omicron variant complexes, which is performed in the background of the original strain, we identified that the key Omicron binding affinity hotspots N501Y and Q498R could mediate allosteric interactions and epistatic couplings. Our results suggested that the synergistic role of these hotspots in controlling stability, binding and allostery can enable for compensatory balance of fitness tradeoffs with conformationally and evolutionary adaptable immune-escape Omicron mutations. Through integrative computational approaches, this study provides a systematic analysis of the effects of Omicron mutations on thermodynamics, binding and allosteric signaling in the complexes with ACE2 receptor. The findings support a mechanism in which Omicron mutations can evolve to balance thermodynamic stability and conformational adaptability in order to ensure proper tradeoff between stability, binding and immune escape.
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Dijokaite-Guraliuc A, Das R, Zhou D, Ginn HM, Liu C, Duyvesteyn HME, Huo J, Nutalai R, Supasa P, Selvaraj M, de Silva TI, Plowright M, Newman TAH, Hornsby H, Mentzer AJ, Skelly D, Ritter TG, Temperton N, Klenerman P, Barnes E, Dunachie SJ, Roemer C, Peacock TP, Paterson NG, Williams MA, Hall DR, Fry EE, Mongkolsapaya J, Ren J, Stuart DI, Screaton GR. Rapid escape of new SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants from BA.2-directed antibody responses. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112271. [PMID: 36995936 PMCID: PMC9988707 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In November 2021, Omicron BA.1, containing a raft of new spike mutations, emerged and quickly spread globally. Intense selection pressure to escape the antibody response produced by vaccines or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection then led to a rapid succession of Omicron sub-lineages with waves of BA.2 and then BA.4/5 infection. Recently, many variants have emerged such as BQ.1 and XBB, which carry up to 8 additional receptor-binding domain (RBD) amino acid substitutions compared with BA.2. We describe a panel of 25 potent monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) generated from vaccinees suffering BA.2 breakthrough infections. Epitope mapping shows potent mAb binding shifting to 3 clusters, 2 corresponding to early-pandemic binding hotspots. The RBD mutations in recent variants map close to these binding sites and knock out or severely knock down neutralization activity of all but 1 potent mAb. This recent mAb escape corresponds with large falls in neutralization titer of vaccine or BA.1, BA.2, or BA.4/5 immune serum.
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Key Words
- CP: Immunology
- CP: Microbiology
- SARS-CoV-2, BA.2, variant, mutation, RBD, antibodies, binding site, breakthrough, neutralizing, structure, COVID-19
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiste Dijokaite-Guraliuc
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Raksha Das
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Daming Zhou
- Division of Structural Biology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK; Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Helen M Ginn
- Diamond Light Source, Ltd., Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Chang Liu
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Helen M E Duyvesteyn
- Division of Structural Biology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK
| | - Jiandong Huo
- Division of Structural Biology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK
| | - Rungtiwa Nutalai
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Piyada Supasa
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Muneeswaran Selvaraj
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Thushan I de Silva
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Megan Plowright
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Thomas A H Newman
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Hailey Hornsby
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Alexander J Mentzer
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Donal Skelly
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK; Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Oxford, UK; Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Thomas G Ritter
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Nigel Temperton
- Viral Pseudotype Unit, Medway School of Pharmacy, University of Kent and Greenwich Chatham Maritime, Kent, UK
| | - Paul Klenerman
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK; Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Oxford, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK; Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Eleanor Barnes
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK; Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Oxford, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK; Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Susanna J Dunachie
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK; Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Oxford, UK; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Cornelius Roemer
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas P Peacock
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Neil G Paterson
- Diamond Light Source, Ltd., Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Mark A Williams
- Diamond Light Source, Ltd., Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - David R Hall
- Diamond Light Source, Ltd., Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Elizabeth E Fry
- Division of Structural Biology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK.
| | - Juthathip Mongkolsapaya
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Jingshan Ren
- Division of Structural Biology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK.
| | - David I Stuart
- Division of Structural Biology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK; Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Diamond Light Source, Ltd., Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK.
| | - Gavin R Screaton
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Guo H, Jiang J, Shen S, Ge X, Fan Q, Zhou B, Cheng L, Ju B, Zhang Z. Additional mutations based on Omicron BA.2.75 mediate its further evasion from broadly neutralizing antibodies. iScience 2023; 26:106283. [PMID: 36925722 PMCID: PMC9969747 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 subvariant has evolved to a series of progeny variants carrying several additional mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD). Here, we investigated whether and how these single mutations based on BA.2.75 affect the neutralization of currently available anti-RBD monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with well-defined structural information. Approximately 34% of mAbs maintained effective neutralizing activities against BA.2.75, consistent with those against BA.2, BA.4/5, and BA.2.12.1. Single additional R346T, K356T, L452R, or F486S mutations further facilitated BA.2.75-related progeny variants to escape from broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) at different degree. Only LY-CoV1404 (bebtelovimab) displayed a first-class neutralization potency and breadth against all tested Omicron subvariants. Overall, these data make a clear connection between virus escape and antibody recognizing antigenic epitopes, which facilitate to develop next-generation universal bnAbs against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Guo
- Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518112, China
| | - Jie Jiang
- Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518112, China
| | - Senlin Shen
- Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518112, China
| | - Xiangyang Ge
- Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518112, China
| | - Qing Fan
- Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518112, China
| | - Bing Zhou
- Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518112, China
| | - Lin Cheng
- Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518112, China
| | - Bin Ju
- Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518112, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Anti-infection Drug Quality Evaluation, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518112, China
| | - Zheng Zhang
- Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518112, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Anti-infection Drug Quality Evaluation, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518112, China
- Shenzhen Research Center for Communicable Disease Diagnosis and Treatment of Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518112, China
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Overduin M, Bhat RK, Kervin TA. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Subvariants Balance Host Cell Membrane, Receptor, and Antibody Docking via an Overlapping Target Site. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020447. [PMID: 36851661 PMCID: PMC9967007 DOI: 10.3390/v15020447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are emerging rapidly and offer surfaces that are optimized for recognition of host cell membranes while also evading antibodies arising from vaccinations and previous infections. Host cell infection is a multi-step process in which spike heads engage lipid bilayers and one or more angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptors. Here, the membrane binding surfaces of Omicron subvariants are compared using cryo-electron microscopy (cEM) structures of spike trimers from BA.2, BA.2.12.1, BA.2.13, BA.2.75, BA.3, BA.4, and BA.5 viruses. Despite significant differences around mutated sites, they all maintain strong membrane binding propensities that first appeared in BA.1. Both their closed and open states retain elevated membrane docking capacities, although the presence of more closed than open states diminishes opportunities to bind receptors while enhancing membrane engagement. The electrostatic dipoles are generally conserved. However, the BA.2.75 spike dipole is compromised, and its ACE-2 affinity is increased, and BA.3 exhibits the opposite pattern. We propose that balancing the functional imperatives of a stable, readily cleavable spike that engages both lipid bilayers and receptors while avoiding host defenses underlies betacoronavirus evolution. This provides predictive criteria for rationalizing future pandemic waves and COVID-19 transmissibility while illuminating critical sites and strategies for simultaneously combating multiple variants.
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Peña Rodríguez M, Hernández Bello J, Vega Magaña N, Viera Segura O, García Chagollán M, Ceja Gálvez HR, Mora Mora JC, Rentería Flores FI, García González OP, Muñoz Valle JF. Prevalence of symptoms, comorbidities, and reinfections in individuals infected with Wild-Type SARS-CoV-2, Delta, or Omicron variants: a comparative study in western Mexico. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1149795. [PMID: 37181688 PMCID: PMC10174068 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1149795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been classified into variants of interest (VOIs) or concern (VOCs) to prioritize global monitoring and research on variants with potential risks to public health. The SARS-CoV-2 high-rate mutation can directly impact the clinical disease progression, epidemiological behavior, immune evasion, vaccine efficacy, and transmission rates. Therefore, epidemiological surveillance is crucial for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. In the present study, we aimed to describe the prevalence of wild-type (WT) SARS-CoV-2 and Delta and Omicron variants in Jalisco State, Mexico, from 2021 to 2022, and evaluate the possible association of these variants with clinical manifestations of COVID-19. Methods Four thousand and ninety-eight patients diagnosed with COVID-19 by real-time PCR (COVIFLU, Genes2Life, Mexico) from nasopharyngeal samples from January 2021 to January 2022 were included. Variant identification was performed by the RT-qPCR Master Mut Kit (Genes2Life, Mexico). A study population follow-up was performed to identify patients who had experienced reinfection after being vaccinated. Results and Discussion Samples were grouped into variants according to the identified mutations: 46.3% were Omicron, 27.9% were Delta, and 25.8% were WT. The proportions of dry cough, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, conjunctivitis, fast breathing, diarrhea, anosmia, and dysgeusia were significantly different among the abovementioned groups (p < 0.001). Anosmia and dysgeusia were mainly found in WT-infected patients, while rhinorrhea and sore throat were more prevalent in patients infected with the Omicron variant. For the reinfection follow-up, 836 patients answered, from which 85 cases of reinfection were identified (9.6%); Omicron was the VOC that caused all reported reinfection cases. In this study, we demonstrate that the Omicron variant caused the biggest outbreak in Jalisco during the pandemic from late December 2021 to mid-February 2022 but with a less severe form than the one demonstrated by Delta and WT. The co-analysis of mutations and clinical outcomes is a public health strategy with the potential to infer mutations or variants that could increase disease severity and even be an indicator of long-term sequelae of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Peña Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Enfermedades Emergentes y Reemergentes, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Jorge Hernández Bello
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Natali Vega Magaña
- Laboratorio de Enfermedades Emergentes y Reemergentes, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Oliver Viera Segura
- Laboratorio de Enfermedades Emergentes y Reemergentes, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Mariel García Chagollán
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Hazael Ramiro Ceja Gálvez
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
- Doctorado en Ciencias en Biología Molecular en Medicina, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Jesús Carlos Mora Mora
- Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Francisco Israel Rentería Flores
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
- Doctorado en Ciencias en Biología Molecular en Medicina, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | | | - José Francisco Muñoz Valle
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
- *Correspondence: José Francisco Muñoz Valle,
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