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Staroverov V, Galatenko A, Knyazev E, Tonevitsky A. Mathematical model explains differences in Omicron and Delta SARS-CoV-2 dynamics in Caco-2 and Calu-3 cells. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16964. [PMID: 38560455 PMCID: PMC10981414 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16964] [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: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Within-host infection dynamics of Omicron dramatically differs from previous variants of SARS-CoV-2. However, little is still known about which parameters of virus-cell interplay contribute to the observed attenuated replication and pathogenicity of Omicron. Mathematical models, often expressed as systems of differential equations, are frequently employed to study the infection dynamics of various viruses. Adopting such models for results of in vitro experiments can be beneficial in a number of aspects, such as model simplification (e.g., the absence of adaptive immune response and innate immunity cells), better measurement accuracy, and the possibility to measure additional data types in comparison with in vivo case. In this study, we consider a refinement of our previously developed and validated model based on a system of integro-differential equations. We fit the model to the experimental data of Omicron and Delta infections in Caco-2 (human intestinal epithelium model) and Calu-3 (lung epithelium model) cell lines. The data include known information on initial conditions, infectious virus titers, and intracellular viral RNA measurements at several time points post-infection. The model accurately explains the experimental data for both variants in both cell lines using only three variant- and cell-line-specific parameters. Namely, the cell entry rate is significantly lower for Omicron, and Omicron triggers a stronger cytokine production rate (i.e., innate immune response) in infected cells, ultimately making uninfected cells resistant to the virus. Notably, differences in only a single parameter (e.g., cell entry rate) are insufficient to obtain a reliable model fit for the experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Staroverov
- Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexei Galatenko
- Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Evgeny Knyazev
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Tonevitsky
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Art Photonics GmbH, Berlin, Germany
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Tang S, Lin G, Wu X, Chen Z. SARS-CoV-2 infection increases airway bleeding risk in patients after tracheostomies. Virol J 2024; 21:61. [PMID: 38454485 PMCID: PMC10921690 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02320-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Airway bleeding events are a rare incident in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients after tracheostomies. We aimed to explore the correlation between airway bleeding and SARS-CoV-2 infection and evaluate the consistency of SARS-CoV-2 RNA test results in the upper and lower airway samples from patients after tracheostomies. METHODS Forty-four patients after temporary or permanent tracheostomy were divided into a positive group (29 patients) and a negative group (15 patients) based on the SARS-CoV-2 RNA test results of their oropharyngeal swabs. The oropharyngeal and tracheal swabs of the positive group were re-collected for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection. Demographic and clinical characteristics and airway bleeding events were recorded for all enrolled patients. RESULTS Airway bleeding was reported in eleven patients of the positive group (11/29), with seven displaying bloody sputum or hemoptysis, and four featuring massive sputum crust formation in the trachea that resulted in dyspnea, and only one patient in the negative group (1/15), with a significant difference in the airway bleeding rate (37.9% vs. 6.7%, p < 0.05). The SARS-CoV-2 RNA test results showed a statistical difference in cycle threshold (Ct) values between oropharyngeal swabs and tracheal swabs (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS After tracheostomies, patients are more susceptible to airway bleeding if they are infected with SARS-CoV-2. The findings signify that in addition to droplet transmission through tracheostoma, SARS-CoV-2 may infect the oropharynx by airborne and close contact transmission, and that given the higher viral load and longer infection time in the trachea, tracheal swabs are more reliable for SARS-CoV-2 detection in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shupin Tang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China
- Fujian Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Gongbiao Lin
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China.
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China.
- Fujian Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China.
| | - Xiaobo Wu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China
- Fujian Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Zhihong Chen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China
- Fujian Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
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Sievers BL, Cheng MTK, Csiba K, Meng B, Gupta RK. SARS-CoV-2 and innate immunity: the good, the bad, and the "goldilocks". Cell Mol Immunol 2024; 21:171-183. [PMID: 37985854 PMCID: PMC10805730 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-023-01104-y] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
An ancient conflict between hosts and pathogens has driven the innate and adaptive arms of immunity. Knowledge about this interplay can not only help us identify biological mechanisms but also reveal pathogen vulnerabilities that can be leveraged therapeutically. The humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 infection has been the focus of intense research, and the role of the innate immune system has received significantly less attention. Here, we review current knowledge of the innate immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the various means SARS-CoV-2 employs to evade innate defense systems. We also consider the role of innate immunity in SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and in the phenomenon of long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark T K Cheng
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kata Csiba
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bo Meng
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Ravindra K Gupta
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Reuschl AK, Thorne LG, Whelan MVX, Ragazzini R, Furnon W, Cowton VM, De Lorenzo G, Mesner D, Turner JLE, Dowgier G, Bogoda N, Bonfanti P, Palmarini M, Patel AH, Jolly C, Towers GJ. Evolution of enhanced innate immune suppression by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:451-463. [PMID: 38228858 PMCID: PMC10847042 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01588-4] [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: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) human adaptation resulted in distinct lineages with enhanced transmissibility called variants of concern (VOCs). Omicron is the first VOC to evolve distinct globally dominant subvariants. Here we compared their replication in human cell lines and primary airway cultures and measured host responses to infection. We discovered that subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 have improved their suppression of innate immunity when compared with earlier subvariants BA.1 and BA.2. Similarly, more recent subvariants (BA.2.75 and XBB lineages) also triggered reduced innate immune activation. This correlated with increased expression of viral innate antagonists Orf6 and nucleocapsid, reminiscent of VOCs Alpha to Delta. Increased Orf6 levels suppressed host innate responses to infection by decreasing IRF3 and STAT1 signalling measured by transcription factor phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Our data suggest that convergent evolution of enhanced innate immune antagonist expression is a common pathway of human adaptation and link Omicron subvariant dominance to improved innate immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucy G Thorne
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Mary's Medical School, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Matthew V X Whelan
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Roberta Ragazzini
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
- Epithelial Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Wilhelm Furnon
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Vanessa M Cowton
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Dejan Mesner
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jane L E Turner
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Giulia Dowgier
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
- COVID Surveillance Unit, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Nathasha Bogoda
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Paola Bonfanti
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
- Epithelial Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Arvind H Patel
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Clare Jolly
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Greg J Towers
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK.
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De Angelis M, Anichini G, Palamara AT, Nencioni L, Gori Savellini G. Dysregulation of intracellular redox homeostasis by the SARS-CoV-2 ORF6 protein. Virol J 2023; 20:239. [PMID: 37853388 PMCID: PMC10585933 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02208-7] [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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has evolved several strategies to overcome host cell defenses by inducing cell injury to favour its replication. Many viruses have been reported to modulate the intracellular redox balance, affecting the Nuclear factor erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (NRF2) signaling pathway. Although antioxidant modulation by SARS-CoV-2 infection has already been described, the viral factors involved in modulating the NRF2 pathway are still elusive. Given the antagonistic activity of ORF6 on several cellular pathways, we investigated the role of the viral protein towards NRF2-mediated antioxidant response. The ectopic expression of the wt-ORF6 protein negatively impacts redox cell homeostasis, leading to an increase in ROS production, along with a decrease in NRF2 protein and its downstream controlled genes. Moreover, when investigating the Δ61 mutant, previously described as an inactive nucleopore proteins binding mutant, we prove that the oxidative stress induced by ORF6 is substantially related to its C-terminal domain, speculating that ORF6 mechanism of action is associated with the inhibition of nuclear mRNA export processes. In addition, activation by phosphorylation of the serine residue at position 40 of NRF2 is increased in the cytoplasm of wt-ORF6-expressing cells, supporting the presence of an altered redox state, although NRF2 nuclear translocation is hindered by the viral protein to fully antagonize the cell response. Furthermore, wt-ORF6 leads to phosphorylation of a stress-activated serine/threonine protein kinase, p38 MAPK, suggesting a role of the viral protein in regulating p38 activation. These findings strengthen the important role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and identify ORF6 as an important viral accessory protein hypothetically involved in modulating the antioxidant response during viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta De Angelis
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
- Laboratory of Virology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
| | - Gabriele Anichini
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Teresa Palamara
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Nencioni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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