Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern link to increased spike cleavage and virus transmission.
Cell Host Microbe
; 30(3): 373-387.e7, 2022 03 09.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1767977
ABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 lineages have diverged into highly prevalent variants termed "variants of concern" (VOCs). Here, we characterized emerging SARS-CoV-2 spike polymorphisms in vitro and in vivo to understand their impact on transmissibility and virus pathogenicity and fitness. We demonstrate that the substitution S655Y, represented in the gamma and omicron VOCs, enhances viral replication and spike protein cleavage. The S655Y substitution was transmitted more efficiently than its ancestor S655H in the hamster infection model and was able to outcompete S655H in the hamster model and in a human primary airway system. Finally, we analyzed a set of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants to investigate how different sets of mutations may impact spike processing. All VOCs tested exhibited increased spike cleavage and fusogenic capacity. Taken together, our study demonstrates that the spike mutations present in VOCs that become epidemiologically prevalent in humans are linked to an increase in spike processing and virus transmission.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Topics:
Variants
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Cell Host Microbe
Journal subject:
Microbiology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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