1
|
Hasan M, He Z, Jia M, Leung ACF, Natarajan K, Xu W, Yap S, Zhou F, Chen S, Su H, Zhu K, Su H. Dynamic expedition of leading mutations in SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoproteins. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:2407-2417. [PMID: 38882678 PMCID: PMC11176665 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.05.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The continuous evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which caused the recent pandemic, has generated countless new variants with varying fitness. Mutations of the spike glycoprotein play a particularly vital role in shaping its evolutionary trajectory, as they have the capability to alter its infectivity and antigenicity. We present a time-resolved statistical method, Dynamic Expedition of Leading Mutations (deLemus), to analyze the evolutionary dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. The proposed L -index of the deLemus method is effective in quantifying the mutation strength of each amino acid site and outlining evolutionarily significant sites, allowing the comprehensive characterization of the evolutionary mutation pattern of the spike glycoprotein.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Hasan
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhouyi He
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengqi Jia
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Alvin C F Leung
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Wentao Xu
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shanqi Yap
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shihong Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hailei Su
- Bengbu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 4339 Huai-shang Road, Anhui 233080, China
| | - Kaicheng Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Haibin Su
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Class J, Simons LM, Lorenzo-Redondo R, Achi JG, Cooper L, Dangi T, Penaloza-MacMaster P, Ozer EA, Lutz SE, Rong L, Hultquist JF, Richner JM. Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in the murine central nervous system drives viral diversification. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:2383-2394. [PMID: 39179693 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01786-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Severe coronavirus disease 2019 and post-acute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are associated with neurological complications that may be linked to direct infection of the central nervous system (CNS), but the selective pressures ruling neuroinvasion are poorly defined. Here we assessed SARS-CoV-2 evolution in the lung versus CNS of infected mice. Higher levels of viral divergence were observed in the CNS than the lung after intranasal challenge with a high frequency of mutations in the spike furin cleavage site (FCS). Deletion of the FCS significantly attenuated virulence after intranasal challenge, with lower viral titres and decreased morbidity compared with the wild-type virus. Intracranial inoculation of the FCS-deleted virus, however, was sufficient to restore virulence. After intracranial inoculation, both viruses established infection in the lung, but dissemination from the CNS to the lung required the intact FCS. Cumulatively, these data suggest a critical role for the FCS in determining SARS-CoV-2 tropism and compartmentalization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Class
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lacy M Simons
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ramon Lorenzo-Redondo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jazmin Galván Achi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Laura Cooper
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Tanushree Dangi
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Pablo Penaloza-MacMaster
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Egon A Ozer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sarah E Lutz
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lijun Rong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Judd F Hultquist
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Justin M Richner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yan C, Zhou W, Zhang Y, Zhou X, Qiao Q, Miao L, Xu Z. Super-Resolution Imaging Reveals the Mechanism of Endosomal Acidification Inhibitors Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400404. [PMID: 38877380 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
In this study, super-resolution structured illumination microscope (SIM) was used to analyze molecular mechanism of endocytic acidification inhibitors in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, such as Chloroquine (CQ), Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and Bafilomycin A1 (BafA1). We fluorescently labeled the SARS-CoV-2 RBD and its receptor ACE2 protein with small molecule dyes. Utilizing SIM imaging, the real-time impact of inhibitors (BafA1, CQ, HCQ, Dynasore) on the RBD-ACE2 endocytotic process was dynamically tracked in living cells. Initially, the protein activity of RBD and ACE2 was ensured after being labeled. And then our findings revealed that these inhibitors could inhibit the internalization and degradation of RBD-ACE2 to varying degrees. Among them, 100 nM BafA1 exhibited the most satisfactory endocytotic inhibition (~63.9 %) and protein degradation inhibition (~97.7 %). And it could inhibit the fusion between endocytic vesicles in the living cells. Additionally, Dynasore, a widely recognized dynein inhibitor, also demonstrated cell acidification inhibition effects. Together, these inhibitors collectively hinder SARS-CoV-2 infection by inhibiting both the viral internalization and RNA release. The comprehensive evaluation of pharmacological mechanisms through super-resolution fluorescence imaging has laid a crucial theoretical foundation for the development of potential drugs to treat COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Yan
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, China
- School of Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, China
- School of Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Xuelian Zhou
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, China
- School of Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Qinglong Qiao
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Lu Miao
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Zhaochao Xu
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, China
- School of Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Michaels TM, Essop MF, Joseph DE. Potential Effects of Hyperglycemia on SARS-CoV-2 Entry Mechanisms in Pancreatic Beta Cells. Viruses 2024; 16:1243. [PMID: 39205219 PMCID: PMC11358987 DOI: 10.3390/v16081243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a bidirectional relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and diabetes mellitus. Existing evidence strongly suggests hyperglycemia as an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Conversely, recent studies have reported new-onset diabetes following SARS-CoV-2 infection, hinting at a potential direct viral attack on pancreatic beta cells. In this review, we explore how hyperglycemia, a hallmark of diabetes, might influence SARS-CoV-2 entry and accessory proteins in pancreatic β-cells. We examine how the virus may enter and manipulate such cells, focusing on the role of the spike protein and its interaction with host receptors. Additionally, we analyze potential effects on endosomal processing and accessory proteins involved in viral infection. Our analysis suggests a complex interplay between hyperglycemia and SARS-CoV-2 in pancreatic β-cells. Understanding these mechanisms may help unlock urgent therapeutic strategies to mitigate the detrimental effects of COVID-19 in diabetic patients and unveil if the virus itself can trigger diabetes onset.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tara M. Michaels
- Centre for Cardio-Metabolic Research in Africa, Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa;
| | - M. Faadiel Essop
- Centre for Cardio-Metabolic Research in Africa, Division of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa;
| | - Danzil E. Joseph
- Centre for Cardio-Metabolic Research in Africa, Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa;
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhang T, Yang D, Tang L, Hu Y. Current development of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 neutralizing antibodies (Review). Mol Med Rep 2024; 30:148. [PMID: 38940338 PMCID: PMC11228696 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2024.13272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) seriously affected global public health security. Studies on vaccines, neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) and small molecule antiviral drugs are currently ongoing. In particular, NAbs have emerged as promising therapeutic agents due to their well‑defined mechanism, high specificity, superior safety profile, ease of large‑scale production and simultaneous application for both prevention and treatment of viral infection. Numerous NAb therapeutics have entered the clinical research stages, demonstrating promising therapeutic and preventive effects. These agents have been used for outbreak prevention and control under urgent authorization processes. The present review summarizes the molecular targets of SARS‑CoV‑2‑associated NAbs and screening and identification techniques for NAb development. Moreover, the current shortcomings and challenges that persist with the use of NAbs are discussed. The aim of the present review is to offer a reference for the development of NAbs for any future emergent infectious diseases, including SARS‑CoV‑2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tong Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Wuhan Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China
| | - Di Yang
- Department of Hematology, Wuhan Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China
| | - Liang Tang
- Department of Hematology, Wuhan Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China
| | - Yu Hu
- Department of Hematology, Wuhan Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Datta G, Rezagholizadeh N, Hasler WA, Khan N, Chen X. SLC38A9 regulates SARS-CoV-2 viral entry. iScience 2024; 27:110387. [PMID: 39071889 PMCID: PMC11277692 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 viral entry into host cells depends on the cleavage of spike (S) protein into S1 and S2 proteins. Such proteolytic cleavage by furin results in the exposure of a multibasic motif on S1, which is critical for SARS-CoV-2 viral infection and transmission; however, how such a multibasic motif contributes to the infection of SARS-CoV-2 remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that the multibasic motif on S1 is critical for its interaction with SLC38A9, an endolysosome-resident arginine sensor. SLC38A9 knockdown prevents S1-induced endolysosome de-acidification and blocks the S protein-mediated entry of pseudo-SARS-CoV-2 in Calu-3, U87MG, Caco-2, and A549 cells. Our findings provide a novel mechanism in regulating SARS-CoV-2 viral entry; S1 present in endolysosome lumen could interact with SLC38A9, which mediates S1-induced endolysosome de-acidification and dysfunction, facilitating the escape of SARS-CoV-2 from endolysosomes and enhancing viral entry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Datta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA
| | - Neda Rezagholizadeh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA
| | - Wendie A. Hasler
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA
| | - Nabab Khan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA
| | - Xuesong Chen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang S, Ran W, Sun L, Fan Q, Zhao Y, Wang B, Yang J, He Y, Wu Y, Wang Y, Chen L, Chuchuay A, You Y, Zhu X, Wang X, Chen Y, Wang Y, Chen YQ, Yuan Y, Zhao J, Mao Y. Sequential glycosylations at the multibasic cleavage site of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein regulate viral activity. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4162. [PMID: 38755139 PMCID: PMC11099032 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48503-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The multibasic furin cleavage site at the S1/S2 boundary of the spike protein is a hallmark of SARS-CoV-2 and plays a crucial role in viral infection. However, the mechanism underlying furin activation and its regulation remain poorly understood. Here, we show that GalNAc-T3 and T7 jointly initiate clustered O-glycosylations in the furin cleavage site of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which inhibit furin processing, suppress the incorporation of the spike protein into virus-like-particles and affect viral infection. Mechanistic analysis reveals that the assembly of the spike protein into virus-like particles relies on interactions between the furin-cleaved spike protein and the membrane protein of SARS-CoV-2, suggesting a possible mechanism for furin activation. Interestingly, mutations in the spike protein of the alpha and delta variants of the virus confer resistance against glycosylation by GalNAc-T3 and T7. In the omicron variant, additional mutations reverse this resistance, making the spike protein susceptible to glycosylation in vitro and sensitive to GalNAc-T3 and T7 expression in human lung cells. Our findings highlight the role of glycosylation as a defense mechanism employed by host cells against SARS-CoV-2 and shed light on the evolutionary interplay between the host and the virus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shengjun Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Wei Ran
- 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
| | - Lingyu Sun
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qingchi Fan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanqi Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Foshan Institute for Food and Drug Control, Foshan, China
| | - Bowen Wang
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jinghong Yang
- 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
| | - Yuqi He
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Luoyi Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Arpaporn Chuchuay
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuyu You
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinhai Zhu
- Instrumental Analysis & Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojuan Wang
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ye Chen
- Key Laboratory of Fujian-Taiwan Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yanqun Wang
- 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
| | - Yao-Qing Chen
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yanqiu Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Jincun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
- Institute of Infectious Disease, Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Bio-island, Guangzhou, China.
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Yang Mao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Drug Non-Clinical Evaluation and Research, Guangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
El Khoury M, Wanes D, Lynch-Miller M, Hoter A, Naim HY. Glycosylation Modulation Dictates Trafficking and Interaction of SARS-CoV-2 S1 Subunit and ACE2 in Intestinal Epithelial Caco-2 Cells. Biomolecules 2024; 14:537. [PMID: 38785944 PMCID: PMC11117975 DOI: 10.3390/biom14050537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mainly targets the upper respiratory tract. It gains entry by interacting with the host cell receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) via its heavily glycosylated spike glycoprotein. SARS-CoV-2 can also affect the gastrointestinal tract. Given the significant role of glycosylation in the life cycle of proteins and the multisystem target of SARS-CoV-2, the role of glycosylation in the interaction of S1 with ACE2 in Caco-2 cells was investigated after modulation of their glycosylation patterns using N-butyldeoxynojirimycin (NB-DNJ) and 1-deoxymannojirimycin (dMM), in addition to mutant CHO cells harboring mutations at different stages of glycosylation. The data show a substantial reduction in the interactions between the altered glycosylation forms of S1 and ACE2 in the presence of NB-DNJ, while varied outcomes resulted from dMM treatment. These results highlight the promising effects of NB-DNJ and its potential use as an off-label drug to treat SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hassan Y. Naim
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; (M.E.K.); (D.W.); (M.L.-M.); (A.H.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Pečar Fonović U, Kos J, Mitrović A. Compensational role between cathepsins. Biochimie 2024:S0300-9084(24)00085-3. [PMID: 38663456 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2024.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
Cathepsins, a family of lysosomal peptidases, play a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis by regulating protein turnover and degradation as well as many specific regulatory actions that are important for proper cell function and human health. Alterations in the activity and expression of cathepsins have been observed in many diseases such as cancer, inflammation, neurodegenerative disorders, bone remodelling-related conditions and others. These changes are not exclusively harmful, but rather appear to be a compensatory response on the lack of one cathepsin in order to maintain tissue integrity. The upregulation of specific cathepsins in response to the inhibition or dysfunction of other cathepsins suggests a fine-tuned system of proteolytic balance and understanding the compensatory role of cathepsins may improve therapeutic potential of cathepsin's inhibitors. Selectively targeting one cathepsin or modulating their activity could offer new treatment strategies for a number of diseases. This review emphasises the need for comprehensive research into cathepsin biology in the context of disease. The identification of the specific cathepsins involved in compensatory responses, the elucidation of the underlying molecular mechanisms and the development of targeted interventions could lead to innovative therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Urša Pečar Fonović
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva Cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Janko Kos
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva Cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Ana Mitrović
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva Cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Alsayed AR, Ahmed SI, AL Shweiki AO, Al-Shajlawi M, Hakooz N. The laboratory parameters in predicting the severity and death of COVID-19 patients: Future pandemic readiness strategies. BIOMOLECULES & BIOMEDICINE 2024; 24:238-255. [PMID: 37712883 PMCID: PMC10950347 DOI: 10.17305/bb.2023.9540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
The range of clinical manifestations associated with the infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) encompasses a broad spectrum, ranging from flu-like symptoms to the occurrence of multiple organ failure and death. The severity of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is categorized based on clinical presentation and is divided into three distinct levels of severity identified as non-severe, severe, and critical. Although individuals of all age groups are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, middle-aged and older adults are more frequently impacted, with the latter being more likely to develop severe illness. Various laboratory characteristics observed in hospitalized COVID-19 patients have been correlated with adverse outcomes. These include elevated levels of D-dimer, liver enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, ferritin, prothrombin time, and troponin, as well as decreased lymphocyte and platelets counts. This review investigated the relationship between baseline clinical characteristics, initial laboratory parameters upon hospital admission, and the severity of illness and mortality rates among COVID-19 patients. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has concluded, understanding the laboratory predictors of virus severity and mortality remains crucial, and examining these predictors can have long-term effects. Such insights can help healthcare systems manage resources more effectively and deliver timely and appropriate care by identifying and targeting high-risk individuals. This knowledge can also help us better prepare for future pandemics. By examining these predictors, we can take steps to protect public health and mitigate the impact of future pandemics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad R Alsayed
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Syed Imran Ahmed
- College of Health and Science, School of Pharmacy, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom
| | - Anas Osama AL Shweiki
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Mustafa Al-Shajlawi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Nancy Hakooz
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Mjokane N, Akintemi EO, Sabiu S, Gcilitshana OMN, Albertyn J, Pohl CH, Sebolai OM. Aspergillus fumigatus secretes a protease(s) that displays in silico binding affinity towards the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and mediates SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirion entry into HEK-293T cells. Virol J 2024; 21:58. [PMID: 38448991 PMCID: PMC10919004 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02331-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Data from the COVID-19 clinical control case studies showed that this disease could also manifest in patients with underlying microbial infections such as aspergillosis. The current study aimed to determine if the Aspergillus (A.) fumigatus culture media (i.e., supernatant) possessed protease activity that was sufficient to activate the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. METHODS The supernatant was first analysed for protease activity. Thereafter, it was assessed to determine if it possessed proteolytic activity to cleave a fluorogenic mimetic peptide of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that contained the S1/S2 site and a full-length spike protein contained in a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirion. To complement this, a computer-based tool, HADDOCK, was used to predict if A. fumigatus alkaline protease 1 could bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. RESULTS We show that the supernatant possessed proteolytic activity, and analyses of the molecular docking parameters revealed that A. fumigatus alkaline protease 1 could bind to the spike protein. To confirm the in silico data, it was imperative to provide experimental evidence for enzymatic activity. Here, it was noted that the A. fumigatus supernatant cleaved the mimetic peptide as well as transduced the HEK-293T cells with SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirions. CONCLUSION These results suggest that A. fumigatus secretes a protease(s) that activates the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Importantly, should these two infectious agents co-occur, there is the potential for A. fumigatus to activate the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, thus aggravating COVID-19 development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nozethu Mjokane
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Drive, Park West, 9301, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Eric O Akintemi
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Drive, Park West, 9301, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Saheed Sabiu
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Applied Science, Durban University of Technology, 4000, Durban, P.O. Box 1334, South Africa
| | - Onele M N Gcilitshana
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Drive, Park West, 9301, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Jacobus Albertyn
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Drive, Park West, 9301, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Carolina H Pohl
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Drive, Park West, 9301, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Olihile M Sebolai
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Drive, Park West, 9301, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Mjokane N, Sabiu S, Folorunso OS, Gcilitshana OMN, Albertyn J, Pohl CH, Sebolai OM. Cryptococcal proteases exhibit the potential to activate the latent SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. J Infect Public Health 2024; 17:263-270. [PMID: 38128410 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2023.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than 650 million people and resulted in over 6.8 million deaths. Notably, the disease could co-manifest with microbial infections, like cryptococcosis, which also presents as a primary lung infection. OBJECTIVE In this contribution, we sought to determine if cryptococcal supernatant (which contains secreted furin-like proteases) could activate the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. METHODS Molecular docking of the crystal structures of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (target) and selected cryptococcal proteases (ligands) was executed using the high ambiguity driven protein-protein docking (HADDOCK) server, with the furin protease serving as a reference ligand. The furin protease is found in human cells and typically activates the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Importantly, in order to provide experimental evidence for enzymatic activity, we also assessed the biochemical efficiency of cryptococcal proteases to initiate viral entry into HEK-293 T cells by SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped Lentivirus. RESULTS We show that the selected cryptococcal proteases could interact with the spike protein, and some had a better or comparable binding affinity for the spike protein than furin protease following an in silico comparative analysis of the molecular docking parameters. Furthermore, it was noted that the biochemical efficiency of the cryptococcal supernatant to transduce HEK-293 T cells with SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirions was comparable (p > 0.05) to that of recombinant furin. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these data show that cryptococcal proteases could activate the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. In practice, it may be critical to determine if patients have an underlying cryptococcal infection, as this microbe could secrete proteases that may further activate the SARS-CoV-2 viral particles, thus undermining COVID-19 intervention measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nozethu Mjokane
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Drive, Park West, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
| | - Saheed Sabiu
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Durban University of Technology, 121 Steve Biko Road, Berea Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Olufemi S Folorunso
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Onele M N Gcilitshana
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Drive, Park West, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
| | - Jacobus Albertyn
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Drive, Park West, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
| | - Carolina H Pohl
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Drive, Park West, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
| | - Olihile M Sebolai
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Drive, Park West, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Quagliata M, Papini AM, Rovero P. Chemically modified antiviral peptides against SARS-CoV-2. J Pept Sci 2024; 30:e3541. [PMID: 37699615 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
To date, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a potentially lethal disease. Although both vaccines and specific antiviral drugs have been approved, the search for more specific therapeutic approaches is still ongoing. The infection mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 consists of several stages, and each one can be selectively blocked to disrupt viral infection. Peptides are a promising class of antiviral compounds, which may be suitably modified to be more stable, more effective, and more selective towards a specific viral replication step. The latter two goals might be obtained by increasing the specificity and/or the affinity of the interaction with a specific target and often imply the stabilization of the secondary structure of the active peptide. This review is focused on modified antiviral peptides against SARS-CoV-2 acting at different stages of virus replication, including ACE2-RBD interaction, membrane fusion mechanism, and the proteolytic cleavage by different viral proteases. Therefore, the landscape presented herein provides a useful springboard for the design of new and powerful antiviral therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Quagliata
- Interdepartmental Research Unit of Peptide and Protein Chemistry and Biology, Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Papini
- Interdepartmental Research Unit of Peptide and Protein Chemistry and Biology, Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Paolo Rovero
- Interdepartmental Research Unit of Peptide and Protein Chemistry and Biology, Department of NeuroFarBa, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Choi A, Kots ED, Singleton DT, Weinstein H, Whittaker GR. Analysis of the molecular determinants for furin cleavage of the spike protein S1/S2 site in defined strains of the prototype coronavirus murine hepatitis virus (MHV). Virus Res 2024; 340:199283. [PMID: 38043726 PMCID: PMC10755501 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
We analyzed the spike protein S1/S2 cleavage of selected strains of a prototype coronavirus, mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) by the cellular protease furin, in order to understand the structural requirements underlying the sequence selectivity of the scissile segment. The probability of cleavage of selected MHV strains was first evaluated from furin cleavage scores predicted by the ProP computer software, and then cleavage was measured experimentally with a fluorogenic peptide cleavage assay consisting of S1/S2 peptide mimics and purified furin. We found that in vitro cleavability varied across MHV strains in line with predicted results-but with the notable exception of MHV-A59, which was not cleaved despite a high score predicted for its sequence. Using the known X-Ray structure of furin in complex with a substrate-like inhibitor as an initial structural reference, we carried out molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to learn the modes of binding of the peptides in the furin active site, and the suitability of the complex for initiation of the enzymatic cleavage. We identified the 3D structural requirements of the furin active site configuration that enable bound peptides to undergo cleavage, and the way in which the various strains tested experimentally are fulfilling these requirements. We find that despite some flexibility in the organization of the peptide bound to the active site of the enzyme, the presence of a histidine at P2 of MHV-A59 fails to properly orient the sidechain of His194 of the furin catalytic triad and therefore produces a distortion that renders the peptide/complex structural configuration in the active site incompatible with requirements for cleavage initiation. The Ser/Thr in P1 of MHV-2 and MHV-S has a similar effect of distorting the conformation of the furin active site residues produced by the elimination of the canonical salt-bridge formed by arginine in P1 position. This work informs a study of coronavirus infection and pathogenesis with respect to the function of the viral spike protein, and suggests an important process of viral adaptation and evolution within the spike S1/S2 structural loop.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annette Choi
- Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Ekaterina D Kots
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Harel Weinstein
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Gary R Whittaker
- Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA; Public & Ecosystem Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Bolland W, Michel V, Planas D, Hubert M, Staropoli I, Guivel-Benhassine F, Porrot F, N'Debi M, Rodriguez C, Fourati S, Prot M, Planchais C, Hocqueloux L, Simon-Lorière E, Mouquet H, Prazuck T, Pawlotsky JM, Bruel T, Schwartz O, Buchrieser J. High fusion and cytopathy of SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.640.1. J Virol 2024; 98:e0135123. [PMID: 38088562 PMCID: PMC10805008 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01351-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 variants with undetermined properties have emerged intermittently throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Some variants possess unique phenotypes and mutations which allow further characterization of viral evolution and Spike functions. Around 1,100 cases of the B.1.640.1 variant were reported in Africa and Europe between 2021 and 2022, before the expansion of Omicron. Here, we analyzed the biological properties of a B.1.640.1 isolate and its Spike. Compared to the ancestral Spike, B.1.640.1 carried 14 amino acid substitutions and deletions. B.1.640.1 escaped binding by some anti-N-terminal domain and anti-receptor-binding domain monoclonal antibodies, and neutralization by sera from convalescent and vaccinated individuals. In cell lines, infection generated large syncytia and a high cytopathic effect. In primary airway cells, B.1.640.1 replicated less than Omicron BA.1 and triggered more syncytia and cell death than other variants. The B.1.640.1 Spike was highly fusogenic when expressed alone. This was mediated by two poorly characterized and infrequent mutations located in the Spike S2 domain, T859N and D936H. Altogether, our results highlight the cytopathy of a hyper-fusogenic SARS-CoV-2 variant, supplanted upon the emergence of Omicron BA.1. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT04750720.)IMPORTANCEOur results highlight the plasticity of SARS-CoV-2 Spike to generate highly fusogenic and cytopathic strains with the causative mutations being uncharacterized in previous variants. We describe mechanisms regulating the formation of syncytia and the subsequent consequences in a primary culture model, which are poorly understood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William Bolland
- Virus and Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3569, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Michel
- Pathogenesis of Vascular Infections Unit, Institut Pasteur, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Delphine Planas
- Virus and Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3569, Paris, France
- Vaccine Research Institute, Créteil, France
| | - Mathieu Hubert
- Virus and Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3569, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Staropoli
- Virus and Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3569, Paris, France
| | | | - Françoise Porrot
- Virus and Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3569, Paris, France
| | - Mélissa N'Debi
- Department of Virology, Hôpital Henri Mondor (AP-HP), Université Paris-Est, Créteil, France
- Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, INSERM U955, Créteil, France
| | - Christophe Rodriguez
- Department of Virology, Hôpital Henri Mondor (AP-HP), Université Paris-Est, Créteil, France
- Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, INSERM U955, Créteil, France
| | - Slim Fourati
- Department of Virology, Hôpital Henri Mondor (AP-HP), Université Paris-Est, Créteil, France
- Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, INSERM U955, Créteil, France
| | - Matthieu Prot
- Evolutionary Genomics of RNA Viruses, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Cyril Planchais
- Humoral Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM U1222, Paris, France
| | | | - Etienne Simon-Lorière
- Evolutionary Genomics of RNA Viruses, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Hugo Mouquet
- Humoral Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM U1222, Paris, France
| | | | - Jean-Michel Pawlotsky
- Department of Virology, Hôpital Henri Mondor (AP-HP), Université Paris-Est, Créteil, France
- Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, INSERM U955, Créteil, France
| | - Timothée Bruel
- Virus and Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3569, Paris, France
- Vaccine Research Institute, Créteil, France
| | - Olivier Schwartz
- Virus and Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3569, Paris, France
- Vaccine Research Institute, Créteil, France
| | - Julian Buchrieser
- Virus and Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3569, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Sütő R, Pócsi M, Fagyas M, Kalina E, Fejes Z, Szentkereszty Z, Kappelmayer J, Nagy Jr. B. Comparison of Different Vascular Biomarkers for Predicting In-Hospital Mortality in Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Microorganisms 2024; 12:229. [PMID: 38276214 PMCID: PMC10820061 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe SARS-CoV-2 elicits a hyper-inflammatory response that results in intravascular inflammation with endothelial injury, which contributes to increased mortality in COVID-19. To predict the outcome of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, we analyzed the baseline level of different biomarkers of vascular disorders in COVID-19 subjects upon intensive care unit (ICU) admission and prior to any vaccination. A total of 70 severe COVID-19 patients (37 survivors and 33 non-survivors) were included with 16 age- and sex-matched controls. Vascular dysfunction was monitored via soluble VCAM-1, E-selectin, ACE2 and Lp-PLA2, while abnormal platelet activation was evaluated by soluble P-selectin and CD40L in parallel. These results were correlated with routine laboratory parameters and disease outcomes. Among these parameters, VCAM-1 and ACE2 showed significantly higher serum levels in COVID-19 patients with early death vs. convalescent subjects. VCAM-1 was significantly correlated with the Horowitz index (r = 0.3115) and IL-6 (r = 0.4599), while ACE2 was related to E-selectin (r = 0.4143) and CD40L (r = 0.2948). Lp-PLA2 was altered in none of these COVID-19 subcohorts and showed no relationship with the other parameters. Finally, the pre-treatment level of VCAM-1 (≥1420 ng/mL) and ACE2 activity (≥45.2 μU/mL) predicted a larger risk for mortality (Log-Rank p = 0.0031 and p = 0.0117, respectively). Vascular dysfunction with endothelial cell activation is linked to lethal COVID-19, and highly elevated soluble VCAM-1 and ACE2 at admission to ICU may predict unfavorable outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renáta Sütő
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (R.S.); (M.P.); (E.K.); (Z.F.); (J.K.)
- Doctoral School of Kalman Laki, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Gyula Kenézy Campus, Intensive Care Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - Marianna Pócsi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (R.S.); (M.P.); (E.K.); (Z.F.); (J.K.)
| | - Miklós Fagyas
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - Edit Kalina
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (R.S.); (M.P.); (E.K.); (Z.F.); (J.K.)
| | - Zsolt Fejes
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (R.S.); (M.P.); (E.K.); (Z.F.); (J.K.)
| | - Zoltán Szentkereszty
- Gyula Kenézy Campus, Intensive Care Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - János Kappelmayer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (R.S.); (M.P.); (E.K.); (Z.F.); (J.K.)
| | - Béla Nagy Jr.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (R.S.); (M.P.); (E.K.); (Z.F.); (J.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Dey D, Qing E, He Y, Chen Y, Jennings B, Cohn W, Singh S, Gakhar L, Schnicker NJ, Pierce BG, Whitelegge JP, Doray B, Orban J, Gallagher T, Hasan SS. A single C-terminal residue controls SARS-CoV-2 spike trafficking and incorporation into VLPs. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8358. [PMID: 38102143 PMCID: PMC10724246 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44076-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 is delivered to the virion assembly site in the ER-Golgi Intermediate Compartment (ERGIC) from both the ER and cis-Golgi in infected cells. However, the relevance and modulatory mechanism of this bidirectional trafficking are unclear. Here, using structure-function analyses, we show that S incorporation into virus-like particles (VLP) and VLP fusogenicity are determined by coatomer-dependent S delivery from the cis-Golgi and restricted by S-coatomer dissociation. Although S mimicry of the host coatomer-binding dibasic motif ensures retrograde trafficking to the ERGIC, avoidance of the host-like C-terminal acidic residue is critical for S-coatomer dissociation and therefore incorporation into virions or export for cell-cell fusion. Because this C-terminal residue is the key determinant of SARS-CoV-2 assembly and fusogenicity, our work provides a framework for the export of S protein encoded in genetic vaccines for surface display and immune activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Debajit Dey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Enya Qing
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - Yanan He
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Yihong Chen
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Benjamin Jennings
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Whitaker Cohn
- Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Suruchi Singh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Lokesh Gakhar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Protein and Crystallography Facility, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- PAQ Therapeutics, Burlington, MA, 01803, USA
| | - Nicholas J Schnicker
- Protein and Crystallography Facility, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Brian G Pierce
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Julian P Whitelegge
- Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Balraj Doray
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - John Orban
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Tom Gallagher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - S Saif Hasan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Desai PJ. Expression and fusogenic activity of SARS CoV-2 Spike protein displayed in the HSV-1 Virion. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.28.568860. [PMID: 38076893 PMCID: PMC10705244 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.28.568860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is a zoonotic pathogen that can cause severe respiratory disease in humans. The new SARS-CoV-2 is the cause of the current global pandemic termed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that has resulted in many millions of deaths world-wide. The virus is a member of the Betacoronavirus family, its genome is a positive strand RNA molecule that encodes for many genes which are required for virus genome replication as well as for structural proteins that are required for virion assembly and maturation. A key determinant of this virus is the Spike (S) protein embedded in the virion membrane and mediates attachment of the virus to the receptor (ACE2). This protein also is required for cell-cell fusion (syncytia) that is an important pathogenic determinant. We have developed a pseudotyped herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) recombinant virus expressing S protein in the virion envelop. This virus has also been modified to express a Venus fluorescent protein fusion to VP16, a virion protein of HSV-1. The virus expressing Spike can enter cells and generates large multi-nucleated syncytia which are evident by the Venus fluorescence. The HSV-1 recombinant virus is genetically stable and virus amplification can be easily done by infecting cells. This recombinant virus provides a reproducible platform for Spike function analysis and thus adds to the repertoire of pseudotyped viruses expressing Spike.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prashant J. Desai
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Yu S, Zheng X, Zhou Y, Gao Y, Zhou B, Zhao Y, Li T, Li Y, Mou J, Cui X, Yang Y, Li D, Chen M, Lavillette D, Meng G. Antibody-mediated spike activation promotes cell-cell transmission of SARS-CoV-2. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011789. [PMID: 37948454 PMCID: PMC10664894 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID pandemic fueled by emerging SARS-CoV-2 new variants of concern remains a major global health concern, and the constantly emerging mutations present challenges to current therapeutics. The spike glycoprotein is not only essential for the initial viral entry, but is also responsible for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 components via syncytia formation. Spike-mediated cell-cell transmission is strongly resistant to extracellular therapeutic and convalescent antibodies via an unknown mechanism. Here, we describe the antibody-mediated spike activation and syncytia formation on cells displaying the viral spike. We found that soluble antibodies against receptor binding motif (RBM) are capable of inducing the proteolytic processing of spike at both the S1/S2 and S2' cleavage sites, hence triggering ACE2-independent cell-cell fusion. Mechanistically, antibody-induced cell-cell fusion requires the shedding of S1 and exposure of the fusion peptide at the cell surface. By inhibiting S1/S2 proteolysis, we demonstrated that cell-cell fusion mediated by spike can be re-sensitized towards antibody neutralization in vitro. Lastly, we showed that cytopathic effect mediated by authentic SARS-CoV-2 infection remain unaffected by the addition of extracellular neutralization antibodies. Hence, these results unveil a novel mode of antibody evasion and provide insights for antibody selection and drug design strategies targeting the SARS-CoV-2 infected cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shi Yu
- The Center for Microbes, Development and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu Zheng
- The Center for Microbes, Development and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanqiu Zhou
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhui Gao
- The Center for Microbes, Development and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Bingjie Zhou
- The Center for Microbes, Development and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yapei Zhao
- The Center for Microbes, Development and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai, China
| | - Yunyi Li
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiabin Mou
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoxian Cui
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuying Yang
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Dianfan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai, China
| | - Min Chen
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Dimitri Lavillette
- The Center for Microbes, Development and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Pasteurien College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Applied Molecular Virology Laboratory, Discovery Biology Department, Institut Pasteur Korea, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Guangxun Meng
- The Center for Microbes, Development and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Pasteurien College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Nanjing Advanced Academy of Life and Health, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Kumar KM, Karthik Y, Ramakrishna D, Balaji S, Skariyachan S, Murthy TPK, Sakthivel KM, Alotaibi BS, Shukry M, Sayed SM, Mushtaq M. Immunoinformatic exploration of a multi-epitope-based peptide vaccine candidate targeting emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1251716. [PMID: 37915849 PMCID: PMC10616776 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1251716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Many countries around the world are facing severe challenges due to the recently emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2. Over the last few months, scientists have been developing treatments, drugs, and vaccines to subdue the virus and prevent its transmission. In this context, a peptide-based vaccine construct containing pathogenic proteins of the virus known to elicit an immune response was constructed. An analysis of the spike protein-based epitopes allowed us to design an "epitope-based subunit vaccine" against coronavirus using the approaches of "reverse vaccinology" and "immunoinformatics." Computational experimentation and a systematic, comprehensive protocol were followed with an aim to develop and design a multi-epitope-based peptide (MEBP) vaccine candidate. Our study attempted to predict an MEBP vaccine by introducing mutations of SARS-CoV-2 (Delta, Lambda, Iota, Omicron, and Kappa) in Spike glycoprotein and predicting dual-purpose epitopes (B-cell and T-cell). This was followed by screening the selected epitopes based on antigenicity, allergenicity, and population coverage and constructing them into a vaccine by using linkers and adjuvants. The vaccine construct was analyzed for its physicochemical properties and secondary structure prediction, and a 3D structure was built, refined, and validated. Furthermore, the peptide-protein interaction of the vaccine construct with Toll-like receptor (TLR) molecules was performed. Immune profiling was performed to check the immune response. Codon optimization of the vaccine construct was performed to obtain the GC content before cloning it into the E. coli genome, facilitating its progression it into a vector. Finally, an in-silico simulation of the vaccine-protein complex was performed to comprehend its stability and conformational behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K. M. Kumar
- Department of Bioinformatics, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, India
| | - Yalpi Karthik
- Department of Studies and Research in Microbiology, Mangalore University, Chikka Aluvara, Kodagu, Karnataka, India
| | - D. Ramakrishna
- Biotechnology Department, Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Dr. C.D Sagar Centre for Life Sciences, Dayananda Sagar Institutions, Bengaluru, India
| | - S. Balaji
- Centre for Incubation, Innovation, Research and Consultancy (CIIRC), Jyothy Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Sinosh Skariyachan
- Department of Microbiology, St. Pius X College, Rajapuram, Kerala, India
| | - T. P. Krishna Murthy
- Department of Biotechnology, Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Badriyah S. Alotaibi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mustafa Shukry
- Physiology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt
| | - Samy M. Sayed
- Department of Economic Entomology and Pesticides, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
- Department of Science and Technology, University College-Ranyah, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muntazir Mushtaq
- MS Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Zhao S, Jiang M, Qing H, Ni J. Cathepsins and SARS-CoV-2 infection: From pathogenic factors to potential therapeutic targets. Br J Pharmacol 2023; 180:2455-2481. [PMID: 37403614 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020 and has wrought havoc on health and economic systems worldwide. Efficacious treatment for COVID-19 is lacking: Only preventive measures as well as symptomatic and supportive care are available. Preclinical and clinical studies have indicated that lysosomal cathepsins might contribute to the pathogenesis and disease outcome of COVID-19. Here, we discuss cutting-edge evidence on the pathological roles of cathepsins in SARS-CoV-2 infection, host immune dysregulations, and the possible underlying mechanisms. Cathepsins are attractive drug targets because of their defined substrate-binding pockets, which can be exploited as binding sites for pharmaceutical enzyme inhibitors. Accordingly, the potential modulatory strategies of cathepsin activity are discussed. These insights could shed light on the development of cathepsin-based interventions for COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuxuan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Muzhou Jiang
- Department of Periodontics, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Hong Qing
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Junjun Ni
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Smitha T, Thomas A. Is diabetes a real susceptibility for SARS-CoV-2 oral manifestation? J Oral Maxillofac Pathol 2023; 27:715-719. [PMID: 38304492 PMCID: PMC10829469 DOI: 10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_208_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Furin, a polybasic cleavage enzyme, is increasingly recognized in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndromes like diabetes. Its cleavage action is an essential activation step for the SARS-CoV-2 attachment site at the junction of S1 and S2, the two subunits of the spike. This allows effective cleavage by furin and has a role in determining viral infectivity and host range. The increased expression of the furin enzyme in the saliva is remarkable enough to be noted as a susceptibility factor for diabetic patients. Aim of the Study The present study focuses on the qualitative assessment of the furin enzyme through an immunological ELISA test. Materials and Methods Used The study consisted of three groups, each of whom was a COVID-19 recovered patient (n = 20), a diabetic patient (n = 20), and a healthy patient (n = 20). Result The study assessed significantly increased levels of the furin enzyme generally in diabetic patients and COVID-19 recovered patients as compared to the healthy control group. Conclusion The estimation of furin in saliva still holds the possibility of being a prognostic marker in many COVID-19 infected patients. Further evidence-based studies are required to establish the same.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T. Smitha
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, V.S Dental College and hospital, Bangalore
| | - Anela Thomas
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, V.S Dental College and hospital, Bangalore
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Ho C, Nazarie WFWM, Lee PC. An In Silico Design of Peptides Targeting the S1/S2 Cleavage Site of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein. Viruses 2023; 15:1930. [PMID: 37766336 PMCID: PMC10536081 DOI: 10.3390/v15091930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, invades host cells via its spike protein, which includes critical binding regions, such as the receptor-binding domain (RBD), the S1/S2 cleavage site, the S2 cleavage site, and heptad-repeat (HR) sections. Peptides targeting the RBD and HR1 inhibit binding to host ACE2 receptors and the formation of the fusion core. Other peptides target proteases, such as TMPRSS2 and cathepsin L, to prevent the cleavage of the S protein. However, research has largely ignored peptides targeting the S1/S2 cleavage site. In this study, bioinformatics was used to investigate the binding of the S1/S2 cleavage site to host proteases, including furin, trypsin, TMPRSS2, matriptase, cathepsin B, and cathepsin L. Peptides targeting the S1/S2 site were designed by identifying binding residues. Peptides were docked to the S1/S2 site using HADDOCK (High-Ambiguity-Driven protein-protein DOCKing). Nine peptides with the lowest HADDOCK scores and strong binding affinities were selected, which was followed by molecular dynamics simulations (MDSs) for further investigation. Among these peptides, BR582 and BR599 stand out. They exhibited relatively high interaction energies with the S protein at -1004.769 ± 21.2 kJ/mol and -1040.334 ± 24.1 kJ/mol, respectively. It is noteworthy that the binding of these peptides to the S protein remained stable during the MDSs. In conclusion, this research highlights the potential of peptides targeting the S1/S2 cleavage site as a means to prevent SARS-CoV-2 from entering cells, and contributes to the development of therapeutic interventions against COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chian Ho
- Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia; (C.H.); (W.F.W.M.N.)
| | - Wan Fahmi Wan Mohamad Nazarie
- Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia; (C.H.); (W.F.W.M.N.)
| | - Ping-Chin Lee
- Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia; (C.H.); (W.F.W.M.N.)
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Wells EW, Parker MT. Regulating Select Agent Chimeras: Defining the Problem(s) Through the Lens of SARS-CoV-1/SARS-CoV-2 Chimeric Viruses. Health Secur 2023; 21:392-406. [PMID: 37703547 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2023.0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In late 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted an interim final rule (86 FR 64075) to the federal register regulating the possession, use, and transfer of SARS-CoV-1/SARS-CoV-2 chimeric viruses. In doing so, the CDC provided the reasoning that viral chimeras combining the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 with the pathogenicity and lethality of SARS-CoV-1 pose a significant risk to public health and should thus be placed on the select agents and toxins list. However, 86 FR 64075 lacked clarity in its definitions and scope, some of which the CDC addressed in response to public comments in the final rule, 88 FR 13322, in early 2023. To evaluate these regulatory actions, we reviewed the existing select agent regulations to understand the landscape of chimeric virus regulation. Based on our findings, we first present clear definitions for the terms "chimeric virus," "viral chimera," and "virulence factor" and provide a list of SARS-CoV-1 virulence factors in an effort to aid researchers and federal rulemaking for these agents moving forward. We then provide suggestions for a combination of similarity and functional characteristic cutoffs that the government could use to enable researchers to distinguish between regulated and nonregulated chimeras. Finally, we discuss current select agent regulations and their overlaps with 86 FR 64075 and 88 FR 13322 and make suggestions for how to address chimera concerns within and/or without these regulations. Collectively, we believe that our findings fill important gaps in current federal regulations and provide forward-looking philosophical and practical analysis that can guide future decisionmaking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth W Wells
- Elizabeth W. Wells is a Student, Department of Biology, Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
| | - Michael T Parker
- Michael T. Parker, PhD, is Assistant Dean, Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Ramamoorthy R, Hussain H, Ravelo N, Sriramajayam K, Di Gregorio DM, Paulrasu K, Chen P, Young K, Masciarella AD, Jayakumar AR, Paidas MJ. Kidney Damage in Long COVID: Studies in Experimental Mice. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1070. [PMID: 37626956 PMCID: PMC10452084 DOI: 10.3390/biology12081070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Signs and symptoms involving multiple organ systems which persist for weeks or months to years after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection (also known as PASC or long COVID) are common complications of individuals with COVID-19. We recently reported pathophysiological changes in various organs post-acute infection of mice with mouse hepatitis virus-1 (MHV-1, a coronavirus) (7 days) and after long-term post-infection (12 months). One of the organs severely affected in this animal model is the kidney, which correlated well with human studies showing kidney injury post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our long-term post-infection pathological observation in kidneys includes the development of edema and inflammation of the renal parenchyma, severe acute tubular necrosis, and infiltration of macrophages and lymphocytes, in addition to changes observed in both acute and long-term post-infection, which include tubular epithelial cell degenerative changes, peritubular vessel congestion, proximal and distal tubular necrosis, hemorrhage in the interstitial tissue, and vacuolation of renal tubules. These findings strongly suggest the possible development of renal fibrosis, in particular in the long-term post-infection. Accordingly, we investigated whether the signaling system that is known to initiate the above-mentioned changes in kidneys in other conditions is also activated in long-term post-MHV-1 infection. We found increased TGF-β1, FGF23, NGAL, IL-18, HIF1-α, TLR2, YKL-40, and B2M mRNA levels in long-term post-MHV-1 infection, but not EGFR, TNFR1, BCL3, and WFDC2. However, only neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) increased in acute infection (7 days). Immunoblot studies showed an elevation in protein levels of HIF1-α, TLR-2, and EGFR in long-term post-MHV-1 infection, while KIM-1 and MMP-7 protein levels are increased in acute infection. Treatment with a synthetic peptide, SPIKENET (SPK), which inhibits spike protein binding, reduced NGAL mRNA in acute infection, and decreased TGF-β1, BCL3 mRNA, EGFR, HIF1-α, and TLR-2 protein levels long-term post-MHV-1 infection. These findings suggest that fibrotic events may initiate early in SARS-CoV-2 infection, leading to pronounced kidney fibrosis in long COVID. Targeting these factors therapeutically may prevent acute or long-COVID-associated kidney complications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rajalakshmi Ramamoorthy
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (R.R.); (N.R.)
| | - Hussain Hussain
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Larkin Community Hospital, Miami, FL 33143, USA;
| | - Natalia Ravelo
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (R.R.); (N.R.)
| | - Kannappan Sriramajayam
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Dibe M. Di Gregorio
- University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA;
| | - Kodisundaram Paulrasu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Pingping Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (P.C.); (K.Y.)
| | - Karen Young
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (P.C.); (K.Y.)
| | | | - Arumugam R. Jayakumar
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (R.R.); (N.R.)
| | - Michael J. Paidas
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (R.R.); (N.R.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Sinha A, Sangeet S, Roy S. Evolution of Sequence and Structure of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein: A Dynamic Perspective. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:23283-23304. [PMID: 37426203 PMCID: PMC10324094 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c00944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) enters its host cell through a surface spike protein. The viral spike protein has undergone several modifications/mutations at the genomic level, through which it modulated its structure-function and passed through several variants of concern. Recent advances in high-resolution structure determination and multiscale imaging techniques, cost-effective next-generation sequencing, and development of new computational methods (including information theory, statistical methods, machine learning, and many other artificial intelligence-based techniques) have hugely contributed to the characterization of sequence, structure, function of spike proteins, and its different variants to understand viral pathogenesis, evolutions, and transmission. Laying on the foundation of the sequence-structure-function paradigm, this review summarizes not only the important findings on structure/function but also the structural dynamics of different spike components, highlighting the effects of mutations on them. As dynamic fluctuations of three-dimensional spike structure often provide important clues for functional modulation, quantifying time-dependent fluctuations of mutational events over spike structure and its genetic/amino acidic sequence helps identify alarming functional transitions having implications for enhanced fusogenicity and pathogenicity of the virus. Although these dynamic events are more difficult to capture than quantifying a static, average property, this review encompasses those challenging aspects of characterizing the evolutionary dynamics of spike sequence and structure and their implications for functions.
Collapse
|
27
|
Cervantes M, Hess T, Morbioli GG, Sengar A, Kasson PM. The ACE2 receptor accelerates but is not biochemically required for SARS-CoV-2 membrane fusion. Chem Sci 2023; 14:6997-7004. [PMID: 37389252 PMCID: PMC10306070 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc06967a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infects human cells via the ACE2 receptor. Structural evidence suggests that ACE2 may not just serve as an attachment factor but also conformationally activate the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for membrane fusion. Here, we test that hypothesis directly, using DNA-lipid tethering as a synthetic attachment factor in place of ACE2. We find that SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus and virus-like particles are capable of membrane fusion without ACE2 if activated with an appropriate protease. Thus, ACE2 is not biochemically required for SARS-CoV-2 membrane fusion. However, addition of soluble ACE2 speeds up the fusion reaction. On a per-spike level, ACE2 appears to promote activation for fusion and then subsequent inactivation if an appropriate protease is not present. Kinetic analysis suggests at least two rate-limiting steps for SARS-CoV-2 membrane fusion, one of which is ACE2 dependent and one of which is not. Since ACE2 serves as a high-affinity attachment factor on human cells, the possibility to replace it with other factors implies a flatter fitness landscape for host adaptation by SARS-CoV-2 and future related coronaviruses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Cervantes
- Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia Charlottesville VA 22908 USA
| | - Tobin Hess
- Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia Charlottesville VA 22908 USA
| | - Giorgio G Morbioli
- Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia Charlottesville VA 22908 USA
| | - Anjali Sengar
- Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia Charlottesville VA 22908 USA
| | - Peter M Kasson
- Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia Charlottesville VA 22908 USA
- Science for Life Laboratory and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Uppsala University Uppsala SE 75123 USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Quagliata M, Stincarelli MA, Papini AM, Giannecchini S, Rovero P. Antiviral Activity against SARS-CoV-2 of Conformationally Constrained Helical Peptides Derived from Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:22665-22672. [PMID: 37387789 PMCID: PMC10275481 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c01436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Despite the availability of vaccines, COVID-19 continues to be aggressive, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Therefore, the development of a specific therapeutic agent with antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 is necessary. The infection pathway starts when the receptor binding domain of the viral spike protein interacts with the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which acts as a host receptor for the RBD expressed on the host cell surface. In this scenario, ACE2 analogs binding to the RBD and preventing the cell entry can be promising antiviral agents. Most of the ACE2 residues involved in the interaction belong to the α1 helix, more specifically to the minimal fragment ACE2(24-42). In order to increase the stability of the secondary structure and thus antiviral activity, we designed different triazole-stapled analogs, changing the position and the number of bridges. The peptide called P3, which has the triazole-containing bridge in the positions 36-40, showed promising antiviral activity at micromolar concentrations assessed by plaque reduction assay. On the other hand, the double-stapled peptide P4 lost the activity, showing that excessive rigidity disfavors the interaction with the RBD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Quagliata
- Interdepartmental
Research Unit of Peptide and Protein Chemistry and Biology, Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | | | - Anna Maria Papini
- Interdepartmental
Research Unit of Peptide and Protein Chemistry and Biology, Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Simone Giannecchini
- Department
of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University
of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Paolo Rovero
- Interdepartmental
Research Unit of Peptide and Protein Chemistry and Biology, Department
of NeuroFarBa, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Milan Bonotto R, Mitrović A, Sosič I, Martinez-Orellana P, Dattola F, Gobec S, Kos J, Marcello A. Cathepsin inhibitors nitroxoline and its derivatives inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antiviral Res 2023:105655. [PMID: 37355023 PMCID: PMC10287183 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
The severity of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the recurring (re)emergence of viruses prompted the development of new therapeutic approaches that target viral and host factors crucial for viral infection. Among them, host peptidases cathepsins B and L have been described as essential enzymes during SARS-CoV-2 entry. In this study, we evaluated the effect of potent selective cathepsin inhibitors as antiviral agents. We demonstrated that selective cathepsin B inhibitors, such as the antimicrobial agent nitroxoline and its derivatives, impair SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. Antiviral activity observed at early stage of virus entry was cell-type dependent and correlated well with the intracellular content and enzymatic function of cathepsins B or L. Furthermore, tested inhibitors were effective against the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 D614 as well as against the more recent BA.1_4 (Omicron). Taken together, our results highlight the important role of host cysteine cathepsin B in SARS-CoV-2 virus entry and show that cathepsin-specific inhibitors, such as nitroxoline and its derivatives, could be used to treat COVID-19. Finally, these results also suggest that nitroxoline has potential to be further explored as repurposed drug in antiviral therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Milan Bonotto
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Ana Mitrović
- Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Izidor Sosič
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Pamela Martinez-Orellana
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Federica Dattola
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Stanislav Gobec
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janko Kos
- Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Alessandro Marcello
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149, Trieste, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Sengar A, Cervantes M, Bondalapati ST, Hess T, Kasson PM. Single-Virus Fusion Measurements Reveal Multiple Mechanistically Equivalent Pathways for SARS-CoV-2 Entry. J Virol 2023; 97:e0199222. [PMID: 37133381 PMCID: PMC10231210 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01992-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) binds to cell surface receptors and is activated for membrane fusion and cell entry via proteolytic cleavage. Phenomenological data have shown that SARS-CoV-2 can be activated for entry at either the cell surface or in endosomes, but the relative roles in different cell types and mechanisms of entry have been debated. Here, we used single-virus fusion experiments and exogenously controlled proteases to probe activation directly. We found that plasma membrane and an appropriate protease are sufficient to support SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus fusion. Furthermore, fusion kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses are indistinguishable no matter which of a broad range of proteases is used to activate the virus. This suggests that the fusion mechanism is insensitive to protease identity or even whether activation occurs before or after receptor binding. These data support a model for opportunistic fusion by SARS-CoV-2 in which the subcellular location of entry likely depends on the differential activity of airway, cellsurface, and endosomal proteases, but all support infection. Inhibition of any single host protease may thus reduce infection in some cells but may be less clinically robust. IMPORTANCE SARS-CoV-2 can use multiple pathways to infect cells, as demonstrated recently when new viral variants switched dominant infection pathways. Here, we used single-virus fusion experiments together with biochemical reconstitution to show that these multiple pathways coexist simultaneously and specifically that the virus can be activated by different proteases in different cellular compartments with mechanistically identical effects. The consequences of this are that the virus is evolutionarily plastic and that therapies targeting viral entry should address multiple pathways at once to achieve optimal clinical effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Sengar
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Global Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Global Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Marcos Cervantes
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Global Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Global Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Sai T. Bondalapati
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Global Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Global Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Tobin Hess
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Global Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Global Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Peter M. Kasson
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Global Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Global Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Zabiegala A, Kim Y, Chang KO. Roles of host proteases in the entry of SARS-CoV-2. ANIMAL DISEASES 2023; 3:12. [PMID: 37128508 PMCID: PMC10125864 DOI: 10.1186/s44149-023-00075-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The spike protein (S) of SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for viral attachment and entry, thus a major factor for host susceptibility, tissue tropism, virulence and pathogenicity. The S is divided with S1 and S2 region, and the S1 contains the receptor-binding domain (RBD), while the S2 contains the hydrophobic fusion domain for the entry into the host cell. Numerous host proteases have been implicated in the activation of SARS-CoV-2 S through various cleavage sites. In this article, we review host proteases including furin, trypsin, transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and cathepsins in the activation of SARS-CoV-2 S. Many betacoronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2 have polybasic residues at the S1/S2 site which is subjected to the cleavage by furin. The S1/S2 cleavage facilitates more assessable RBD to the receptor ACE2, and the binding triggers further conformational changes and exposure of the S2' site to proteases such as type II transmembrane serine proteases (TTPRs) including TMPRSS2. In the presence of TMPRSS2 on the target cells, SARS-CoV-2 can utilize a direct entry route by fusion of the viral envelope to the cellular membrane. In the absence of TMPRSS2, SARS-CoV-2 enter target cells via endosomes where multiple cathepsins cleave the S for the successful entry. Additional host proteases involved in the cleavage of the S were discussed. This article also includes roles of 3C-like protease inhibitors which have inhibitory activity against cathepsin L in the entry of SARS-CoV-2, and discussed the dual roles of such inhibitors in virus replication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandria Zabiegala
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506 USA
| | - Yunjeong Kim
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506 USA
| | - Kyeong-Ok Chang
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506 USA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Dilnawaz F, Acharya S, Kanungo A. A clinical perspective of chitosan nanoparticles for infectious disease management. Polym Bull (Berl) 2023:1-25. [PMID: 37362954 PMCID: PMC10073797 DOI: 10.1007/s00289-023-04755-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases and their effective management are still a challenge in this modern era of medicine. Diseases, such as the SARS-CoV-2, Ebola virus, and Zika virus, still put human civilization at peril. Existing drug banks, which include antivirals, antibacterial, and small-molecule drugs, are the most advocated method for treatment, although effective but they still flounder in many instances. This calls for finding more effective alternatives for tackling the menace of infectious diseases. Nanoformulations are progressively being implemented for clinical translation and are being considered a new paradigm against infectious diseases. Natural polymers like chitosan are preferred to design nanoparticles owing to their biocompatibility, biodegradation, and long shelf-life. The chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) being highly adaptive delivers contemporary prevention for infectious diseases. Currently, they are being used as antibacterial, drug, and vaccine delivery vehicles, and wound-dressing materials, for infectious disease treatment. Although the recruitment of CNPs in clinical trials associated with infectious diseases is minimal, this may increase shortly due to the sudden emergence of unknown pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, thus turning them into a panacea for the management of microorganisms. This review particularly focuses on the all-around application of CNPs along with their recent clinical applications in infectious disease management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fahima Dilnawaz
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Jatni, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 752050 India
| | - Sarbari Acharya
- Department of Biology, School of Applied Sciences, KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024 India
| | - Anwesha Kanungo
- Department of Biology, School of Applied Sciences, KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024 India
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Bianchini F, Crivelli V, Abernathy ME, Guerra C, Palus M, Muri J, Marcotte H, Piralla A, Pedotti M, De Gasparo R, Simonelli L, Matkovic M, Toscano C, Biggiogero M, Calvaruso V, Svoboda P, Cervantes Rincón T, Fava T, Podešvová L, Shanbhag AA, Celoria A, Sgrignani J, Stefanik M, Hönig V, Pranclova V, Michalcikova T, Prochazka J, Guerrini G, Mehn D, Ciabattini A, Abolhassani H, Jarrossay D, Uguccioni M, Medaglini D, Pan-Hammarström Q, Calzolai L, Fernandez D, Baldanti F, Franzetti-Pellanda A, Garzoni C, Sedlacek R, Ruzek D, Varani L, Cavalli A, Barnes CO, Robbiani DF. Human neutralizing antibodies to cold linear epitopes and subdomain 1 of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. Sci Immunol 2023; 8:eade0958. [PMID: 36701425 PMCID: PMC9972897 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.ade0958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants diminishes the efficacy of vaccines and antiviral monoclonal antibodies. Continued development of immunotherapies and vaccine immunogens resilient to viral evolution is therefore necessary. Using coldspot-guided antibody discovery, a screening approach that focuses on portions of the virus spike glycoprotein that are both functionally relevant and averse to change, we identified human neutralizing antibodies to highly conserved viral epitopes. Antibody fp.006 binds the fusion peptide and cross-reacts against coronaviruses of the four genera, including the nine human coronaviruses, through recognition of a conserved motif that includes the S2' site of proteolytic cleavage. Antibody hr2.016 targets the stem helix and neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 variants. Antibody sd1.040 binds to subdomain 1, synergizes with antibody rbd.042 for neutralization, and, similar to fp.006 and hr2.016, protects mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 against infection when present as a bispecific antibody. Thus, coldspot-guided antibody discovery reveals donor-derived neutralizing antibodies that are cross-reactive with Orthocoronavirinae, including SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Bianchini
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Virginia Crivelli
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | | | - Concetta Guerra
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Martin Palus
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Veterinary Research Institute; Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jonathan Muri
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Harold Marcotte
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet; Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Antonio Piralla
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo; Pavia, Italy
| | - Mattia Pedotti
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Raoul De Gasparo
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Luca Simonelli
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Milos Matkovic
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Chiara Toscano
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Maira Biggiogero
- Clinical Research Unit, Clinica Luganese Moncucco; Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | - Pavel Svoboda
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Veterinary Research Institute; Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University; Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences; Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomás Cervantes Rincón
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Tommaso Fava
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Lucie Podešvová
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Akanksha A. Shanbhag
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Celoria
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Jacopo Sgrignani
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Michal Stefanik
- Veterinary Research Institute; Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno; Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vaclav Hönig
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Veterinary Research Institute; Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Pranclova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia; Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Michalcikova
- Czech Centre of Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Prochazka
- Czech Centre of Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Vestec, Czech Republic
| | | | - Dora Mehn
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC); Ispra, Italy
| | - Annalisa Ciabattini
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Medical Biotechnologies; University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Hassan Abolhassani
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet; Huddinge, Sweden
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences; Tehran, Iran
| | - David Jarrossay
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Mariagrazia Uguccioni
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Donata Medaglini
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Medical Biotechnologies; University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Luigi Calzolai
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC); Ispra, Italy
| | - Daniel Fernandez
- Sarafan ChEM-H Macromolecular Structure Knowledge Center, Stanford University; Stanford, USA
| | - Fausto Baldanti
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo; Pavia, Italy
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia; Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Christian Garzoni
- Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Clinica Luganese Moncucco; Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Radislav Sedlacek
- Czech Centre of Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Ruzek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Veterinary Research Institute; Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University; Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Luca Varani
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics; Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christopher O. Barnes
- Department of Biology, Stanford University; Stanford, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub; San Francisco, USA
| | - Davide F. Robbiani
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Berche P. Gain-of-function and origin of Covid19. Presse Med 2023; 52:104167. [PMID: 37269978 PMCID: PMC10234839 DOI: 10.1016/j.lpm.2023.104167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In nature, wild viruses adapted for transmission circulate in many animal species (bats, birds, primates…). Contamination of other animals, including humans, may occur by crossing of the species barrier. Genetic manipulations have been carried out on wild viruses to favor the species jumping and to increase of viral virulence. The aim was to identify the critical genes for pathogenicity. This has been mainly performed on potentially epidemic pathogens, as Myxovirus influenzae of avian flu and coronaviruses of SARS and MERS epidemics. These dangerous experiments were subject to a moratorium in the United States (2014-2017). Three years after the emergence of Covid-19, the origin of du SARS-CoV2 remains a mystery. Covid19 appeared in Wuhan, officially in December 2019, but probably during the autumn 2019. The virus was identified in January 2020. It belongs to the genus Betacoronavirus (subgenus Sarbecovirus). It was at once highly contagious. In addition, the primary isolates were genetically very homogeneous, differing only by two nucleotides without evidence for adaptive mutations. In addition, the Spike protein, a major virulence factor, has a furin site, not found in any other known sarbecovirus. Unlike the SARS and MERS epidemics, no intermediate host has been detected so far. Finally, no other outbreaks were reported at the beginning of the pandemic outside of Wuhan, contrary to what happened with the emergence of SARS (2002) and H7N9 avian influenza (2013). Today, there are two scenarios to explain the emergence of SARS-CoV2. Proponents of the natural origin argue that the bat virus might have directly infected humans, spreading silently at a low level in humans for years, without eliminating the existence of undetected intermediate hosts. This does not explain the origin in Wuhan, far away from the natural virus reservoirs. The furin site would have arisen spontaneously from other coronaviruses. The alternative scenario is that of a laboratory accident after gain-of-function manipulations from a SARS-like virus, or even the occurrence of a human contamination by a natural CoV virus grown on cells in Wuhan. This article is an update to the Quarterly Medical Review (QMR) devoted to the history of modern pandemics. To access this QMR contents, please go here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/la-presse-medicale/vol/51/issue/3.
Collapse
|
35
|
Borkotoky S, Dey D, Hazarika Z. Interactions of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) and SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain (RBD): a structural perspective. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:2713-2721. [PMID: 36562937 PMCID: PMC9786537 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-08193-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused millions of infections and deaths worldwide since its discovery in late 2019 in Wuhan, China. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binds to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor, a critical component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) that initiates the viral transmission. Most of the critical mutations found in SARS-CoV-2 are associated with the RBD of the spike protein. These mutations have the potential to reduce the efficacy of vaccines and neutralizing antibodies. METHODS In this review, the structural details of ACE2, RBD and their interactions are discussed. In addition, some critical mutations of RBD and their impact on ACE2-RBD interactions are also discussed. CONCLUSION Preventing the interaction between Spike RBD and ACE2 is considered a viable therapeutic strategy since ACE2 binding by RBD is the first step in virus infection. Because the interactions between the two entities are critical for both viral transmission and therapeutic development, it is essential to understand their interactions in detail.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Subhomoi Borkotoky
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biosciences, Invertis University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243123, India.
| | - Debajit Dey
- School of Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States of America
| | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Cassari L, Pavan A, Zoia G, Chinellato M, Zeni E, Grinzato A, Rothenberger S, Cendron L, Dettin M, Pasquato A. SARS-CoV-2 S Mutations: A Lesson from the Viral World to Understand How Human Furin Works. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:4791. [PMID: 36902222 PMCID: PMC10003014 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent responsible for the worldwide pandemic and has now claimed millions of lives. The virus combines several unusual characteristics and an extraordinary ability to spread among humans. In particular, the dependence of the maturation of the envelope glycoprotein S from Furin enables the invasion and replication of the virus virtually within the entire body, since this cellular protease is ubiquitously expressed. Here, we analyzed the naturally occurring variation of the amino acids sequence around the cleavage site of S. We found that the virus grossly mutates preferentially at P positions, resulting in single residue replacements that associate with gain-of-function phenotypes in specific conditions. Interestingly, some combinations of amino acids are absent, despite the evidence supporting some cleavability of the respective synthetic surrogates. In any case, the polybasic signature is maintained and, as a consequence, Furin dependence is preserved. Thus, no escape variants to Furin are observed in the population. Overall, the SARS-CoV-2 system per se represents an outstanding example of the evolution of substrate-enzyme interaction, demonstrating a fast-tracked optimization of a protein stretch towards the Furin catalytic pocket. Ultimately, these data disclose important information for the development of drugs targeting Furin and Furin-dependent pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Cassari
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Angela Pavan
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Giulia Zoia
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Monica Chinellato
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Zeni
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Grinzato
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71, Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Sylvia Rothenberger
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 48, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Austrasse, 3700 Spiez, Switzerland
| | - Laura Cendron
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Monica Dettin
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Antonella Pasquato
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Bayani F, Hashkavaei NS, Arjmand S, Rezaei S, Uskoković V, Alijanianzadeh M, Uversky VN, Ranaei Siadat SO, Mozaffari-Jovin S, Sefidbakht Y. An overview of the vaccine platforms to combat COVID-19 with a focus on the subunit vaccines. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 178:32-49. [PMID: 36801471 PMCID: PMC9938630 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2023.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging virus that has caused the recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic. The current approved COVID-19 vaccines have shown considerable efficiency against hospitalization and death. However, the continuation of the pandemic for more than two years and the likelihood of new strain emergence despite the global rollout of vaccination highlight the immediate need for the development and improvement of vaccines. mRNA, viral vector, and inactivated virus vaccine platforms were the first members of the worldwide approved vaccine list. Subunit vaccines. which are vaccines based on synthetic peptides or recombinant proteins, have been used in lower numbers and limited countries. The unavoidable advantages of this platform, including safety and precise immune targeting, make it a promising vaccine with wider global use in the near future. This review article summarizes the current knowledge on different vaccine platforms, focusing on the subunit vaccines and their clinical trial advancements against COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Bayani
- Protein Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Sareh Arjmand
- Protein Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shokouh Rezaei
- Protein Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vuk Uskoković
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA; TardigradeNano LLC, Irvine, CA, 92604, USA
| | - Mahdi Alijanianzadeh
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
| | | | - Sina Mozaffari-Jovin
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Yahya Sefidbakht
- Protein Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Mironov AA, Savin MA, Beznoussenko GV. COVID-19 Biogenesis and Intracellular Transport. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054523. [PMID: 36901955 PMCID: PMC10002980 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The structure of SARS-CoV-2 and most of its proteins of have been deciphered. SARS-CoV-2 enters cells through the endocytic pathway and perforates the endosomes' membranes, and its (+) RNA appears in the cytosol. Then, SARS-CoV-2 starts to use the protein machines of host cells and their membranes for its biogenesis. SARS-CoV-2 generates a replication organelle in the reticulo-vesicular network of the zippered endoplasmic reticulum and double membrane vesicles. Then, viral proteins start to oligomerize and are subjected to budding within the ER exit sites, and its virions are passed through the Golgi complex, where the proteins are subjected to glycosylation and appear in post-Golgi carriers. After their fusion with the plasma membrane, glycosylated virions are secreted into the lumen of airways or (seemingly rarely) into the space between epithelial cells. This review focuses on the biology of SARS-CoV-2's interactions with cells and its transport within cells. Our analysis revealed a significant number of unclear points related to intracellular transport in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander A. Mironov
- Department of Cell Biology, IFOM ETS—The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Via Adamello, 16, 20139 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Maksim A. Savin
- The Department for Welding Production and Technology of Constructional Materials, Perm National Research Polytechnic University, Komsomolsky Prospekt, 29, 614990 Perm, Russia
| | - Galina V. Beznoussenko
- Department of Cell Biology, IFOM ETS—The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Via Adamello, 16, 20139 Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Jang Y, Cho H, Chun J, Park K, Nowakowska A, Kim J, Lee H, Lee C, Han Y, Lee HJ, Shin HY, Kim YB. Baculoviral COVID-19 Delta DNA vaccine cross-protects against SARS-CoV2 variants in K18-ACE2 transgenic mice. Vaccine 2023; 41:1223-1231. [PMID: 36631359 PMCID: PMC9816072 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.12.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
After severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2) made the world tremble with a global pandemic, SARS-CoV2 vaccines were developed. However, due to the coronavirus's intrinsic nature, new variants emerged, such as Delta and Omicron, refractory to the vaccines derived using the original Wuhan strain. We developed an HERV-enveloped recombinant baculoviral DNA vaccine against SARS-CoV2 (AcHERV-COVID19S). A non-replicating recombinant baculovirus that delivers the SARS-CoV2 spike gene showed a protective effect against the homologous challenge in a K18-hACE2 Tg mice model; however, it offered only a 50 % survival rate against the SARS-CoV2 Delta variant. Therefore, we further developed the AcHERV-COVID19 Delta vaccine (AcHERV-COVID19D). The AcHERV-COVID19D induced higher neutralizing antibodies against the Delta variant than the prototype or Omicron variant. On the other hand, cellular immunity was similarly high for all three SARS-CoV2 viruses. Cross-protection experiments revealed that mice vaccinated with the AcHERV-COVID19D showed 100 % survival upon challenge with Delta and Omicron variants and 71.4 % survival against prototype SARS-CoV2. These results support the potential of the viral vector vaccine, AcHERV-COVID19D, in preventing the spread of coronavirus variants such as Omicron and SARS-CoV2 variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuyeon Jang
- Department of Bioindustrial Technologies, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hansam Cho
- KRBioTech, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungmin Chun
- KRBioTech, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kihoon Park
- KRBioTech, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Aleksandra Nowakowska
- Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinha Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeondong Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chanyeong Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yejo Han
- KRBioTech, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Jung Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha-Youn Shin
- Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Bong Kim
- Department of Bioindustrial Technologies, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea,KRBioTech, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Corresponding author at: Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Choi A, Kots ED, Singleton DT, Weinstein HA, Whittaker GR. Analysis of the molecular determinants for furin cleavage of the spike protein S1/S2 site in defined strains of the prototype coronavirus murine hepatitis virus (MHV). BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.11.523687. [PMID: 36711446 PMCID: PMC9882190 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.11.523687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
We have analyzed the spike protein S1/S2 cleavage site of selected strains of MHV by the cellular protease furin, in order to understand the structural requirements underlying the sequence selectivity of the scissile segment. The probability of cleavage of the various MHV strains was first evaluated from furin cleavage scores predicted by the ProP computer software, and then cleavage was measured experimentally with a fluorogenic peptide cleavage assay consisting of S1/S2 peptide mimics and purified furin. We found that in vitro cleavability varied across MHV strains in line with predicted results-but with the notable exception of MHV-A59, which was not cleaved despite a high score predicted for its sequence. Using the known X-Ray structure of furin in complex with a substrate-like inhibitor as an initial structural reference, we carried out molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to learn the modes of binding of the peptides in the furin active site, and the suitability of the complex for initiation of the enzymatic cleavage. We thus identified the 3D structural requirements of the furin active site configuration that enable bound peptides to undergo cleavage, and the way in which the various strains tested experimentally are fulfilling these requirements. We find that despite some flexibility in the organization of the peptide bound to the active site of the enzyme, the presence of a histidine at P2 of MHV-A59 fails to properly orient the sidechain of His194 of the furin catalytic triad and therefore produces a distortion that renders the peptide/complex structural configuration in the active site incompatible with requirements for cleavage initiation. The Ser/Thr in P1 of MHV-2 and MHV-S has a similar effect of distorting the conformation of the furin active site residues produced by the elimination of the canonical salt-bridge formed by arginine in P1 position. This work informs a study of coronavirus infection and pathogenesis with respect to the function of the viral spike protein, and suggests an important process of viral adaptation and evolution within the spike S1/S2 structural loop.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annette Choi
- Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Ekaterina D. Kots
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Harel A. Weinstein
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gary R. Whittaker
- Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Department of Public & Ecosystem Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Pereira GC. An Automated Strategy to Handle Antigenic Variability in Immunisation Protocols, Part II: In Vitro Transcribed mRNA Vector Design for Inoculation Against Infectious Agent Variants. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2575:323-340. [PMID: 36301484 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2716-7_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A fully automated strategy to handle antigenic variability in immunisation protocols is here presented. The method comprises of (1) nanopore sequencing of infectious agent variants, with focus on the SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, followed by (2) in-vitro transcribed mRNA vector design for immunotherapy. This chapter introduces the mRNA vector design protocol and Chapter 16 presents the nano-pore sequencing step.
Collapse
|
42
|
Pereira GC. An Automated Strategy to Handle Antigenic Variability in Immunisation Protocols, Part I: Nanopore Sequencing of Infectious Agent Variants. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2575:305-321. [PMID: 36301483 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2716-7_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Infectious agents often challenge therapeutics, from antibiotics resistance to antigenic variability affecting inoculation measures. Over the last decades, genome sequencing arose as an important ally to address such challenges. In bacterial infection, whole-genome-sequencing (WGS) supports tracking pathogenic alterations affecting the human microbiome. In viral infection, the analysis of the relevant sequence of nucleotides helps with determining historical variants of a virus and elucidates details about infection clusters and their distribution. Additionally, genome sequencing is now an important step in inoculation protocols, isolating target genes to design more robust immunisation assays. Ultimately, genetic engineering has empowered repurposing at scale, allowing long-lasting repeating clinical trials to be automated within a much shorter time-frame, by adjusting existing protocols. This is particularly important during sanitary emergencies as the ones caused by the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak, the Zika virus rapid spread in both South and North America in 2015, followed by Asia in 2016, and the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2, which has infected more than 187 million people and caused more than 4 million deaths, worldwide, as per July 2021 statistics. In this scenery, this chapter presents a novel fully automated strategy to handle antigenic variability in immunisation protocols. The methodology comprises of two major steps (1) nanopore sequencing of infectious agent variants - the focus is on the SARS-CoV-2 and its variants; followed by (2) mRNA vector design for immunotherapy. This chapter presents the nanopore sequencing step and Chapter 17 introduces a protocol for mRNA vector design.
Collapse
|
43
|
Gupta G, Hamawandi B, Sheward DJ, Murrell B, Hanke L, McInerney G, Blosi M, Costa AL, Toprak MS, Fadeel B. Silver nanoparticles with excellent biocompatibility block pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of lung surfactant. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1083232. [PMID: 36578508 PMCID: PMC9790969 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1083232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Silver (Ag) is known to possess antimicrobial properties which is commonly attributed to soluble Ag ions. Here, we showed that Ag nanoparticles (NPs) potently inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection using two different pseudovirus neutralization assays. We also evaluated a set of Ag nanoparticles of different sizes with varying surface properties, including polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated and poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)-modified Ag nanoparticles, and found that only the bare (unmodified) nanoparticles were able to prevent virus infection. For comparison, TiO2 nanoparticles failed to intercept the virus. Proteins and lipids may adsorb to nanoparticles forming a so-called bio-corona; however, Ag nanoparticles pre-incubated with pulmonary surfactant retained their ability to block virus infection in the present model. Furthermore, the secondary structure of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 was perturbed by the Ag nanoparticles, but not by the ionic control (AgNO3) nor by the TiO2 nanoparticles. Finally, Ag nanoparticles were shown to be non-cytotoxic towards the human lung epithelial cell line BEAS-2B and this was confirmed by using primary human nasal epithelial cells. These results further support that Ag nanoparticles may find use as anti-viral agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Govind Gupta
- Division of Molecular Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bejan Hamawandi
- Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Daniel J. Sheward
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ben Murrell
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Leo Hanke
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gerald McInerney
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Magda Blosi
- Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics, National Research Council of Italy, Faenza, Italy
| | - Anna L. Costa
- Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics, National Research Council of Italy, Faenza, Italy
| | - Muhammet S. Toprak
- Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bengt Fadeel
- Division of Molecular Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,*Correspondence: Bengt Fadeel,
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Mechanisms of autoimmune pathology in post-COVID syndrome. ACTA BIOMEDICA SCIENTIFICA 2022. [DOI: 10.29413/abs.2022-7.5-1.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the delayed consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection is post-acute COVID-19 – polymorphic disorders of various organ systems that affect COVID-19 convalescents and persist for more than four weeks after an acute infection. Due to the infectious nature of the COVID-19, we would like to pay special attention to complications from the immune system, especially concomitant and new-onset autoimmune pathology. This review analyzes the current state of the issue of post-acute COVID-19 complications, discusses the molecular features of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the mechanisms underlying the impaired immune response during acute COVID-19 infection and the occurrence of autoimmune and autoinflammatory conditions during convalescence. Particular attention is paid to the molecular mimicry of antigenic determinants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which are structurally similar to the epitopes of human autoantigens. The current data on post-acute COVID-19 autoimmune complications from humoral immunity and the endocrine system, as well as reproductive disorders faced by male patients are presented. For the first time, we hypothesize a role of the structural homology of the human SOX13 autoantigen (HMG box factor SOX13) associated with diabetes mellitus and SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein in the development of the post-acute COVID-19 autoimmune pathologies. Due to the structural similarity of the two proteins and the overlap of their immunogenic regions, we suggest that the increased risk of developing diabetes mellitus and reproductive disorders in men after suffering from COVID-19 may be associated with immunological cross-reactivity.
Collapse
|
45
|
Phetsouphanh C, Khoo WH, Jackson K, Klemm V, Howe A, Aggarwal A, Akerman A, Milogiannakis V, Stella AO, Rouet R, Schofield P, Faulks ML, Law H, Danwilai T, Starr M, Munier CML, Christ D, Singh M, Croucher PI, Brilot-Turville F, Turville S, Phan TG, Dore GJ, Darley D, Cunningham P, Matthews GV, Kelleher AD, Zaunders JJ. High titre neutralizing antibodies in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection require RBD-specific CD4 T cells that include proliferative memory cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1032911. [PMID: 36544780 PMCID: PMC9762180 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1032911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Long-term immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection, including neutralizing antibodies and T cell-mediated immunity, is required in a very large majority of the population in order to reduce ongoing disease burden. Methods We have investigated the association between memory CD4 and CD8 T cells and levels of neutralizing antibodies in convalescent COVID-19 subjects. Findings Higher titres of convalescent neutralizing antibodies were associated with significantly higher levels of RBD-specific CD4 T cells, including specific memory cells that proliferated vigorously in vitro. Conversely, up to half of convalescent individuals had low neutralizing antibody titres together with a lack of receptor binding domain (RBD)-specific memory CD4 T cells. These low antibody subjects had other, non-RBD, spike-specific CD4 T cells, but with more of an inhibitory Foxp3+ and CTLA-4+ cell phenotype, in contrast to the effector T-bet+, cytotoxic granzymes+ and perforin+ cells seen in RBD-specific memory CD4 T cells from high antibody subjects. Single cell transcriptomics of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells from high antibody subjects similarly revealed heterogenous RBD-specific CD4+ T cells that comprised central memory, transitional memory and Tregs, as well as cytotoxic clusters containing diverse TCR repertoires, in individuals with high antibody levels. However, vaccination of low antibody convalescent individuals led to a slight but significant improvement in RBD-specific memory CD4 T cells and increased neutralizing antibody titres. Interpretation Our results suggest that targeting CD4 T cell epitopes proximal to and within the RBD-region should be prioritized in booster vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Weng Hua Khoo
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia,St. Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Vera Klemm
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Annett Howe
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Anupriya Aggarwal
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Anouschka Akerman
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | - Romain Rouet
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter Schofield
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Megan L. Faulks
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Hannah Law
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Thidarat Danwilai
- NSW State Reference Laboratory for HIV, St. Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mitchell Starr
- NSW State Reference Laboratory for HIV, St. Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - C. Mee Ling Munier
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Daniel Christ
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mandeep Singh
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia,St. Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Fabienne Brilot-Turville
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children’s Hospital at Westmead, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia,Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Stuart Turville
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tri Giang Phan
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia,St. Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Gregory J. Dore
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia,Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - David Darley
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Philip Cunningham
- NSW State Reference Laboratory for HIV, St. Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Gail V. Matthews
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia,Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Anthony D. Kelleher
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia,Department of Immunology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John J. Zaunders
- NSW State Reference Laboratory for HIV, St. Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia,*Correspondence: John J. Zaunders,
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Malla R, Kamal MA. Tetraspanin-enriched Microdomain Containing CD151, CD9, and TSPAN 8 - Potential Mediators of Entry and Exit Mechanisms in Respiratory Viruses Including SARS-CoV-2. Curr Pharm Des 2022; 28:3649-3657. [PMID: 36173052 DOI: 10.2174/1381612828666220907105543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which originated in Wuhan, the Hubei region of China, has become a pandemic worldwide. It can transmit through droplets and enter via oral, nasal, and eye mucous membranes. It consists of single-stranded RNA (positive-sense), nonstructural proteins including enzymes and transcriptional proteins, and structural proteins such as Spike, Membrane, Envelope, and Nucleocapsid -proteins. SARS-CoV-2 mediates S-proteins entry and exit via binding to host cell surface proteins like tetraspanins. The transmembrane tetraspanins, CD151, CD9, and tetraspanin 8 (TSPAN8), facilitate the entry of novel coronaviruses by scaffolding host cell receptors and proteases. Also, CD151 was reported to increase airway hyperresponsiveness to calcium and nuclear viral export signaling. They may facilitate entry and exit by activating the serine proteases required to prime S-proteins in tetraspanin-enriched microdomains (TEMs). This article updates recent advances in structural proteins, their epitopes and putative receptors, and their regulation by proteases associated with TEMs. This review furnishes recent updates on the role of CD151 in the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2. We describe the role of CD151 in a possible mechanism of entry and exit in the airway, a major site for infection of SARS-CoV-2. We also updated current knowledge on the role of CD9 and TSPAN 8 in the entry and exit mechanism of coronaviruses. Finally, we discussed the importance of some small molecules which target CD151 as possible targeted therapeutics for COVID-19. In conclusion, this study could identify new targets and specific therapeutics to control emerging virus infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- RamaRao Malla
- Cancer Biology Lab, Department of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, School of Science, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam-530045, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Mohammad Amjad Kamal
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.,King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Ashulia, Bangladesh.,Enzymoics, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, 7 Peterlee Place, Hebersham NSW 2770, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Yepes M. Neurological Complications of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 Vaccines: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Manifestations. Curr Drug Targets 2022; 23:1620-1638. [PMID: 36121081 DOI: 10.2174/1389450123666220919123029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease, caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), that reached pandemic proportions in 2020. Despite the fact that it was initially characterized by pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome, it is now clear that the nervous system is also compromised in one third of these patients. Indeed, a significant proportion of COVID-19 patients suffer nervous system damage via a plethora of mechanisms including hypoxia, coagulopathy, immune response to the virus, and the direct effect of SARS-CoV-2 on endothelial cells, neurons, astrocytes, pericytes and microglia. Additionally, a low number of previously healthy individuals develop a variety of neurological complications after receiving COVID-19 vaccines and a large proportion of COVID-19 survivors experience longlasting neuropsychiatric symptoms. In conclusion, COVID-19 is also a neurological disease, and the direct and indirect effects of the virus on the nervous system have a significant impact on the morbidity and mortality of these patients. Here we will use the concept of the neurovascular unit, assembled by endothelial cells, basement membrane, perivascular astrocytes, neurons and microglia, to review the effects of SARS-CoV-2 in the nervous system. We will then use this information to review data published to this date on the neurological manifestations of COVID-19, the post- COVID syndrome and COVID-19 vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Yepes
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Neurology & Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Bianchini F, Crivelli V, Abernathy ME, Guerra C, Palus M, Muri J, Marcotte H, Piralla A, Pedotti M, De Gasparo R, Simonelli L, Matkovic M, Toscano C, Biggiogero M, Calvaruso V, Svoboda P, Rincón TC, Fava T, Podešvová L, Shanbhag AA, Celoria A, Sgrignani J, Stefanik M, Hönig V, Pranclova V, Michalcikova T, Prochazka J, Guerrini G, Mehn D, Ciabattini A, Abolhassani H, Jarrossay D, Uguccioni M, Medaglini D, Pan-Hammarström Q, Calzolai L, Fernandez D, Baldanti F, Franzetti-Pellanda A, Garzoni C, Sedlacek R, Ruzek D, Varani L, Cavalli A, Barnes CO, Robbiani DF. Human neutralizing antibodies to cold linear epitopes and to subdomain 1 of SARS-CoV-2. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.11.24.515932. [PMID: 36482967 PMCID: PMC9727766 DOI: 10.1101/2022.11.24.515932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants diminishes the efficacy of vaccines and antiviral monoclonal antibodies. Continued development of immunotherapies and vaccine immunogens resilient to viral evolution is therefore necessary. Using coldspot-guided antibody discovery, a screening approach that focuses on portions of the virus spike that are both functionally relevant and averse to change, we identified human neutralizing antibodies to highly conserved viral epitopes. Antibody fp.006 binds the fusion peptide and cross-reacts against coronaviruses of the four genera , including the nine human coronaviruses, through recognition of a conserved motif that includes the S2' site of proteolytic cleavage. Antibody hr2.016 targets the stem helix and neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 variants. Antibody sd1.040 binds to subdomain 1, synergizes with antibody rbd.042 for neutralization and, like fp.006 and hr2.016, protects mice when present as bispecific antibody. Thus, coldspot-guided antibody discovery reveals donor-derived neutralizing antibodies that are cross-reactive with Orthocoronavirinae , including SARS-CoV-2 variants. One sentence summary Broadly cross-reactive antibodies that protect from SARS-CoV-2 variants are revealed by virus coldspot-driven discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Bianchini
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Virginia Crivelli
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | | | - Concetta Guerra
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Martin Palus
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Veterinary Research Institute; Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jonathan Muri
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Harold Marcotte
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet; Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Antonio Piralla
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo; Pavia, Italy
| | - Mattia Pedotti
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Raoul De Gasparo
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Luca Simonelli
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Milos Matkovic
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Chiara Toscano
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Maira Biggiogero
- Clinical Research Unit, Clinica Luganese Moncucco; Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | - Pavel Svoboda
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Veterinary Research Institute; Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University; Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences; Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomás Cervantes Rincón
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Tommaso Fava
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Lucie Podešvová
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Akanksha A. Shanbhag
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Celoria
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Jacopo Sgrignani
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Michal Stefanik
- Veterinary Research Institute; Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno; Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vaclav Hönig
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Veterinary Research Institute; Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Pranclova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia; Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Michalcikova
- Czech Centre of Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Prochazka
- Czech Centre of Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Vestec, Czech Republic
| | | | - Dora Mehn
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC); Ispra, Italy
| | - Annalisa Ciabattini
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Medical Biotechnologies; University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Hassan Abolhassani
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet; Huddinge, Sweden
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences; Tehran, Iran
| | - David Jarrossay
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Mariagrazia Uguccioni
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Donata Medaglini
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Medical Biotechnologies; University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Luigi Calzolai
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC); Ispra, Italy
| | - Daniel Fernandez
- Sarafan ChEM-H Macromolecular Structure Knowledge Center, Stanford University; Stanford, USA
| | - Fausto Baldanti
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo; Pavia, Italy
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia; Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Christian Garzoni
- Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Clinica Luganese Moncucco; Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Radislav Sedlacek
- Czech Centre of Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Ruzek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Veterinary Research Institute; Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University; Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Luca Varani
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics; Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christopher O. Barnes
- Department of Biology, Stanford University; Stanford, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub; San Francisco, USA
| | - Davide F. Robbiani
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana; Bellinzona, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Valenzuela-Fernández A, Cabrera-Rodriguez R, Ciuffreda L, Perez-Yanes S, Estevez-Herrera J, González-Montelongo R, Alcoba-Florez J, Trujillo-González R, García-Martínez de Artola D, Gil-Campesino H, Díez-Gil O, Lorenzo-Salazar JM, Flores C, Garcia-Luis J. Nanomaterials to combat SARS-CoV-2: Strategies to prevent, diagnose and treat COVID-19. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1052436. [PMID: 36507266 PMCID: PMC9732709 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1052436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the associated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which severely affect the respiratory system and several organs and tissues, and may lead to death, have shown how science can respond when challenged by a global emergency, offering as a response a myriad of rapid technological developments. Development of vaccines at lightning speed is one of them. SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks have stressed healthcare systems, questioning patients care by using standard non-adapted therapies and diagnostic tools. In this scenario, nanotechnology has offered new tools, techniques and opportunities for prevention, for rapid, accurate and sensitive diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. In this review, we focus on the nanotechnological applications and nano-based materials (i.e., personal protective equipment) to combat SARS-CoV-2 transmission, infection, organ damage and for the development of new tools for virosurveillance, diagnose and immune protection by mRNA and other nano-based vaccines. All the nano-based developed tools have allowed a historical, unprecedented, real time epidemiological surveillance and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, at community and international levels. The nano-based technology has help to predict and detect how this Sarbecovirus is mutating and the severity of the associated COVID-19 disease, thereby assisting the administration and public health services to make decisions and measures for preparedness against the emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 and severe or lethal COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Valenzuela-Fernández
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Viral, Unidad de Farmacología, Sección de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Romina Cabrera-Rodriguez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Viral, Unidad de Farmacología, Sección de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Laura Ciuffreda
- Research Unit, Hospital Universitario N. S. de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Silvia Perez-Yanes
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Viral, Unidad de Farmacología, Sección de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Judith Estevez-Herrera
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Viral, Unidad de Farmacología, Sección de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | | | - Julia Alcoba-Florez
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario N. S. de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Trujillo-González
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Viral, Unidad de Farmacología, Sección de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- Departamento de Análisis Matemático, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | | | - Helena Gil-Campesino
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario N. S. de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Oscar Díez-Gil
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario N. S. de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - José M. Lorenzo-Salazar
- Genomics Division, Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Carlos Flores
- Research Unit, Hospital Universitario N. S. de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- Genomics Division, Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Fernando Pessoa Canarias, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Jonay Garcia-Luis
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Viral, Unidad de Farmacología, Sección de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Ait Hamdan Y, El Amerany F, Desbrières J, Aghrinane A, Oudadesse H, Rhazi M. The evolution of the global COVID-19 epidemic in Morocco and understanding the different therapeutic approaches of chitosan in the control of the pandemic. Polym Bull (Berl) 2022; 80:1-27. [PMID: 36466080 PMCID: PMC9685138 DOI: 10.1007/s00289-022-04579-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In 2020, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a new viral respiratory disease caused by a virus that belongs to Coronaviridae family, has been identified. It is a very severe flu that negatively affects the functions of the lung and other respiratory organs. COVID-19 virus can be transmitted between people either by touching an infected person or by direct contact with their respiratory droplets. Therefore, the COVID-19 virus has become a global concern due to its rapid spread and severity. Based on the World Health Organization report from 2 March 2020 to 24 October 2022, the total infected cases and deaths in Morocco are around 1,265,389 (3.46%) and 16,280 (0.04%), respectively. Recently, some scientists have found that chitosan, a polymer existed in nature, can inhibit COVID-19 infection and repair damaged tissue. Therefore, understanding chitosan mechanisms in controlling COVID-19, might lead to innovative strategies in the medical field, such as developing drugs against SARS-CoV-2, and replacing vaccines, which have negative side effects. This review aims to show the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, specifically in Morocco, its pathophysiology, and its ability to silence the immune system. This review also provides an overview of the treatments and measures applied to protect human beings and how chitosan acts and controls COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Youssef Ait Hamdan
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory in Bio-Resources, Environment and Materials, Higher Normal School, Department of Biology, Cadi Ayyad University, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR-UMR 6226, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Fatima El Amerany
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory in Bio-Resources, Environment and Materials, Higher Normal School, Department of Biology, Cadi Ayyad University, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco
- Laboratory of Sustainable Development and Health Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology of Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University, PO Box 549, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Jacques Desbrières
- IPREM, University of Pau and Adour Countries (UPPA), Hélioparc Pau Pyrénées, 2 Avenue P. Angot, 64053 PAU Cedex 09, France
| | - Abdessadek Aghrinane
- Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Ecosystem Valorization, Faculty of Sciences, University Chouaib Doukkali, 24000 El Jadida, Morocco
| | | | - Mohammed Rhazi
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory in Bio-Resources, Environment and Materials, Higher Normal School, Department of Biology, Cadi Ayyad University, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco
| |
Collapse
|