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De Maio FA, Winter M, Abate S, Birochio D, Iglesias NG, Barrio DA, Bellusci CP. Torque teno sus virus k2a (TTSuVk2a) in wild boars from northeastern Patagonia, Argentina. Braz J Microbiol 2024; 55:981-989. [PMID: 38286944 PMCID: PMC10920574 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01261-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Torque teno sus virus k2a (TTSuVk2a) is a member of the family Anelloviridae that can establish persistent infections in both domestic pigs and wild boars. Its association with diseases has not been precisely elucidated, and it is often considered only as a commensal virus. This infectious agent has been reported in herds throughout the world. In this study, we investigated the detection rate and diversity of TTSuVk2a in free-living wild boars from northeastern Patagonia, Argentina. Total DNA was extracted from tonsil samples of 50 animals, nested PCR assays were carried out, and infection was verified in 60% of the cases. Sequence analysis of the viral non-coding region revealed distinct phylogenetic groups. These clusters showed contrasting patterns of spatial distribution, which presented statistically significant differences when evaluating spatial aggregation. In turn, the sequences were compared with those available in the database to find that the clusters were distinguished by having similarity with TTSuVk2a variants of different geographic origin. The results suggested that Patagonian wild boar populations are bearers of diverse viral strains of Asian, European, and South American provenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Andrés De Maio
- Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Sede Atlántica, Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia Río Negro (CONICET-UNRN), Ruta Provincial N°1 y Rotonda Cooperación, CP 8500, Viedma, Río Negro, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marina Winter
- Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Sede Atlántica, Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia Río Negro (CONICET-UNRN), Ruta Provincial N°1 y Rotonda Cooperación, CP 8500, Viedma, Río Negro, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sergio Abate
- Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Sede Atlántica, Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia Río Negro (CONICET-UNRN), Ruta Provincial N°1 y Rotonda Cooperación, CP 8500, Viedma, Río Negro, Argentina
| | - Diego Birochio
- Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Sede Atlántica, Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia Río Negro (CONICET-UNRN), Ruta Provincial N°1 y Rotonda Cooperación, CP 8500, Viedma, Río Negro, Argentina
| | - Néstor Gabriel Iglesias
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional de Hurlingham (UNAHUR), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniel Alejandro Barrio
- Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Sede Atlántica, Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia Río Negro (CONICET-UNRN), Ruta Provincial N°1 y Rotonda Cooperación, CP 8500, Viedma, Río Negro, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina Paula Bellusci
- Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Sede Atlántica, Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia Río Negro (CONICET-UNRN), Ruta Provincial N°1 y Rotonda Cooperación, CP 8500, Viedma, Río Negro, Argentina.
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Shahhosseini N. Characterization of mutations modulating enhanced transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617+ (Delta) variant using In Silico tools. GENE REPORTS 2022; 27:101636. [PMID: 35721780 PMCID: PMC9195409 DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2022.101636] [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: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Since the beginning of the of SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) pandemic, variants of concern (VOC) have emerged taxing health systems worldwide. In October 2020, a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 (B.1.617+/Delta variant) emerged in India, triggering a deadly wave of Covid-19. Epidemiological data strongly suggests that B.1.617+ is more transmissible and previous reports have revealed that B.1.617+ has numerous mutations compared to wild type (WT), including several changes in the spike protein (SP). The main goal of this study was to use In Silico (computer simulation) techniques to examine mutations in the SP, specifically L452R and E484Q (part of the receptor binding domain (RBD) for human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2)) and P681R (upstream of the Furin cleavage motif), for effects in modulating the transmissibility of the B.1.617+ variant. Using computational models, the binding free energy (BFE) and H-bond lengths were calculated for SP-hACE2 and SP-Furin complexes. Comparison of the SP-hACE2 complex in the WT and B.1.617+ revealed both complexes have identical receptor-binding modes but the total BFE of B.1.617+ binding was more favorable for complex formation than WT, suggesting L452R and E484Q have a moderate impact on binding affinity. In contrast, the SP-Furin complex of B.1.617+ substantially lowered the BFE and revealed changes in molecular interactions compared to the WT complex, implying stronger complex formation between the variant and Furin. This study provides an insight into mutations that modulate transmissibility of the B.1.617+ variant, specifically the P681R mutation which appears to enhance transmissibility of the B.1.617+ variant by rendering it more receptive to Furin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nariman Shahhosseini
- Centre for Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Animal Diseases, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Lethbridge, AB T1J 3Z4, Canada
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Shahhosseini N, Babuadze G(G, Wong G, Kobinger GP. Mutation Signatures and In Silico Docking of Novel SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern. Microorganisms 2021; 9:926. [PMID: 33925854 PMCID: PMC8146828 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9050926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
One year since the first severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was reported in China, several variants of concern (VOC) have appeared around the world, with some variants seeming to pose a greater thread to public health due to enhanced transmissibility or infectivity. This study provides a framework for molecular characterization of novel VOC and investigates the effect of mutations on the binding affinity of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) to human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) using in silico approach. Notable nonsynonymous mutations in RBD of VOC include the E484K and K417N/T that can be seen in South African and Brazilian variants, and N501Y and D614G that can be seen in all VOC. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that although the UK-VOC and the BR-VOC fell in the clade GR, they have different mutation signatures, implying an independent evolutionary pathway. The same is true about SA-VOC and COH-VOC felling in clade GH, but different mutation signatures. Combining molecular interaction modeling and the free energy of binding (FEB) calculations for VOC, it can be assumed that the mutation N501Y has the highest binding affinity in RBD for all VOC, followed by E484K (only for BR-VOC), which favors the formation of a stable complex. However, mutations at the residue K417N/T are shown to reduce the binding affinity. Once vaccination has started, there will be selective pressure that would be in favor of the emergence of novel variants capable of escaping the immune system. Therefore, genomic surveillance should be enhanced to find and monitor new emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants before they become a public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nariman Shahhosseini
- Département de Microbiologie-Infectiologie et d’Immunologie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V4G2, Canada; (G.W.); (G.P.K.)
| | - George (Giorgi) Babuadze
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M4N3M5, Canada;
| | - Gary Wong
- Département de Microbiologie-Infectiologie et d’Immunologie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V4G2, Canada; (G.W.); (G.P.K.)
- Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Gary P. Kobinger
- Département de Microbiologie-Infectiologie et d’Immunologie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V4G2, Canada; (G.W.); (G.P.K.)
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E0J9, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E0T5, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4238, USA
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Shahhosseini N, Wong G, Kobinger GP, Chinikar S. SARS-CoV-2 spillover transmission due to recombination event. GENE REPORTS 2021; 23:101045. [PMID: 33615041 PMCID: PMC7884226 DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2021.101045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
In late 2019, a novel Coronavirus emerged in China. Perceiving the modulating factors of cross-species virus transmission is critical to elucidate the nature of virus emergence. Using bioinformatics tools, we analyzed the mapping of the SARS-CoV-2 genome, modeling of protein structure, and analyze the evolutionary origin of SARS-CoV-2, as well as potential recombination events. Phylogenetic tree analysis shows that SARS-CoV-2 has the closest evolutionary relationship with Bat-SL-CoV-2 (RaTG13) at the scale of the complete virus genome, and less similarity to Pangolin-CoV. However, the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 is almost identical to Pangolin-CoV at the aa level, suggesting that spillover transmission probably occurred directly from pangolins, but not bats. Further recombination analysis revealed the pathway for spillover transmission from Bat-SL-CoV-2 and Pangolin-CoV. Here, we provide evidence for recombination event between Bat-SL-CoV-2 and Pangolin-CoV that resulted in the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. Nevertheless, the role of mutations should be noted as another influencing factor in the continuing evolution and resurgence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nariman Shahhosseini
- Département de Microbiologie-Infectiologie et d'Immunologie, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Gary Wong
- Département de Microbiologie-Infectiologie et d'Immunologie, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada.,Pasteur Institute of Shanghai, China
| | - Gary P Kobinger
- Département de Microbiologie-Infectiologie et d'Immunologie, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada.,Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sadegh Chinikar
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,Pasteur Institute of Tehran, Iran
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