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Ogunbode TO, Esan VI, Oyebamiji VO, Olatubi IV, Ogunlaran OM. Exploring People's Perception on Pros and Cons of Human-Bat Coexistence in Urban Environs in Southwestern Nigeria. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSIGHTS 2024; 18:11786302241266051. [PMID: 39071234 PMCID: PMC11283653 DOI: 10.1177/11786302241266051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
This research intricately explores the dynamics surrounding the coexistence of humans and roosting bats in urban areas, meticulously examining both the advantageous and detrimental aspects of their living arrangement. The study conducted a comprehensive survey with 286 residents in Iwo and Ogbomoso, where Eidolon helvum bats are known to roost, generating a robust dataset for thorough analysis. Rigorous statistical assessments, including the KMO and Bartlett's tests, confirmed the data's reliability at a significance level of P < .05. The respondent demographic revealed a predominance of 65% male participants, with an overwhelming 85% claiming familiarity with bats in their respective domains. Utilizing factor analysis, the study identified 8 salient variables from the initial 26, shedding light on diverse perceptions regarding bats: (i) Urban roosting (16.729%); (ii) Impact on tree growth (12.607%); (iii) Failed dislodgement attempts (11.504%); (iv) Medicinal value (10.240%); (v) Co-habitation preference (9.963%); (vi) Costly dislodgment consequences (9.963%); (vii) Beautification disruption (5.615%); and (viii) Structure defacement (5.510%). These factors were systematically categorized into 4 distinct themes: (A) Forced cohabitation (26.762%); (B) Environmental degradation by bats (23.732%); (C) Consequences of dislodging bats (21.477%); and (D) Acknowledged benefits of bats (10.240%). Co-habitation with bats becomes a necessity for ecological balance and, importantly, to safeguard the livelihood of roosting bats within their natural ecology, which man has encroached upon through urbanization, making all negatives arising from such existence self-inflicted by man. However, this study underscores the importance of human-bat cohabitation for mutual benefits, emphasizing potential detrimental consequences, including significant costs, associated with displacing bats from their natural ecosystem. These consequences may exacerbate the impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and ecological imbalance. Further research is recommended to explore the positive aspects of the sustainable roosting bats' existence in the natural environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy O Ogunbode
- Environmental Management and Crop Production Unit, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria
| | - Vincent I Esan
- Environmental Management and Crop Production Unit, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria
| | | | - Iyabo V Olatubi
- Pure and Applied Biology Programme, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria
| | - Oladotun M Ogunlaran
- Mathematics Programme, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria
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2
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Cen S, Rasmussen DA. Exploring the Accuracy and Limits of Algorithms for Localizing Recombination Breakpoints. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae133. [PMID: 38917277 PMCID: PMC11229816 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae133] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Phylogenetic methods are widely used to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships among species and individuals. However, recombination can obscure ancestral relationships as individuals may inherit different regions of their genome from different ancestors. It is, therefore, often necessary to detect recombination events, locate recombination breakpoints, and select recombination-free alignments prior to reconstructing phylogenetic trees. While many earlier studies have examined the power of different methods to detect recombination, very few have examined the ability of these methods to accurately locate recombination breakpoints. In this study, we simulated genome sequences based on ancestral recombination graphs and explored the accuracy of three popular recombination detection methods: MaxChi, 3SEQ, and Genetic Algorithm Recombination Detection. The accuracy of inferred breakpoint locations was evaluated along with the key factors contributing to variation in accuracy across datasets. While many different genomic features contribute to the variation in performance across methods, the number of informative sites consistent with the pattern of inheritance between parent and recombinant child sequences always has the greatest contribution to accuracy. While partitioning sequence alignments based on identified recombination breakpoints can greatly decrease phylogenetic error, the quality of phylogenetic reconstructions depends very little on how breakpoints are chosen to partition the alignment. Our work sheds light on how different features of recombinant genomes affect the performance of recombination detection methods and suggests best practices for reconstructing phylogenies based on recombination-free alignments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Cen
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - David A Rasmussen
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
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Rosenblatt E, Cook JD, DiRenzo GV, Grant EHC, Arce F, Pepin KM, Rudolph FJ, Runge MC, Shriner S, Walsh DP, Mosher BA. Epidemiological modeling of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) reveals conditions for introduction and widespread transmission. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1012263. [PMID: 38995977 PMCID: PMC11268674 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012263] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases with zoonotic potential often have complex socioecological dynamics and limited ecological data, requiring integration of epidemiological modeling with surveillance. Although our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 has advanced considerably since its detection in late 2019, the factors influencing its introduction and transmission in wildlife hosts, particularly white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), remain poorly understood. We use a Susceptible-Infected-Recovered-Susceptible epidemiological model to investigate the spillover risk and transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in wild and captive white-tailed deer populations across various simulated scenarios. We found that captive scenarios pose a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 introduction from humans into deer herds and subsequent transmission among deer, compared to wild herds. However, even in wild herds, the transmission risk is often substantial enough to sustain infections. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the strength of introduction from humans influences outbreak characteristics only to a certain extent. Transmission among deer was frequently sufficient for widespread outbreaks in deer populations, regardless of the initial level of introduction. We also explore the potential for fence line interactions between captive and wild deer to elevate outbreak metrics in wild herds that have the lowest risk of introduction and sustained transmission. Our results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 could be introduced and maintained in deer herds across a range of circumstances based on testing a range of introduction and transmission risks in various captive and wild scenarios. Our approach and findings will aid One Health strategies that mitigate persistent SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in white-tailed deer populations and potential spillback to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Rosenblatt
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Jonathan D. Cook
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Laurel, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Graziella V. DiRenzo
- U. S. Geological Survey, Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Evan H. Campbell Grant
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Turner’s Falls, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Fernando Arce
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kim M. Pepin
- National Wildlife Research Center, USDA, APHIS, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - F. Javiera Rudolph
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Laurel, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Ecosystem Sciences and Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Michael C. Runge
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Laurel, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Susan Shriner
- National Wildlife Research Center, USDA, APHIS, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Daniel P. Walsh
- U. S. Geological Survey, Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Brittany A. Mosher
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
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Zheng J, Zeng J, Long H, Chen J, Liu K, Chen Y, Du X. Recombination and selection trajectory of the monkeypox virus during its adaptation in the human population. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29825. [PMID: 39049554 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29825] [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: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Monkeypox, caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), was historically confined to West and Central Africa but has now spread globally. Recombination and selection play crucial roles in the evolutionary adaptation of MPXV; however, the evolution of MPXV and its relationship with the recent, ground-breaking monkeypox epidemic remains poorly understood. To gain insights into the evolutionary dynamics of MPXV, comprehensive in silico recombination and selection analyses were conducted based on MPXV whole genome sequence data. Three types of recombination were identified: five ancestor-sharing interspecies recombination events, six specific interspecies recombination events and four intraspecies recombination events. The results highlight the prevalent occurrence of recombination in MPXV, with 73.3% occurring in variable regions of the genome. Selection analysis was performed from three dimensions: proteins around recombination regions, proteins from recombinant ancestors and MPXV branches, and whole-genome gene analysis. Results revealed 2 and 7 proteins under positive selection in the first two dimensions, respectively. These proteins are mainly involved in infection immunity, apoptosis regulation and viral virulence. Whole-genome analysis detected 25 genes under positive selection, mainly associated with immune response and viral regulation. Understanding their evolutionary patterns will help predict and prevent cross-species transmission, zoonotic outbreaks and potential human epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialu Zheng
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinfeng Zeng
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haoyu Long
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jian Chen
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kaijie Liu
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yixiong Chen
- Department of Infectious Disease Prevention, Bao'an Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Xiangjun Du
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbes & Biosafety, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Rasmussen TB, Qvesel AG, Pedersen AG, Olesen AS, Fonager J, Rasmussen M, Sieber RN, Stegger M, Calvo-Artavia FF, Goedknegt MJF, Thuesen ER, Lohse L, Mortensen S, Fomsgaard A, Boklund A, Bøtner A, Belsham GJ. Emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants from farmed mink to humans and back during the epidemic in Denmark, June-November 2020. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012039. [PMID: 38950065 PMCID: PMC11244769 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012039] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) not only caused the COVID-19 pandemic but also had a major impact on farmed mink production in several European countries. In Denmark, the entire population of farmed mink (over 15 million animals) was culled in late 2020. During the period of June to November 2020, mink on 290 farms (out of about 1100 in the country) were shown to be infected with SARS-CoV-2. Genome sequencing identified changes in the virus within the mink and it is estimated that about 4000 people in Denmark became infected with these mink virus variants. However, the routes of transmission of the virus to, and from, the mink have been unclear. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the generation of multiple clusters of the virus within the mink. Detailed analysis of changes in the virus during replication in mink and, in parallel, in the human population in Denmark, during the same time period, has been performed here. The majority of cases in mink involved variants with the Y453F substitution and the H69/V70 deletion within the Spike (S) protein; these changes emerged early in the outbreak. However, further introductions of the virus, by variants lacking these changes, from the human population into mink also occurred. Based on phylogenetic analysis of viral genome data, we estimate, using a conservative approach, that about 17 separate examples of mink to human transmission occurred in Denmark but up to 59 such events (90% credible interval: (39-77)) were identified using parsimony to count cross-species jumps on transmission trees inferred using Bayesian methods. Using the latter approach, 136 jumps (90% credible interval: (117-164)) from humans to mink were found, which may underlie the farm-to-farm spread. Thus, transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to mink, mink to mink, from mink to humans and between humans were all observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Bruun Rasmussen
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Amanda Gammelby Qvesel
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Health Technology, Section for Bioinformatics, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- PandemiX Center, Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Anders Gorm Pedersen
- Department of Health Technology, Section for Bioinformatics, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- PandemiX Center, Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Ann Sofie Olesen
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jannik Fonager
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Rasmussen
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Marc Stegger
- Department of Bioinformatics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Esben Rahbek Thuesen
- Department of Health Technology, Section for Bioinformatics, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- PandemiX Center, Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Louise Lohse
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sten Mortensen
- Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Ministry of Environment and Food, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Anders Fomsgaard
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anette Boklund
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Anette Bøtner
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Graham J. Belsham
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
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Xia LY, Wang XF, Cui XM, Zhang YM, Wang ZF, Li ET, Fan CF, Song K, Li YG, Ye RZ, Li FX, Zhu DY, Zhang J, Shi ZZ, Zhang MZ, Li LJ, Shen SJ, Jin S, Zhang YW, Fu WG, Zhao L, Wang WH, Wang TC, Wang YC, Jiang JF, Hu YL, Jia N, Gao YW, Cao WC. Characterization of a pangolin SARS-CoV-2-related virus isolate that uses the human ACE2 receptor. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:1502-1513. [PMID: 38478297 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2484-x] [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: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2024]
Abstract
Various SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses have been increasingly identified in pangolins, showing a potential threat to humans. Here we report the infectivity and pathogenicity of the SARS-CoV-2-related virus, PCoV-GX/P2V, which was isolated from a Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica). PCoV-GX/P2V could grow in human hepatoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma cells, and human primary nasal epithelial cells. It replicated more efficiently in cells expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) as SARS-CoV-2 did. After intranasal inoculation to the hACE2-transgenic mice, PCoV-GX/P2V not only replicated in nasal turbinate and lungs, but also caused interstitial pneumonia, characterized by infiltration of mixed inflammatory cells and multifocal alveolar hemorrhage. Existing population immunity established by SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination may not protect people from PCoV-GX/P2V infection. These findings further verify the hACE2 utility of PCoV-GX/P2V by in vivo experiments using authentic viruses and highlight the importance for intensive surveillance to prevent possible cross-species transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luo-Yuan Xia
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Xue-Feng Wang
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Changchun, 130122, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
- Research Unit of Discovery and Tracing of Natural Focus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Yi-Ming Zhang
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Changchun, 130122, China
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Zhen-Fei Wang
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - En-Tao Li
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Changchun, 130122, China
| | - Chang-Fa Fan
- Division of Animal Model Research, Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 102629, China
| | - Ke Song
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Yuan-Guo Li
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Changchun, 130122, China
| | - Run-Ze Ye
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Fang-Xu Li
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Changchun, 130122, China
| | - Dai-Yun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | | | - Ming-Zhu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Liang-Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Shi-Jing Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Song Jin
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Changchun, 130122, China
| | - Ya-Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Wei-Guang Fu
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Changchun, 130122, China
| | - Lin Zhao
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Wen-Hao Wang
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Changchun, 130122, China
| | - Tie-Cheng Wang
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Changchun, 130122, China
| | - You-Chun Wang
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 102629, China
| | - Jia-Fu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
- Research Unit of Discovery and Tracing of Natural Focus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Yan-Ling Hu
- Life Sciences Institute, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530020, China
| | - Na Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China.
- Research Unit of Discovery and Tracing of Natural Focus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Yu-Wei Gao
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Changchun, 130122, China.
| | - Wu-Chun Cao
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China.
- Research Unit of Discovery and Tracing of Natural Focus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, China.
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Ravanbakhsh R, Farhand Y, Ravanbakhsh Ghavghani F. Investigating the Hepcidin Gene Polymorphisms in COVID-19-Associated Mucormycosis Susceptibility: A Clinical-Laboratory Study. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES 2024; 49:450-460. [PMID: 39114634 PMCID: PMC11300941 DOI: 10.30476/ijms.2023.99589.3167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Background Following the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak (COVID-19), it became a worrisome health burden worldwide. COVID-19-associated mucormycosis emergence, characterized by dysregulated inflammation and iron metabolism, exacerbated the prognosis of affected patients. Given the significance of hepcidin in regulating inflammation and iron metabolism, this study investigated the significance of hepcidin single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in COVID-19-associated mucormycosis development, along with the association between the clinical and laboratory factors and COVID-19-associated mucormycosis. Methods From September 2021 to November 2021, COVID-19 patients with and without mucormycosis were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Their medical records and laboratory results were investigated. SNP genotyping was performed using Sanger sequencing. Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium, Pearson's Chi square, and student t test were used for analyzing the data using SPSS software version 25. P<0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results Here, 110 COVID-19 patients with and without mucormycosis were investigated. Elevated levels of urea, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and increased ratio of polymorphonuclear neutrophil to lymphocytes were associated with decreased risk of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis in patients (all P<0.05). Moreover, diabetes mellitus increased the risk of mucormycosis (P=0.028). In contrast to patients without mucormycosis, patients with mucormycosis did not display 442 GA and SNP335 GT genotypes. Unlike patients without mucormycosis, none of the patients with mucormycosis had SNP442 GA and SNP335 GT genotypes. Regarding SNP 443 C>T, and the combination of SNPs 582 A>G and 443 C>T, CC genotype and AA+CC genotypes were associated with increased lactate dehydrogenase levels in COVID-19 patients, respectively. Conclusion Regarding SNP 443 C>T, the CC genotype was associated with increased lactate dehydrogenase levels in COVID-19 patients. In terms of SNP 582 A>G and SNP 443 C>T, COVID-19 patients with AA+CC genotypes had higher levels of LDH. None of the patients with mucormycosis had SNP442 GA and SNP335 GT genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reyhaneh Ravanbakhsh
- Department of Aquatic Biotechnology, Artemia and Aquaculture Research Institute, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Yalda Farhand
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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8
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Apoorva, Singh SK. A tale of endurance: bats, viruses and immune dynamics. Future Microbiol 2024; 19:841-856. [PMID: 38648093 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2023-0233] [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: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of highly zoonotic viral infections has propelled bat research forward. The viral outbreaks including Hendra virus, Nipah virus, Marburg virus, Ebola virus, Rabies virus, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, SARS-CoV and the latest SARS-CoV-2 have been epidemiologically linked to various bat species. Bats possess unique immunological characteristics that allow them to serve as a potential viral reservoir. Bats are also known to protect themselves against viruses and maintain their immunity. Therefore, there is a need for in-depth understanding into bat-virus biology to unravel the major factors contributing to the coexistence and spread of viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apoorva
- Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Sunit Kumar Singh
- Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
- Dr. B R Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi (North Campus), New Delhi, 110007, India
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9
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Hussain B, Wu C. Evolutionary and Phylogenetic Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants: A Genetic Comparative Study of Taiyuan and Wuhan Cities of China. Viruses 2024; 16:907. [PMID: 38932199 PMCID: PMC11209594 DOI: 10.3390/v16060907] [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: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genome-containing virus which has infected millions of people all over the world. The virus has been mutating rapidly enough, resulting in the emergence of new variants and sub-variants which have reportedly been spread from Wuhan city in China, the epicenter of the virus, to the rest of China and all over the world. The occurrence of mutations in the viral genome, especially in the viral spike protein region, has resulted in the evolution of multiple variants and sub-variants which gives the virus the benefit of host immune evasion and thus renders modern-day vaccines and therapeutics ineffective. Therefore, there is a continuous need to study the genetic characteristics and evolutionary dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 variants. Hence, in this study, a total of 832 complete genomes of SARS-CoV-2 variants from the cities of Taiyuan and Wuhan in China was genetically characterized and their phylogenetic and evolutionary dynamics studied using phylogenetics, genetic similarity, and phylogenetic network analyses. This study shows that the four most prevalent lineages in Taiyuan and Wuhan are as follows: the Omicron lineages EG.5.1.1, followed by HK.3, FY.3, and XBB.1.16 (Pangolin classification), and clades 23F (EG.5.1), followed by 23H (HK.3), 22F (XBB), and 23D (XBB.1.9) (Nextclade classification), and lineage B followed by the Omicron FY.3, lineage A, and Omicron FL.2.3 (Pangolin classification), and the clades 19A, followed by 22F (XBB), 23F (EG.5.1), and 23H (HK.3) (Nextclade classification), respectively. Furthermore, our genetic similarity analysis show that the SARS-CoV-2 clade 19A-B.4 from Wuhan (name starting with 412981) has the least genetic similarity of about 95.5% in the spike region of the genome as compared to the query sequence of Omicron XBB.2.3.2 from Taiyuan (name starting with 18495234), followed by the Omicron FR.1.4 from Taiyuan (name starting with 18495199) with ~97.2% similarity and Omicron DY.3 (name starting with 17485740) with ~97.9% similarity. The rest of the variants showed ≥98% similarity with the query sequence of Omicron XBB.2.3.2 from Taiyuan (name starting with 18495234). In addition, our recombination analysis results show that the SARS-CoV-2 variants have three statistically significant recombinant events which could have possibly resulted in the emergence of Omicron XBB.1.16 (recombination event 3), FY.3 (recombination event 5), and FL.2.4 (recombination event 7), suggesting some very important information regarding viral evolution. Also, our phylogenetic tree and network analyses show that there are a total of 14 clusters and more than 10,000 mutations which may have probably resulted in the emergence of cluster-I, followed by 47 mutations resulting in the emergence of cluster-II and so on. The clustering of the viral variants of both cities reveals significant information regarding the phylodynamics of the virus among them. The results of our temporal phylogenetic analysis suggest that the variants of Taiyuan have likely emerged as independent variants separate from the variants of Wuhan. This study, to the best of our knowledge, is the first ever genetic comparative study between Taiyuan and Wuhan cities in China. This study will help us better understand the virus and cope with the emergence and spread of new variants at a local as well as an international level, and keep the public health authorities informed for them to make better decisions in designing new viral vaccines and therapeutics. It will also help the outbreak investigators to better examine any future outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behzad Hussain
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China;
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Changxin Wu
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China;
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Cell Biology, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of National Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Major Infectious Disease Response, Taiyuan 030006, China
- The Fourth People’s Hospital of Taiyuan, Taiyuan 030006, China
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10
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Delaye L, Román-Padilla L. Untangling the Evolution of the Receptor-Binding Motif of SARS-CoV-2. J Mol Evol 2024; 92:329-337. [PMID: 38777906 PMCID: PMC11168982 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-024-10175-y] [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: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The spike protein determines the host-range specificity of coronaviruses. In particular, the Receptor-Binding Motif in the spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 contains the amino acids involved in molecular recognition of the host Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2. Therefore, to understand how SARS-CoV-2 acquired its capacity to infect humans it is necessary to reconstruct the evolution of this important motif. Early during the pandemic, it was proposed that the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domain was acquired via recombination with a pangolin infecting coronavirus. This proposal was challenged by an alternative explanation that suggested that the Receptor-Binding Domain from SARS-CoV-2 did not originated via recombination with a coronavirus from a pangolin. Instead, this alternative hypothesis proposed that the Receptor-Binding Motif from the bat coronavirus RaTG13, was acquired via recombination with an unidentified coronavirus. And as a consequence of this event, the Receptor-Binding Domain from the pangolin coronavirus appeared as phylogenetically closer to SARS-CoV-2. Recently, the genomes from coronaviruses from Cambodia (bat_RShST182/200) and Laos (BANAL-20-52/103/247) which are closely related to SARS-CoV-2 were reported. However, no detailed analysis of the evolution of the Receptor-Binding Motif from these coronaviruses was reported. Here we revisit the evolution of the Receptor-Binding Domain and Motif in the light of the novel coronavirus genome sequences. Specifically, we wanted to test whether the above coronaviruses from Cambodia and Laos were the source of the Receptor-Binding Domain from RaTG13. We found that the Receptor-Binding Motif from these coronaviruses is phylogenetically closer to SARS-CoV-2 than to RaTG13. Therefore, the source of the Receptor-Binding Domain from RaTG13 is still unidentified. In accordance with previous studies, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the Receptor-Binding Motif from SARS-CoV-2 evolved by vertical inheritance from a bat-infecting population of coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Delaye
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Cinvestav Unidad Irapuato, Km 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, C.P. 36824, Irapuato, Gto., Mexico.
| | - Lizbeth Román-Padilla
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Cinvestav Unidad Irapuato, Km 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, C.P. 36824, Irapuato, Gto., Mexico
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11
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Kumar V, Shefrin S, Sundar D. Molecular insights into the binding interactions and energetics of the omicron spike variant with hACE2 and a neutralizing antibody. J Struct Biol 2024; 216:108087. [PMID: 38494148 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2024.108087] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The global spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) since 2019 has led to a continuous evolution of viral variants, with the latest concern being the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant. In this study, classical molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to elucidate the biophysical aspects of the Omicron spike protein's receptor-binding domain (RBD) in its interaction with human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) and a neutralizing antibody, comparing it to the wildtype (WT). To model the Omicron variant, 15 in silico mutations were introduced in the RBD region of WT (retrieved from PDB). The simulations of WT spike-hACE2 and Omicron spike-hACE2 complexes revealed comparable binding stability and dynamics. Notably, the Q493R mutation in the Omicron spike increased interactions with hACE2, particularly with ASP38 and ASP355. Additionally, mutations such as N417K, T478K, and Y505H contributed to enhanced structural stability in the Omicron variant. Conversely, when comparing WT with Omicron in complex with a neutralizing antibody, simulation results demonstrated poorer binding dynamics and stability for the Omicron variant. The E484K mutation significantly decreased binding interactions, resulting in an overall decrease in binding energy (∼-57 kcal/mol) compared to WT (∼-84 kcal/mol). This study provides valuable molecular insights into the heightened infectivity of the Omicron variant, shedding light on the specific mutations influencing its interactions with hACE2 and neutralizing antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vipul Kumar
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India.
| | - Seyad Shefrin
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India.
| | - Durai Sundar
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India.
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12
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Brinkkemper M, Poniman M, Siteur-van Rijnstra E, Iddouch WA, Bijl TP, Guerra D, Tejjani K, Grobben M, Bhoelan F, Bemelman D, Kempers R, van Gils MJ, Sliepen K, Stegmann T, van der Velden YU, Sanders RW. A spike virosome vaccine induces pan-sarbecovirus antibody responses in mice. iScience 2024; 27:109719. [PMID: 38706848 PMCID: PMC11068555 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic events by sarbecoviruses have sparked an epidemic (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus [SARS-CoV]) and a pandemic (SARS-CoV-2) in the past two decades. The continued risk of spillovers from animals to humans is an ongoing threat to global health and a pan-sarbecovirus vaccine would be an important contribution to pandemic preparedness. Here, we describe multivalent virosome-based vaccines that present stabilized spike proteins from four sarbecovirus strains, one from each clade. A cocktail of four monovalent virosomes or a mosaic virosome preparation induced broad sarbecovirus binding and neutralizing antibody responses in mice. Pre-existing immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and extending the intervals between immunizations enhanced antibody responses. These results should inform the development of a pan-sarbecovirus vaccine, as part of our efforts to prepare for and/or avoid a next pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitch Brinkkemper
- Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious diseases, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Meliawati Poniman
- Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious diseases, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Esther Siteur-van Rijnstra
- Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Department of Experimental Immunology, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Widad Ait Iddouch
- Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious diseases, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tom P.L. Bijl
- Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious diseases, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Denise Guerra
- Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious diseases, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Khadija Tejjani
- Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious diseases, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marloes Grobben
- Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious diseases, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Farien Bhoelan
- Mymetics BV, JH Oortweg 21, CH 2333 Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Ronald Kempers
- Mymetics BV, JH Oortweg 21, CH 2333 Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marit J. van Gils
- Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious diseases, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kwinten Sliepen
- Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious diseases, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Toon Stegmann
- Mymetics BV, JH Oortweg 21, CH 2333 Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Yme U. van der Velden
- Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious diseases, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rogier W. Sanders
- Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious diseases, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
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13
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Irfan E, Dilshad E, Ahmad F, Almajhdi FN, Hussain T, Abdi G, Waheed Y. Phytoconstituents of Artemisia Annua as potential inhibitors of SARS CoV2 main protease: an in silico study. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:495. [PMID: 38750422 PMCID: PMC11094927 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09387-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In November 2019, the world faced a pandemic called SARS-CoV-2, which became a major threat to humans and continues to be. To overcome this, many plants were explored to find a cure. METHODS Therefore, this research was planned to screen out the active constituents from Artemisia annua that can work against the viral main protease Mpro as this non-structural protein is responsible for the cleavage of replicating enzymes of the virus. Twenty-five biocompounds belonging to different classes namely alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, carvone, myrtenol, quinic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin, rutin, apigenin, chrysoplenetin, arteannunin b, artemisinin, scopoletin, scoparone, artemisinic acid, deoxyartemisnin, artemetin, casticin, sitogluside, beta-sitosterol, dihydroartemisinin, scopolin, artemether, artemotil, artesunate were selected. Virtual screening of these ligands was carried out against drug target Mpro by CB dock. RESULTS Quercetin, rutin, casticin, chrysoplenetin, apigenin, artemetin, artesunate, sopolin and sito-gluside were found as hit compounds. Further, ADMET screening was conducted which represented Chrysoplenetin as a lead compound. Azithromycin was used as a standard drug. The interactions were studied by PyMol and visualized in LigPlot. Furthermore, the RMSD graph shows fluctuations at various points at the start of simulation in Top1 (Azithromycin) complex system due to structural changes in the helix-coil-helix and beta-turn-beta changes at specific points resulting in increased RMSD with a time frame of 50 ns. But this change remains stable after the extension of simulation time intervals till 100 ns. On other side, the Top2 complex system remains highly stable throughout the time scale. No such structural dynamics were observed bu the ligand attached to the active site residues binds strongly. CONCLUSION This study facilitates researchers to develop and discover more effective and specific therapeutic agents against SARS-CoV-2 and other viral infections. Finally, chrysoplenetin was identified as a more potent drug candidate to act against the viral main protease, which in the future can be helpful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eraj Irfan
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Capital, University of Science and Technology, (CUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Erum Dilshad
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Capital, University of Science and Technology, (CUST), Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Faisal Ahmad
- Foundation University Medical College, Foundation University Islamabad, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Fahad Nasser Almajhdi
- COVID-19 Virus Research Chair, Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tajamul Hussain
- Center of Excellence in Biotechnology Research, King Saud University, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gholamreza Abdi
- Department of Biotechnology, Persian Gulf Research Institute, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, 75169, Iran.
| | - Yasir Waheed
- Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, 1401, Lebanon.
- MEU Research Unit, Middle East University, Amman, 11831, Jordan.
- Near East University, Operational Research Center in Healthcare, TRNC Mersin 10, Nicosia, 99138, Turkey.
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14
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Cao B, Wang X, Yin W, Gao Z, Xia B. The human microbiota is a beneficial reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 mutations. mBio 2024; 15:e0318723. [PMID: 38530031 PMCID: PMC11237538 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03187-23] [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: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mutations are rapidly emerging. In particular, beneficial mutations in the spike (S) protein, which can either make a person more infectious or enable immunological escape, are providing a significant obstacle to the prevention and treatment of pandemics. However, how the virus acquires a high number of beneficial mutations in a short time remains a mystery. We demonstrate here that variations of concern may be mutated due in part to the influence of the human microbiome. We searched the National Center for Biotechnology Information database for homologous fragments (HFs) after finding a mutation and the six neighboring amino acids in a viral mutation fragment. Among the approximate 8,000 HFs obtained, 61 mutations in S and other outer membrane proteins were found in bacteria, accounting for 62% of all mutation sources, which is 12-fold higher than the natural variable proportion. A significant proportion of these bacterial species-roughly 70%-come from the human microbiota, are mainly found in the lung or gut, and share a composition pattern with COVID-19 patients. Importantly, SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase replicates corresponding bacterial mRNAs harboring mutations, producing chimeric RNAs. SARS-CoV-2 may collectively pick up mutations from the human microbiota that change the original virus's binding sites or antigenic determinants. Our study clarifies the evolving mutational mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2. IMPORTANCE Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mutations are rapidly emerging, in particular advantageous mutations in the spike (S) protein, which either increase transmissibility or lead to immune escape and are posing a major challenge to pandemic prevention and treatment. However, how the virus acquires a high number of advantageous mutations in a short time remains a mystery. Here, we provide evidence that the human microbiota is a reservoir of advantageous mutations and aids mutational evolution and host adaptation of SARS-CoV-2. Our findings demonstrate a conceptual breakthrough on the mutational evolution mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 for human adaptation. SARS-CoV-2 may grab advantageous mutations from the widely existing microorganisms in the host, which is undoubtedly an "efficient" manner. Our study might open a new perspective to understand the evolution of virus mutation, which has enormous implications for comprehending the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Guangdong Guangya High School, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wanchao Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan, China
| | - Zhaobing Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan, China
| | - Bingqing Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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15
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Ose NJ, Campitelli P, Modi T, Kazan IC, Kumar S, Ozkan SB. Some mechanistic underpinnings of molecular adaptations of SARS-COV-2 spike protein by integrating candidate adaptive polymorphisms with protein dynamics. eLife 2024; 12:RP92063. [PMID: 38713502 PMCID: PMC11076047 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92063] [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] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
We integrate evolutionary predictions based on the neutral theory of molecular evolution with protein dynamics to generate mechanistic insight into the molecular adaptations of the SARS-COV-2 spike (S) protein. With this approach, we first identified candidate adaptive polymorphisms (CAPs) of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein and assessed the impact of these CAPs through dynamics analysis. Not only have we found that CAPs frequently overlap with well-known functional sites, but also, using several different dynamics-based metrics, we reveal the critical allosteric interplay between SARS-CoV-2 CAPs and the S protein binding sites with the human ACE2 (hACE2) protein. CAPs interact far differently with the hACE2 binding site residues in the open conformation of the S protein compared to the closed form. In particular, the CAP sites control the dynamics of binding residues in the open state, suggesting an allosteric control of hACE2 binding. We also explored the characteristic mutations of different SARS-CoV-2 strains to find dynamic hallmarks and potential effects of future mutations. Our analyses reveal that Delta strain-specific variants have non-additive (i.e., epistatic) interactions with CAP sites, whereas the less pathogenic Omicron strains have mostly additive mutations. Finally, our dynamics-based analysis suggests that the novel mutations observed in the Omicron strain epistatically interact with the CAP sites to help escape antibody binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas James Ose
- Department of Physics and Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
| | - Paul Campitelli
- Department of Physics and Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
| | - Tushar Modi
- Department of Physics and Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
| | - I Can Kazan
- Department of Physics and Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Temple UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Department of Biology, Temple UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Center for Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
| | - Sefika Banu Ozkan
- Department of Physics and Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
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16
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Alfonsi T, Bernasconi A, Chiara M, Ceri S. Data-driven recombination detection in viral genomes. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3313. [PMID: 38632281 PMCID: PMC11024102 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47464-5] [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: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Recombination is a key molecular mechanism for the evolution and adaptation of viruses. The first recombinant SARS-CoV-2 genomes were recognized in 2021; as of today, more than ninety SARS-CoV-2 lineages are designated as recombinant. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, several methods for detecting recombination in SARS-CoV-2 have been proposed; however, none could faithfully confirm manual analyses by experts in the field. We hereby present RecombinHunt, an original data-driven method for the identification of recombinant genomes, capable of recognizing recombinant SARS-CoV-2 genomes (or lineages) with one or two breakpoints with high accuracy and within reduced turn-around times. ReconbinHunt shows high specificity and sensitivity, compares favorably with other state-of-the-art methods, and faithfully confirms manual analyses by experts. RecombinHunt identifies recombinant viral genomes from the recent monkeypox epidemic in high concordance with manually curated analyses by experts, suggesting that our approach is robust and can be applied to any epidemic/pandemic virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Alfonsi
- Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 34/5, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Bernasconi
- Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 34/5, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Matteo Chiara
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Ceri
- Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 34/5, 20133, Milan, Italy
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17
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Wang D, Yang X, Ren Z, Hu B, Zhao H, Yang K, Shi P, Zhang Z, Feng Q, Nawenja CV, Obanda V, Robert K, Nalikka B, Waruhiu CN, Ochola GO, Onyuok SO, Ochieng H, Li B, Zhu Y, Si H, Yin J, Kristiansen K, Jin X, Xu X, Xiao M, Agwanda B, Ommeh S, Li J, Shi ZL. Substantial viral diversity in bats and rodents from East Africa: insights into evolution, recombination, and cocirculation. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:72. [PMID: 38600530 PMCID: PMC11005217 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01782-4] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Zoonotic viruses cause substantial public health and socioeconomic problems worldwide. Understanding how viruses evolve and spread within and among wildlife species is a critical step when aiming for proactive identification of viral threats to prevent future pandemics. Despite the many proposed factors influencing viral diversity, the genomic diversity and structure of viral communities in East Africa are largely unknown. RESULTS Using 38.3 Tb of metatranscriptomic data obtained via ultradeep sequencing, we screened vertebrate-associated viromes from 844 bats and 250 rodents from Kenya and Uganda collected from the wild. The 251 vertebrate-associated viral genomes of bats (212) and rodents (39) revealed the vast diversity, host-related variability, and high geographic specificity of viruses in East Africa. Among the surveyed viral families, Coronaviridae and Circoviridae showed low host specificity, high conservation of replication-associated proteins, high divergence among viral entry proteins, and frequent recombination. Despite major dispersal limitations, recurrent mutations, cocirculation, and occasional gene flow contribute to the high local diversity of viral genomes. CONCLUSIONS The present study not only shows the landscape of bat and rodent viromes in this zoonotic hotspot but also reveals genomic signatures driven by the evolution and dispersal of the viral community, laying solid groundwork for future proactive surveillance of emerging zoonotic pathogens in wildlife. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daxi Wang
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Xinglou Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Jiangxia Lab, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zirui Ren
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Ben Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Hailong Zhao
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Kaixin Yang
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Peibo Shi
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Zhipeng Zhang
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Qikai Feng
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Carol Vannesa Nawenja
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Vincent Obanda
- Veterinary Services Department, Kenya Wildlife Service, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Kityo Robert
- Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, School of BioSciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Betty Nalikka
- Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, School of BioSciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Cecilia Njeri Waruhiu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Griphin Ochieng Ochola
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Mammalogy Section, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Samson Omondi Onyuok
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Mammalogy Section, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Harold Ochieng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Mammalogy Section, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Bei Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Haorui Si
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | | | - Karsten Kristiansen
- Laboratory of Genomics and Molecular Biomedicine, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Xin Jin
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Xun Xu
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Minfeng Xiao
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
| | - Bernard Agwanda
- Mammalogy Section, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Sheila Ommeh
- Center for Animal Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Junhua Li
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
| | - Zheng-Li Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.
- Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.
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18
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Lina A, Keith H, Jenny H, Mariana M, Gregorio T, Laure WV, Paolo T. Facing SARS-CoV-2 emergence on the animal health perspective: The role of the World Organisation for Animal Health in preparedness and official reporting of disease occurrence. Zoonoses Public Health 2024. [PMID: 38584342 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13133] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Current data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) emerged from an animal source. However, to date, there is insufficient scientific evidence to identify the source of SARS-CoV-2 or to explain the original route of transmission to humans. A wide range of mammalian species have been shown to be susceptible to the virus through experimental infection, and in natural environments when in contact with infected humans. The main objective of this work was to provide a summary of the official data shared by countries on SARS-CoV-2 in animals with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), to highlight the role of WOAH as an international organization in coordinating scientific information actions and to discuss the implications and impact of these activities. METHODS AND RESULTS Between January 2020 and December 2022, 36 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa officially reported SARS-CoV-2 identification in 26 animal species. Affected countries were generally responsive in confirming the pathogen (median of 5 days after onset) and reporting to WOAH (median of 7 days after confirmation). CONCLUSIONS During the pandemic, WOAH, supported by its network of experts, played a crucial role in collecting, analysing and disseminating veterinary scientific information, acting as the reference organization on these issues, thus avoiding misinformation and disinformation. Future perspectives to avoid new emerging threats are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Awada Lina
- World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), Paris, France
| | - Hamilton Keith
- World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), Paris, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Tizzani Paolo
- World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), Paris, France
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19
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Ziesel A, Jabbari H. Unveiling hidden structural patterns in the SARS-CoV-2 genome: Computational insights and comparative analysis. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298164. [PMID: 38574063 PMCID: PMC10994416 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298164] [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: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, is known to exhibit secondary structures in its 5' and 3' untranslated regions, along with the frameshifting stimulatory element situated between ORF1a and 1b. To identify additional regions containing conserved structures, we utilized a multiple sequence alignment with related coronaviruses as a starting point. We applied a computational pipeline developed for identifying non-coding RNA elements. Our pipeline employed three different RNA structural prediction approaches. We identified forty genomic regions likely to harbor structures, with ten of them showing three-way consensus substructure predictions among our predictive utilities. We conducted intracomparisons of the predictive utilities within the pipeline and intercomparisons with four previously published SARS-CoV-2 structural datasets. While there was limited agreement on the precise structure, different approaches seemed to converge on regions likely to contain structures in the viral genome. By comparing and combining various computational approaches, we can predict regions most likely to form structures, as well as a probable structure or ensemble of structures. These predictions can be used to guide surveillance, prophylactic measures, or therapeutic efforts. Data and scripts employed in this study may be found at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8298680.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Ziesel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hosna Jabbari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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20
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Samson S, Lord É, Makarenkov V. Assessing the emergence time of SARS-CoV-2 zoonotic spillover. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301195. [PMID: 38574109 PMCID: PMC10994396 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301195] [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: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the evolution of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and its relationship to other coronaviruses in the wild is crucial for preventing future virus outbreaks. While the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic remains uncertain, mounting evidence suggests the direct involvement of the bat and pangolin coronaviruses in the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. To unravel the early days of a probable zoonotic spillover event, we analyzed genomic data from various coronavirus strains from both human and wild hosts. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis was performed using multiple datasets, using strict and relaxed clock evolutionary models to estimate the occurrence times of key speciation, gene transfer, and recombination events affecting the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and its closest relatives. We found strong evidence supporting the presence of temporal structure in datasets containing SARS-CoV-2 variants, enabling us to estimate the time of SARS-CoV-2 zoonotic spillover between August and early October 2019. In contrast, datasets without SARS-CoV-2 variants provided mixed results in terms of temporal structure. However, they allowed us to establish that the presence of a statistically robust clade in the phylogenies of gene S and its receptor-binding (RBD) domain, including two bat (BANAL) and two Guangdong pangolin coronaviruses (CoVs), is due to the horizontal gene transfer of this gene from the bat CoV to the pangolin CoV that occurred in the middle of 2018. Importantly, this clade is closely located to SARS-CoV-2 in both phylogenies. This phylogenetic proximity had been explained by an RBD gene transfer from the Guangdong pangolin CoV to a very recent ancestor of SARS-CoV-2 in some earlier works in the field before the BANAL coronaviruses were discovered. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the timeline and evolutionary dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Samson
- Department of Computer Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, Canada
| | - Étienne Lord
- Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, Canada
| | - Vladimir Makarenkov
- Department of Computer Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Mila—Quebec AI Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
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21
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Casadevall A. Pandemics past, present, and future: progress and persistent risks. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e179519. [PMID: 38557492 PMCID: PMC10977977 DOI: 10.1172/jci179519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
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22
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Lauber C, Zhang X, Vaas J, Klingler F, Mutz P, Dubin A, Pietschmann T, Roth O, Neuman BW, Gorbalenya AE, Bartenschlager R, Seitz S. Deep mining of the Sequence Read Archive reveals major genetic innovations in coronaviruses and other nidoviruses of aquatic vertebrates. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012163. [PMID: 38648214 PMCID: PMC11065284 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012163] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Virus discovery by genomics and metagenomics empowered studies of viromes, facilitated characterization of pathogen epidemiology, and redefined our understanding of the natural genetic diversity of viruses with profound functional and structural implications. Here we employed a data-driven virus discovery approach that directly queries unprocessed sequencing data in a highly parallelized way and involves a targeted viral genome assembly strategy in a wide range of sequence similarity. By screening more than 269,000 datasets of numerous authors from the Sequence Read Archive and using two metrics that quantitatively assess assembly quality, we discovered 40 nidoviruses from six virus families whose members infect vertebrate hosts. They form 13 and 32 putative viral subfamilies and genera, respectively, and include 11 coronaviruses with bisegmented genomes from fishes and amphibians, a giant 36.1 kilobase coronavirus genome with a duplicated spike glycoprotein (S) gene, 11 tobaniviruses and 17 additional corona-, arteri-, cremega-, nanhypo- and nangoshaviruses. Genome segmentation emerged in a single evolutionary event in the monophyletic lineage encompassing the subfamily Pitovirinae. We recovered the bisegmented genome sequences of two coronaviruses from RNA samples of 69 infected fishes and validated the presence of poly(A) tails at both segments using 3'RACE PCR and subsequent Sanger sequencing. We report a genetic linkage between accessory and structural proteins whose phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary distances are incongruent with the phylogeny of replicase proteins. We rationalize these observations in a model of inter-family S recombination involving at least five ancestral corona- and tobaniviruses of aquatic hosts. In support of this model, we describe an individual fish co-infected with members from the families Coronaviridae and Tobaniviridae. Our results expand the scale of the known extraordinary evolutionary plasticity in nidoviral genome architecture and call for revisiting fundamentals of genome expression, virus particle biology, host range and ecology of vertebrate nidoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Lauber
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence 2155 RESIST, Hannover, Germany
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
| | - Josef Vaas
- Division of Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis (F170), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg University, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Center for Integrative Infectious Disease Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Franziska Klingler
- Division of Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis (F170), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg University, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Center for Integrative Infectious Disease Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Pascal Mutz
- Division of Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis (F170), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arseny Dubin
- Marine Evolutionary Biology, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Thomas Pietschmann
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence 2155 RESIST, Hannover, Germany
| | - Olivia Roth
- Marine Evolutionary Biology, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Benjamin W. Neuman
- Department of Biology and Texas A&M Global Health Research Complex, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States
| | - Alexander E. Gorbalenya
- Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics and Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ralf Bartenschlager
- Division of Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis (F170), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg University, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Center for Integrative Infectious Disease Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Seitz
- Division of Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis (F170), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg University, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Center for Integrative Infectious Disease Research, Heidelberg, Germany
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23
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Winiger RR, Perez L. Therapeutic antibodies and alternative formats against SARS-CoV-2. Antiviral Res 2024; 223:105820. [PMID: 38307147 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105820] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) heavily burdened the entire world. Despite a prompt generation of vaccines and therapeutics to confront infection, the virus remains a threat. The ancestor viral strain has evolved into several variants of concern, with the Omicron variant now having many distinct sublineages. Consequently, most available antibodies targeting the spike went obsolete and thus new therapies or therapeutic formats are needed. In this review we focus on antibody targets, provide an overview of the therapeutic progress made so far, describe novel formats being explored, and lessons learned from therapeutic antibodies that can enhance pandemic preparedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahel R Winiger
- University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Service of Immunology and Allergy, and Center for Human Immunology Lausanne (CHIL), Switzerland.
| | - Laurent Perez
- University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Service of Immunology and Allergy, and Center for Human Immunology Lausanne (CHIL), Switzerland.
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24
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Wang A. Integrating Fréchet distance and AI reveals the evolutionary trajectory and origin of SARS-CoV-2. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29557. [PMID: 38506190 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29557] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
A genome, composed of a precisely ordered sequence of four nucleotides (ATCG), encompasses a multitude of specific genome features like AAA motif. Mutations occurring within a genome disrupt the sequential order and composition of these features, thereby influencing the evolutionary trajectories and yielding variants. The evolutionary relatedness between a variant and its ancestor can be estimated by assessing evolutionary distances across a spectrum of genome features. This study develops a novel, alignment-free algorithm that considers both the sequential order and composition of genome features, enabling computation of the Fréchet distance (Fr) across multiple genome features to quantify the evolutionary status of a variant. Integrating this algorithm with an artificial recurrent neural network (RNN) reveals the quantitative evolutionary trajectory and origin of SARS-CoV-2, a puzzle unsolved by alignment-based phylogenetics. The RNN generates the evolutionary trajectory from Fr data at two levels: genome sequence mutations and organism variants. At the genome sequence level, SARS-CoV-2 evolutionarily shortens its genome to enhance its infectious capacity. Mutating signature features, such as TTA and GCT, increases its infectious potential and drives its evolution. At the organism level, variants mutating a single biomarker possess low infectious potential. However, mutating multiple markers dramatically increases their infectious capacity, propelling the COVID-19 pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 likely originates from mink coronavirus variants, with its origin trajectory traced as follows: mink, cat, tiger, mouse, hamster, dog, lion, gorilla, leopard, bat, and pangolin. Together, mutating multiple signature features and biomarkers delineates the evolutionary trajectory of mink-origin SARS-CoV-2, leading to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anyou Wang
- Feinstone Center for Genomic Research, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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25
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Giancotti R, Lomoio U, Puccio B, Tradigo G, Vizza P, Torti C, Veltri P, Guzzi PH. The Omicron XBB.1 Variant and Its Descendants: Genomic Mutations, Rapid Dissemination and Notable Characteristics. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:90. [PMID: 38392308 PMCID: PMC10886209 DOI: 10.3390/biology13020090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is a major threat to human health, has undergone many mutations during the replication process due to errors in the replication steps and modifications in the structure of viral proteins. The XBB variant was identified for the first time in Singapore in the fall of 2022. It was then detected in other countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. We study the impact of sequence changes on spike protein structure on the subvariants of XBB, with particular attention to the velocity of variant diffusion and virus activity with respect to its diffusion. We examine the structural and functional distinctions of the variants in three different conformations: (i) spike glycoprotein in complex with ACE2 (1-up state), (ii) spike glycoprotein (closed-1 state), and (iii) S protein (open-1 state). We also estimate the affinity binding between the spike protein and ACE2. The market binding affinity observed in specific variants raises questions about the efficacy of current vaccines in preparing the immune system for virus variant recognition. This work may be useful in devising strategies to manage the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To stay ahead of the virus evolution, further research and surveillance should be carried out to adjust public health measures accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Giancotti
- Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ugo Lomoio
- Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Barbara Puccio
- Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Patrizia Vizza
- Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Carlo Torti
- Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Pierangelo Veltri
- Department of Computer Engineering, Modelling, Electronics and System, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Pietro Hiram Guzzi
- Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
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26
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Ose NJ, Campitelli P, Modi T, Can Kazan I, Kumar S, Banu Ozkan S. Some mechanistic underpinnings of molecular adaptations of SARS-COV-2 spike protein by integrating candidate adaptive polymorphisms with protein dynamics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.14.557827. [PMID: 37745560 PMCID: PMC10515954 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.14.557827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
We integrate evolutionary predictions based on the neutral theory of molecular evolution with protein dynamics to generate mechanistic insight into the molecular adaptations of the SARS-COV-2 Spike (S) protein. With this approach, we first identified Candidate Adaptive Polymorphisms (CAPs) of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and assessed the impact of these CAPs through dynamics analysis. Not only have we found that CAPs frequently overlap with well-known functional sites, but also, using several different dynamics-based metrics, we reveal the critical allosteric interplay between SARS-CoV-2 CAPs and the S protein binding sites with the human ACE2 (hACE2) protein. CAPs interact far differently with the hACE2 binding site residues in the open conformation of the S protein compared to the closed form. In particular, the CAP sites control the dynamics of binding residues in the open state, suggesting an allosteric control of hACE2 binding. We also explored the characteristic mutations of different SARS-CoV-2 strains to find dynamic hallmarks and potential effects of future mutations. Our analyses reveal that Delta strain-specific variants have non-additive (i.e., epistatic) interactions with CAP sites, whereas the less pathogenic Omicron strains have mostly additive mutations. Finally, our dynamics-based analysis suggests that the novel mutations observed in the Omicron strain epistatically interact with the CAP sites to help escape antibody binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Ose
- Department of Physics and Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Paul Campitelli
- Department of Physics and Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Tushar Modi
- Department of Physics and Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - I. Can Kazan
- Department of Physics and Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - S. Banu Ozkan
- Department of Physics and Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
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27
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Zech F, Jung C, Jacob T, Kirchhoff F. Causes and Consequences of Coronavirus Spike Protein Variability. Viruses 2024; 16:177. [PMID: 38399953 PMCID: PMC10892391 DOI: 10.3390/v16020177] [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: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses are a large family of enveloped RNA viruses found in numerous animal species. They are well known for their ability to cross species barriers and have been transmitted from bats or intermediate hosts to humans on several occasions. Four of the seven human coronaviruses (hCoVs) are responsible for approximately 20% of common colds (hCoV-229E, -NL63, -OC43, -HKU1). Two others (SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV) cause severe and frequently lethal respiratory syndromes but have only spread to very limited extents in the human population. In contrast the most recent human hCoV, SARS-CoV-2, while exhibiting intermediate pathogenicity, has a profound impact on public health due to its enormous spread. In this review, we discuss which initial features of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and subsequent adaptations to the new human host may have helped this pathogen to cause the COVID-19 pandemic. Our focus is on host forces driving changes in the Spike protein and their consequences for virus infectivity, pathogenicity, immune evasion and resistance to preventive or therapeutic agents. In addition, we briefly address the significance and perspectives of broad-spectrum therapeutics and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Zech
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Christoph Jung
- Institute of Electrochemistry, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (C.J.); (T.J.)
- Helmholtz-Institute Ulm (HIU) Electrochemical Energy Storage, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Timo Jacob
- Institute of Electrochemistry, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (C.J.); (T.J.)
- Helmholtz-Institute Ulm (HIU) Electrochemical Energy Storage, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Frank Kirchhoff
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
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Marcotte H, Cao Y, Zuo F, Simonelli L, Sammartino JC, Pedotti M, Sun R, Cassaniti I, Hagbom M, Piralla A, Yang J, Du L, Percivalle E, Bertoglio F, Schubert M, Abolhassani H, Sherina N, Guerra C, Borte S, Rezaei N, Kumagai-Braesch M, Xue Y, Su C, Yan Q, He P, Grönwall C, Klareskog L, Calzolai L, Cavalli A, Wang Q, Robbiani DF, Hust M, Shi Z, Feng L, Svensson L, Chen L, Bao L, Baldanti F, Xiao J, Qin C, Hammarström L, Yang X, Varani L, Xie XS, Pan-Hammarström Q. Conversion of monoclonal IgG to dimeric and secretory IgA restores neutralizing ability and prevents infection of Omicron lineages. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2315354120. [PMID: 38194459 PMCID: PMC10801922 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315354120] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of Omicron lineages and descendent subvariants continues to present a severe threat to the effectiveness of vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. We have previously suggested that an insufficient mucosal immunoglobulin A (IgA) response induced by the mRNA vaccines is associated with a surge in breakthrough infections. Here, we further show that the intramuscular mRNA and/or inactivated vaccines cannot sufficiently boost the mucosal secretory IgA response in uninfected individuals, particularly against the Omicron variant. We thus engineered and characterized recombinant monomeric, dimeric, and secretory IgA1 antibodies derived from four neutralizing IgG monoclonal antibodies (mAbs 01A05, rmAb23, DXP-604, and XG014) targeting the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein. Compared to their parental IgG antibodies, dimeric and secretory IgA1 antibodies showed a higher neutralizing activity against different variants of concern (VOCs), in part due to an increased avidity. Importantly, the dimeric or secretory IgA1 form of the DXP-604 antibody significantly outperformed its parental IgG antibody, and neutralized the Omicron lineages BA.1, BA.2, and BA.4/5 with a 25- to 75-fold increase in potency. In human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) transgenic mice, a single intranasal dose of the dimeric IgA DXP-604 conferred prophylactic and therapeutic protection against Omicron BA.5. Thus, dimeric or secretory IgA delivered by nasal administration may potentially be exploited for the treatment and prevention of Omicron infection, thereby providing an alternative tool for combating immune evasion by the current circulating subvariants and, potentially, future VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harold Marcotte
- Division of Immunology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm17165, Sweden
| | - Yunlong Cao
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing102206, People’s Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Peking University, Beijing100871, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fanglei Zuo
- Division of Immunology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm17165, Sweden
| | - Luca Simonelli
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona6500, Switzerland
| | - Josè Camilla Sammartino
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione Istituto di ricovero e cura a carattere scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia27100, Italy
| | - Mattia Pedotti
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona6500, Switzerland
| | - Rui Sun
- Division of Immunology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm17165, Sweden
| | - Irene Cassaniti
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione Istituto di ricovero e cura a carattere scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia27100, Italy
| | - Marie Hagbom
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping 58185, Sweden
| | - Antonio Piralla
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione Istituto di ricovero e cura a carattere scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia27100, Italy
| | - Jinxuan Yang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Information, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming650023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Likun Du
- Division of Immunology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm17165, Sweden
| | - Elena Percivalle
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione Istituto di ricovero e cura a carattere scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia27100, Italy
| | - Federico Bertoglio
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig38106, Germany
| | - Maren Schubert
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig38106, Germany
| | - Hassan Abolhassani
- Division of Immunology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm17165, Sweden
| | - Natalia Sherina
- Division of Immunology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm17165, Sweden
| | - Concetta Guerra
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona6500, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Borte
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hospital St. Georg, Leipzig04129, Germany
- ImmunoDeficiencyCenter Leipzig, Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic and Research Center for Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases, Hospital St. Georg, Leipzig04129, Germany
| | - Nima Rezaei
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran14194, Iran
| | - Makiko Kumagai-Braesch
- Division of Transplantation Surgery, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm14186, Sweden
| | - Yintong Xue
- Department of Immunology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing100191, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chen Su
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100871, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qihong Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences,Guangzhou510530, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ping He
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences,Guangzhou510530, People’s Republic of China
| | - Caroline Grönwall
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm17176, Sweden
| | - Lars Klareskog
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm17176, Sweden
- Rheumatology Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm17176, Sweden
| | - Luigi Calzolai
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Ispra21027, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona6500, Switzerland
| | - Qiao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (Ministry of Education/National Health Commission/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences), Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai200032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Davide F. Robbiani
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona6500, Switzerland
| | - Michael Hust
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig38106, Germany
| | - Zhengli Shi
- State Key laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei430071, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liqiang Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences,Guangzhou510530, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lennart Svensson
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping 58185, Sweden
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm17177, Sweden
| | - Ling Chen
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou510005, People’s Republic of China
| | - Linlin Bao
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing100021, People’s Republic of China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Animal Model, Beijing102206, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fausto Baldanti
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione Istituto di ricovero e cura a carattere scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia27100, Italy
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Paediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia27100, Italy
| | - Junyu Xiao
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing102206, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100871, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chuan Qin
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing100021, People’s Republic of China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Animal Model, Beijing102206, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lennart Hammarström
- Division of Immunology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm17165, Sweden
| | - Xinglou Yang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Information, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming650023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Luca Varani
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona6500, Switzerland
| | - Xiaoliang Sunney Xie
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing102206, People’s Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Peking University, Beijing100871, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiang Pan-Hammarström
- Division of Immunology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm17165, Sweden
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Ravi V, Shamim U, Khan MA, Swaminathan A, Mishra P, Singh R, Bharali P, Chauhan NS, Pandey R. Unraveling the genetic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Recombinants using mutational dynamics across the different lineages. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 10:1294699. [PMID: 38288302 PMCID: PMC10823376 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1294699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Recombination serves as a common strategy employed by RNA viruses for their genetic evolution. Extensive genomic surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic has reported SARS-CoV-2 Recombinant strains indicating recombination events during the viral evolution. This study introspects the phenomenon of genome recombination by tracing the footprint of prominent lineages of SARS-CoV-2 at different time points in the context of on-going evolution and emergence of Recombinants. Method Whole genome sequencing was carried out for 2,516 SARS-CoV-2 (discovery cohort) and 1,126 (validation cohort) using nasopharyngeal samples collected between the time period of March 2020 to August 2022, as part of the genomic surveillance program. The sequences were classified according to the different lineages of SARS-CoV-2 prevailing in India at respective time points. Results Mutational diversity and abundance evaluation across the 12 lineages identified 58 Recombinant sequences as harboring the least number of mutations (n = 111), with 14 low-frequency unique mutations with major chunk of mutations coming from the BA.2. The spontaneously/dynamically increasing and decreasing trends of mutations highlight the loss of mutations in the Recombinants that were associated with the SARS-CoV-2 replication efficiency, infectivity, and disease severity, rendering them functionally with low infectivity and pathogenicity. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis revealed that mutations comprising the LD blocks of BA.1, BA.2, and Recombinants were found as minor alleles or as low-frequency alleles in the LD blocks from the previous SARS-CoV-2 variant samples, especially Pre-VOC. Moreover, a dissipation in the size of LD blocks as well as LD decay along with a high negative regression coefficient (R squared) value was demonstrated in the Omicron and BA.1 and BA.2 lineages, which corroborated with the breakpoint analysis. Conclusion Together, the findings help to understand the evolution and emergence of Recombinants after the Omicron lineages, for sustenance and adaptability, to maintain the epidemic spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the host population already high in immunity levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varsha Ravi
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, INtegrative GENomics of HOst-PathogEn (INGEN-HOPE) Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Delhi, India
| | - Uzma Shamim
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, INtegrative GENomics of HOst-PathogEn (INGEN-HOPE) Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Delhi, India
| | - Md Abuzar Khan
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, INtegrative GENomics of HOst-PathogEn (INGEN-HOPE) Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Delhi, India
| | - Aparna Swaminathan
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, INtegrative GENomics of HOst-PathogEn (INGEN-HOPE) Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Delhi, India
| | - Pallavi Mishra
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, INtegrative GENomics of HOst-PathogEn (INGEN-HOPE) Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Delhi, India
| | - Rajender Singh
- CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow, Lucknow, India
| | - Pankaj Bharali
- CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat, Assam, India
| | - Nar Singh Chauhan
- Department of Biochemistry, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, India
| | - Rajesh Pandey
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, INtegrative GENomics of HOst-PathogEn (INGEN-HOPE) Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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30
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Pipek OA, Medgyes-Horváth A, Stéger J, Papp K, Visontai D, Koopmans M, Nieuwenhuijse D, Oude Munnink BB, Csabai I. Systematic detection of co-infection and intra-host recombination in more than 2 million global SARS-CoV-2 samples. Nat Commun 2024; 15:517. [PMID: 38225254 PMCID: PMC10789779 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43391-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: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Systematic monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 co-infections between different lineages and assessing the risk of intra-host recombinant emergence are crucial for forecasting viral evolution. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of more than 2 million SARS-CoV-2 raw read datasets submitted to the European COVID-19 Data Portal to identify co-infections and intra-host recombination. Co-infection was observed in 0.35% of the investigated cases. Two independent procedures were implemented to detect intra-host recombination. We show that sensitivity is predominantly determined by the density of lineage-defining mutations along the genome, thus we used an expanded list of mutually exclusive defining mutations of specific variant combinations to increase statistical power. We call attention to multiple challenges rendering recombinant detection difficult and provide guidelines for the reduction of false positives arising from chimeric sequences produced during PCR amplification. Additionally, we identify three recombination hotspots of Delta - Omicron BA.1 intra-host recombinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orsolya Anna Pipek
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. s. 1A, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Anna Medgyes-Horváth
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. s. 1A, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.
| | - József Stéger
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. s. 1A, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Krisztián Papp
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. s. 1A, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Dávid Visontai
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. s. 1A, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Marion Koopmans
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - David Nieuwenhuijse
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Bas B Oude Munnink
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - István Csabai
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. s. 1A, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
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31
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Esquivel Gomez LR, Weber A, Kocher A, Kühnert D. Recombination-aware phylogenetic analysis sheds light on the evolutionary origin of SARS-CoV-2. Sci Rep 2024; 14:541. [PMID: 38177346 PMCID: PMC10766966 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50952-1] [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: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 can infect human cells through the recognition of the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. This affinity is given by six amino acid residues located in the variable loop of the receptor binding domain (RBD) within the Spike protein. Genetic recombination involving bat and pangolin Sarbecoviruses, and natural selection have been proposed as possible explanations for the acquisition of the variable loop and these amino acid residues. In this study we employed Bayesian phylogenetics to jointly reconstruct the phylogeny of the RBD among human, bat and pangolin Sarbecoviruses and detect recombination events affecting this region of the genome. A recombination event involving RaTG13, the closest relative of SARS-CoV-2 that lacks five of the six residues, and an unsampled Sarbecovirus lineage was detected. This result suggests that the variable loop of the RBD didn't have a recombinant origin and the key amino acid residues were likely present in the common ancestor of SARS-CoV-2 and RaTG13, with the latter losing five of them probably as the result of recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Roger Esquivel Gomez
- Transmission, Infection, Diversification and Evolution Group (tide), Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (Formerly MPI for the Science of Human History), Jena, Germany.
- Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
- Phylogenomics Unit, Center for Artificial Intelligence in Public Health Research, Robert Koch Institute, Wildau, Germany.
| | - Ariane Weber
- Transmission, Infection, Diversification and Evolution Group (tide), Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (Formerly MPI for the Science of Human History), Jena, Germany
- Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arthur Kocher
- Transmission, Infection, Diversification and Evolution Group (tide), Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (Formerly MPI for the Science of Human History), Jena, Germany
- Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Denise Kühnert
- Transmission, Infection, Diversification and Evolution Group (tide), Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (Formerly MPI for the Science of Human History), Jena, Germany.
- Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
- Phylogenomics Unit, Center for Artificial Intelligence in Public Health Research, Robert Koch Institute, Wildau, Germany.
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32
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Kalirad A, Burch CL, Azevedo RBR. Genetic drift promotes and recombination hinders speciation on holey fitness landscapes. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011126. [PMID: 38252672 PMCID: PMC10833538 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011126] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Dobzhansky and Muller proposed a general mechanism through which microevolution, the substitution of alleles within populations, can cause the evolution of reproductive isolation between populations and, therefore, macroevolution. As allopatric populations diverge, many combinations of alleles differing between them have not been tested by natural selection and may thus be incompatible. Such genetic incompatibilities often cause low fitness in hybrids between species. Furthermore, the number of incompatibilities grows with the genetic distance between diverging populations. However, what determines the rate and pattern of accumulation of incompatibilities remains unclear. We investigate this question by simulating evolution on holey fitness landscapes on which genetic incompatibilities can be identified unambiguously. We find that genetic incompatibilities accumulate more slowly among genetically robust populations and identify two determinants of the accumulation rate: recombination rate and population size. In large populations with abundant genetic variation, recombination selects for increased genetic robustness and, consequently, incompatibilities accumulate more slowly. In small populations, genetic drift interferes with this process and promotes the accumulation of genetic incompatibilities. Our results suggest a novel mechanism by which genetic drift promotes and recombination hinders speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ata Kalirad
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christina L. Burch
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Ricardo B. R. Azevedo
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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Wang M, Lkhagva E, Kim S, Zhai C, Islam MM, Kim HJ, Hong ST. The gut microbe pair of Oribacterium sp. GMB0313 and Ruminococcus sp. GMB0270 confers complete protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection by activating CD8+ T cell-mediated immunity. Gut Microbes 2024; 16:2342497. [PMID: 38635321 PMCID: PMC11028030 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2342497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the potential protective role of the gut microbiome against COVID-19, specific microbes conferring resistance to COVID-19 have not yet been identified. In this work, we aimed to identify and validate gut microbes at the species level that provide protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. To identify gut microbes conferring protection against COVID-19, we conducted a fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from an individual with no history of COVID-19 infection or immunization into a lethal COVID-19 hamster model. FMT from this COVID-19-resistant donor resulted in significant phenotypic changes related to COVID-19 sensitivity in the hamsters. Metagenomic analysis revealed distinct differences in the gut microbiome composition among the hamster groups, leading to the identification of two previously unknown bacterial species: Oribacterium sp. GMB0313 and Ruminococcus sp. GMB0270, both associated with COVID-19 resistance. Subsequently, we conducted a proof-of-concept confirmation animal experiment adhering to Koch's postulates. Oral administration of this gut microbe pair, Oribacterium sp. GMB0313 and Ruminococcus sp. GMB0270, to the hamsters provided complete protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection through the activation of CD8+ T cell mediated immunity. The prophylactic efficacy of the gut microbe pair against SARS-CoV-2 infection was comparable to, or even superior to, current mRNA vaccines. This strong prophylactic efficacy suggests that the gut microbe pair could be developed as a host-directed universal vaccine for all betacoronaviruses, including potential future emerging viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingda Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeollabuk-Do, South Korea
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Enkhchimeg Lkhagva
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeollabuk-Do, South Korea
| | - Sura Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeollabuk-Do, South Korea
| | - Chongkai Zhai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeollabuk-Do, South Korea
- College of Food and Drugs, Luoyang Polytechnic, Animal Diseases and Public Health Engineering Research Center of Henan Province, Luoyang, Henan Province, China
| | - Md Minarul Islam
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeollabuk-Do, South Korea
| | - Hyeon J. Kim
- BioLabs-LA at the Lundquist Institute for Bio Medical Innovation at Harbor UCLA, SNJ Pharma Inc, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Seong-Tshool Hong
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeollabuk-Do, South Korea
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Weber MN, da Silva MS. Corona- and Paramyxoviruses in Bats from Brazil: A Matter of Concern? Animals (Basel) 2023; 14:88. [PMID: 38200819 PMCID: PMC10778288 DOI: 10.3390/ani14010088] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Chiroptera are one of the most diverse mammal orders. They are considered reservoirs of main human pathogens, where coronaviruses (CoVs) and paramyxoviruses (PMVs) may be highlighted. Moreover, the growing number of publications on CoVs and PMVs in wildlife reinforces the scientific community's interest in eco-vigilance, especially because of the emergence of important human pathogens such as the SARS-CoV-2 and Nipha viruses. Considering that Brazil presents continental dimensions, is biologically rich containing one of the most diverse continental biotas and presents a rich biodiversity of animals classified in the order Chiroptera, the mapping of CoV and PMV genetics related to human pathogens is important and the aim of the present work. CoVs can be classified into four genera: Alphacoronavirus, Betacoronavirus, Deltacoronavirus and Gammacoronavirus. Delta- and gammacoronaviruses infect mainly birds, while alpha- and betacoronaviruses contain important animal and human pathogens. Almost 60% of alpha- and betacoronaviruses are related to bats, which are considered natural hosts of these viral genera members. The studies on CoV presence in bats from Brazil have mainly assayed phyllostomid, molossid and vespertilionid bats in the South, Southeast and North territories. Despite Brazil not hosting rhinophilid or pteropodid bats, which are natural reservoirs of SARS-related CoVs and henipaviruses, respectively, CoVs and PMVs reported in Brazilian bats are genetically closely related to some human pathogens. Most works performed with Brazilian bats reported alpha-CoVs that were closely related to other bat-CoVs, despite a few reports of beta-CoVs grouped in the Merbecovirus and Embecovirus subgenera. The family Paramyxoviridae includes four subfamilies (Avulavirinae, Metaparamyxovirinae, Orthoparamyxovirinae and Rubulavirinae), and bats are significant drivers of PMV cross-species viral transmission. Additionally, the studies that have evaluated PMV presence in Brazilian bats have mainly found sequences classified in the Jeilongvirus and Morbillivirus genera that belong to the Orthoparamyxovirinae subfamily. Despite the increasing amount of research on Brazilian bats, studies analyzing these samples are still scarce. When surveying the representativeness of the CoVs and PMVs found and the available genomic sequences, it can be perceived that there may be gaps in the knowledge. The continuous monitoring of viral sequences that are closely related to human pathogens may be helpful in mapping and predicting future hotspots in the emergence of zoonotic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Nunes Weber
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular, Universidade FEEVALE, Novo Hamburgo 93525-075, RS, Brazil;
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35
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Li K, Huntwork RHC, Horn GQ, Abraha M, Hastie KM, Li H, Rayaprolu V, Olmedillas E, Feeney E, Cronin K, Schendel SL, Heise M, Bedinger D, Mattocks MD, Baric RS, Alam SM, Ollmann Saphire E, Tomaras GD, Dennison SM. Cryptic-site-specific antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain can retain functional binding affinity to spike variants. J Virol 2023; 97:e0107023. [PMID: 38019013 PMCID: PMC10746274 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01070-23] [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: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern have emerged and caused a significant number of infections and deaths worldwide. These variants of concern contain mutations that might significantly affect antigen-targeting by antibodies. It is therefore important to further understand how antibody binding and neutralization are affected by the mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants. We highlighted how antibody epitope specificity can influence antibody binding to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variants and neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants. We showed that weakened spike binding and neutralization of Beta (B.1.351) and Omicron (BA.1) variants compared to wildtype are not universal among the panel of antibodies and identified antibodies of a specific binding footprint exhibiting consistent enhancement of spike binding and retained neutralization to Beta variant. These data and analysis can inform how antigen-targeting by antibodies might evolve during a pandemic and prepare for potential future sarbecovirus outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kan Li
- Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Richard H. C. Huntwork
- Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gillian Q. Horn
- Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Milite Abraha
- Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kathryn M. Hastie
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Haoyang Li
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Vamseedhar Rayaprolu
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Eduardo Olmedillas
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth Feeney
- Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kenneth Cronin
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sharon L. Schendel
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Mark Heise
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Melissa D. Mattocks
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ralph S. Baric
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - S. Munir Alam
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Pathology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Erica Ollmann Saphire
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Georgia D. Tomaras
- Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - S. Moses Dennison
- Center for Human Systems Immunology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Forero-Muñoz NR, Muylaert RL, Seifert SN, Albery GF, Becker DJ, Carlson CJ, Poisot T. The coevolutionary mosaic of bat betacoronavirus emergence risk. Virus Evol 2023; 10:vead079. [PMID: 38361817 PMCID: PMC10868545 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vead079] [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: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Pathogen evolution is one of the least predictable components of disease emergence, particularly in nature. Here, building on principles established by the geographic mosaic theory of coevolution, we develop a quantitative, spatially explicit framework for mapping the evolutionary risk of viral emergence. Driven by interest in diseases like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we examine the global biogeography of bat-origin betacoronaviruses, and find that coevolutionary principles suggest geographies of risk that are distinct from the hotspots and coldspots of host richness. Further, our framework helps explain patterns like a unique pool of merbecoviruses in the Neotropics, a recently discovered lineage of divergent nobecoviruses in Madagascar, and-most importantly-hotspots of diversification in southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East that correspond to the site of previous zoonotic emergence events. Our framework may help identify hotspots of future risk that have also been previously overlooked, like West Africa and the Indian subcontinent, and may more broadly help researchers understand how host ecology shapes the evolution and diversity of pandemic threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norma R Forero-Muñoz
- Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, 1375 Avenue Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux, Montréal (Québec) H2V 0B3, Canada
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences
| | - Renata L Muylaert
- Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, New Zealand
| | - Stephanie N Seifert
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Gregory F Albery
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Daniel J Becker
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Colin J Carlson
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
- Center for Global Health Science and Security, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Timothée Poisot
- Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, 1375 Avenue Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux, Montréal (Québec) H2V 0B3, Canada
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences
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37
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Dhivahar J, Parthasarathy A, Krishnan K, Kovi BS, Pandian GN. Bat-associated microbes: Opportunities and perils, an overview. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22351. [PMID: 38125540 PMCID: PMC10730444 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22351] [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: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The potential biotechnological uses of bat-associated bacteria are discussed briefly, indicating avenues for biotechnological applications of bat-associated microbes. The uniqueness of bats in terms of their lifestyle, genomes and molecular immunology may predispose bats to act as disease reservoirs. Molecular phylogenetic analysis has shown several instances of bats harbouring the ancestral lineages of bacterial (Bartonella), protozoal (Plasmodium, Trypanosoma cruzi) and viral (SARS-CoV2) pathogens infecting humans. Along with the transmission of viruses from bats, we also discuss the potential roles of bat-associated bacteria, fungi, and protozoan parasites in emerging diseases. Current evidence suggests that environmental changes and interactions between wildlife, livestock, and humans contribute to the spill-over of infectious agents from bats to other hosts. Domestic animals including livestock may act as intermediate amplifying hosts for bat-origin pathogens to transmit to humans. An increasing number of studies investigating bat pathogen diversity and infection dynamics have been published. However, whether or how these infectious agents are transmitted both within bat populations and to other hosts, including humans, often remains unknown. Metagenomic approaches are uncovering the dynamics and distribution of potential pathogens in bat microbiomes, which might improve the understanding of disease emergence and transmission. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on bat zoonoses of public health concern and flag the gaps in the knowledge to enable further research and allocation of resources for tackling future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Dhivahar
- Research Department of Zoology, St. Johns College, Palayamkottai, 627002, India
- Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Microbial Ecology, Loyola College, Chennai, 600034, India
- Department of Biotechnology, Laboratory of Virology, University of Madras, Chennai, 600025, India
| | - Anutthaman Parthasarathy
- Department of Chemistry and Biosciences, Richmond Building, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, United Kingdom
| | - Kathiravan Krishnan
- Department of Biotechnology, Laboratory of Virology, University of Madras, Chennai, 600025, India
| | - Basavaraj S. Kovi
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Yoshida Ushinomiyacho, 69, Sakyo Ward, 606-8501, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ganesh N. Pandian
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Yoshida Ushinomiyacho, 69, Sakyo Ward, 606-8501, Kyoto, Japan
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38
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Zaman N, Parvaiz N, Gul F, Yousaf R, Gul K, Azam SS. Dynamics of water-mediated interaction effects on the stability and transmission of Omicron. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20894. [PMID: 38017052 PMCID: PMC10684572 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48186-2] [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: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-Cov-2 Omicron variant and its highly transmissible sublineages amidst news of emerging hybrid variants strengthen the evidence of its ability to rapidly spread and evolve giving rise to unprecedented future waves. Owing to the presence of isolated RBD, monomeric and trimeric Cryo-EM structures of spike protein in complex with ACE2 receptor, comparative analysis of Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron assist in a rational assessment of their probability to evolve as new or hybrid variants in future. This study proposes the role of hydration forces in mediating Omicron function and dynamics based on a stronger interplay between protein and solvent with each Covid wave. Mutations of multiple hydrophobic residues into hydrophilic residues underwent concerted interactions with water leading to variations in charge distribution in Delta and Omicron during molecular dynamics simulations. Moreover, comparative analysis of interacting moieties characterized a large number of mutations lying at RBD into constrained, homologous and low-affinity groups referred to as mutational drivers inferring that the probability of future mutations relies on their function. Furthermore, the computational findings reveal a significant difference in angular distances among variants of concern due 3 amino acid insertion (EPE) in Omicron variant that not only facilitates tight domain organization but also seems requisite for characterization of mutational processes. The outcome of this work signifies the possible relation between hydration forces, their impact on conformation and binding affinities, and viral fitness that will significantly aid in understanding dynamics of drug targets for Covid-19 countermeasures. The emerging scenario is that hydration forces and hydrophobic interactions are crucial variables to probe in mutational analysis to explore conformational landscape of macromolecules and reveal the molecular origins of protein behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naila Zaman
- Computational Biology Lab, National Center for Bioinformatics (NCB), Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Nousheen Parvaiz
- Computational Biology Lab, National Center for Bioinformatics (NCB), Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Fouzia Gul
- Computational Biology Lab, National Center for Bioinformatics (NCB), Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Rimsha Yousaf
- Computational Biology Lab, National Center for Bioinformatics (NCB), Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Kainat Gul
- Computational Biology Lab, National Center for Bioinformatics (NCB), Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Syed Sikander Azam
- Computational Biology Lab, National Center for Bioinformatics (NCB), Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan.
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39
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Lorenzo-Redondo R, de Sant’Anna Carvalho AM, Hultquist JF, Ozer EA. SARS-CoV-2 genomics and impact on clinical care for COVID-19. J Antimicrob Chemother 2023; 78:ii25-ii36. [PMID: 37995357 PMCID: PMC10667012 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkad309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence and worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the adaptation and rapid deployment of viral WGS and analysis techniques that had been previously applied on a more limited basis to other viral pathogens, such as HIV and influenza viruses. The need for WGS was driven in part by the low mutation rate of SARS-CoV-2, which necessitated measuring variation along the entire genome sequence to effectively differentiate lineages and characterize viral evolution. Several WGS approaches designed to maximize throughput and accuracy were quickly adopted by surveillance labs around the world. These broad-based SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequencing efforts revealed ongoing evolution of the virus, highlighted by the successive emergence of new viral variants throughout the course of the pandemic. These genomic insights were instrumental in characterizing the effects of viral mutations on transmissibility, immune escape and viral tropism, which in turn helped guide public health policy, the use of monoclonal antibody therapeutics and vaccine development strategies. As the use of direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of COVID-19 became more widespread, the potential for emergence of antiviral resistance has driven ongoing efforts to delineate resistance mutations and to monitor global sequence databases for their emergence. Given the critical role of viral genomics in the international effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, coordinated efforts should be made to expand global genomic surveillance capacity and infrastructure towards the anticipation and prevention of future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramon Lorenzo-Redondo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Northwestern University Havey Institute for Global Health, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Alexandre Machado de Sant’Anna Carvalho
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Northwestern University Havey Institute for Global Health, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Judd F Hultquist
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Northwestern University Havey Institute for Global Health, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Egon A Ozer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Northwestern University Havey Institute for Global Health, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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40
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Jaya FR, Brito BP, Darling AE. Evaluation of recombination detection methods for viral sequencing. Virus Evol 2023; 9:vead066. [PMID: 38131005 PMCID: PMC10734630 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vead066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombination is a key evolutionary driver in shaping novel viral populations and lineages. When unaccounted for, recombination can impact evolutionary estimations or complicate their interpretation. Therefore, identifying signals for recombination in sequencing data is a key prerequisite to further analyses. A repertoire of recombination detection methods (RDMs) have been developed over the past two decades; however, the prevalence of pandemic-scale viral sequencing data poses a computational challenge for existing methods. Here, we assessed eight RDMs: PhiPack (Profile), 3SEQ, GENECONV, recombination detection program (RDP) (OpenRDP), MaxChi (OpenRDP), Chimaera (OpenRDP), UCHIME (VSEARCH), and gmos; to determine if any are suitable for the analysis of bulk sequencing data. To test the performance and scalability of these methods, we analysed simulated viral sequencing data across a range of sequence diversities, recombination frequencies, and sample sizes. Furthermore, we provide a practical example for the analysis and validation of empirical data. We find that RDMs need to be scalable, use an analytical approach and resolution that is suitable for the intended research application, and are accurate for the properties of a given dataset (e.g. sequence diversity and estimated recombination frequency). Analysis of simulated and empirical data revealed that the assessed methods exhibited considerable trade-offs between these criteria. Overall, we provide general guidelines for the validation of recombination detection results, the benefits and shortcomings of each assessed method, and future considerations for recombination detection methods for the assessment of large-scale viral sequencing data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick R Jaya
- Australian Institute for Microbiology & Infection, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, New South Wales 2007, Australia
- Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 2600, Australia
| | - Barbara P Brito
- Australian Institute for Microbiology & Infection, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, New South Wales 2007, Australia
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Woodbridge Road, Menangle, New South Wales 2568, Australia
| | - Aaron E Darling
- Australian Institute for Microbiology & Infection, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, New South Wales 2007, Australia
- Illumina Australia Pty Ltd, Ultimo, New South Wales 2007, Australia
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41
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Rasmussen DA, Guo F. Espalier: Efficient Tree Reconciliation and Ancestral Recombination Graphs Reconstruction Using Maximum Agreement Forests. Syst Biol 2023; 72:1154-1170. [PMID: 37458753 PMCID: PMC10627558 DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syad040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In the presence of recombination individuals may inherit different regions of their genome from different ancestors, resulting in a mosaic of phylogenetic histories across their genome. Ancestral recombination graphs (ARGs) can capture how phylogenetic relationships vary across the genome due to recombination, but reconstructing ARGs from genomic sequence data is notoriously difficult. Here, we present a method for reconciling discordant phylogenetic trees and reconstructing ARGs using maximum agreement forests (MAFs). Given two discordant trees, a MAF identifies the smallest possible set of topologically concordant subtrees present in both trees. We show how discordant trees can be reconciled through their MAF in a way that retains discordances strongly supported by sequence data while eliminating conflicts likely attributable to phylogenetic noise. We further show how MAFs and our reconciliation approach can be combined to select a path of local trees across the genome that maximizes the likelihood of the genomic sequence data, minimizes discordance between neighboring local trees, and identifies the recombination events necessary to explain remaining discordances to obtain a fully connected ARG. While heuristic, our ARG reconstruction approach is often as accurate as more exact methods while being much more computationally efficient. Moreover, important demographic parameters such as recombination rates can be accurately estimated from reconstructed ARGs. Finally, we apply our approach to plant infecting RNA viruses in the genus Potyvirus to demonstrate how true recombination events can be disentangled from phylogenetic noise using our ARG reconstruction methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Rasmussen
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7613, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7566, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Fangfang Guo
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7613, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
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42
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Basak S, Kayet P, Ghosh M, Chatterjee J, Dutta S. Emergence of Genomic Diversity in the Spike Protein of the "Omicron" Variant. Viruses 2023; 15:2132. [PMID: 37896909 PMCID: PMC10612054 DOI: 10.3390/v15102132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) has constantly been evolving into different forms throughout its spread in the population. Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, predominantly the variants of concern (VOCs), could have an impact on the virus spread, pathogenicity, and diagnosis. The recently emerged "Omicron" variant has exhibited rapid transmission and divergence. The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 has consistently been appearing as the mutational hotspot of all these VOCs. In order to determine a deeper understanding of the recently emerged and extremely divergent "Omicron", a study of amino acid usage patterns and their substitution patterns was performed and compared with those of the other four successful variants of concern ("Alpha", "Beta", "Gamma", and "Delta"). We observed that the amino acid usage of "Omicron" has a distinct pattern that distinguishes it from other VOCs and is significantly correlated with the increased hydrophobicity in spike proteins. We observed an increase in the non-synonymous substitution rate compared with the other four VOCs. Considering the phylogenetic relationship, we hypothesized about the functional interdependence between recombination and the mutation rate that might have resulted in a shift in the optimum of the mutation rate for the evolution of the "Omicron" variant. The results suggest that for improved disease prevention and control, more attention should be given to the significant genetic differentiation and diversity of newly emerging variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surajit Basak
- Division of Bioinformatics, ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata 700010, India
| | - Pratanu Kayet
- Division of Bioinformatics, ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata 700010, India
| | - Manisha Ghosh
- Division of Bioinformatics, ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata 700010, India
| | - Joyeeta Chatterjee
- Centre for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry 605014, India
| | - Shanta Dutta
- Division of Bacteriology, ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata 700010, India
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43
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Wang Q, Noettger S, Xie Q, Pastorio C, Seidel A, Müller JA, Jung C, Jacob T, Sparrer KMJ, Zech F, Kirchhoff F. Determinants of species-specific utilization of ACE2 by human and animal coronaviruses. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1051. [PMID: 37848611 PMCID: PMC10582019 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05436-3] [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: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Utilization of human ACE2 allowed several bat coronaviruses (CoVs), including the causative agent of COVID-19, to infect humans directly or via intermediate hosts. However, the determinants of species-specific differences in ACE2 usage and the frequency of the ability of animal CoVs to use human ACE2 are poorly understood. Here we applied VSV pseudoviruses to analyze the ability of Spike proteins from 26 human or animal CoVs to use ACE2 receptors across nine reservoir, potential intermediate and human hosts. We show that SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants evolved towards more efficient ACE2 usage but mutation of R493Q in BA.4/5 and XBB Spike proteins disrupts utilization of ACE2 from Greater horseshoe bats. Variations in ACE2 residues 31, 41 and 354 govern species-specific differences in usage by coronaviral Spike proteins. Mutation of T403R allows the RaTG13 bat CoV Spike to efficiently use all ACE2 orthologs for viral entry. Sera from COVID-19 vaccinated individuals neutralize the Spike proteins of various bat Sarbecoviruses. Our results define determinants of ACE2 receptor usage of diverse CoVs and suggest that COVID-19 vaccination may protect against future zoonoses of bat coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxing Wang
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sabrina Noettger
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Qinya Xie
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Chiara Pastorio
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Alina Seidel
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Janis A Müller
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Jung
- Institute of Electrochemistry, Ulm University, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute Ulm (HIU) Electrochemical Energy Storage, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76021, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Timo Jacob
- Institute of Electrochemistry, Ulm University, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute Ulm (HIU) Electrochemical Energy Storage, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76021, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | | | - Fabian Zech
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Frank Kirchhoff
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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44
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Hueting D, Schriever K, Sun R, Vlachiotis S, Zuo F, Du L, Persson H, Hofström C, Ohlin M, Walldén K, Buggert M, Hammarström L, Marcotte H, Pan-Hammarström Q, Andréll J, Syrén PO. Design, structure and plasma binding of ancestral β-CoV scaffold antigens. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6527. [PMID: 37845250 PMCID: PMC10579346 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42200-x] [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: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
We report the application of ancestral sequence reconstruction on coronavirus spike protein, resulting in stable and highly soluble ancestral scaffold antigens (AnSAs). The AnSAs interact with plasma of patients recovered from COVID-19 but do not bind to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Cryo-EM analysis of the AnSAs yield high resolution structures (2.6-2.8 Å) indicating a closed pre-fusion conformation in which all three receptor-binding domains (RBDs) are facing downwards. The structures reveal an intricate hydrogen-bonding network mediated by well-resolved loops, both within and across monomers, tethering the N-terminal domain and RBD together. We show that AnSA-5 can induce and boost a broad-spectrum immune response against the wild-type RBD as well as circulating variants of concern in an immune organoid model derived from tonsils. Finally, we highlight how AnSAs are potent scaffolds by replacing the ancestral RBD with the wild-type sequence, which restores ACE2 binding and increases the interaction with convalescent plasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Hueting
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karen Schriever
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rui Sun
- Division of Immunology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stelios Vlachiotis
- Division of Immunology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fanglei Zuo
- Division of Immunology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Likun Du
- Division of Immunology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helena Persson
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
- Drug Discovery and Development Platform, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden
| | - Camilla Hofström
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
- Drug Discovery and Development Platform, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden
| | - Mats Ohlin
- Drug Discovery and Development Platform, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Immunotechnology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Walldén
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marcus Buggert
- Center for Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lennart Hammarström
- Division of Immunology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Harold Marcotte
- Division of Immunology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Qiang Pan-Hammarström
- Division of Immunology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Juni Andréll
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Per-Olof Syrén
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
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45
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Nooruzzaman M, Diel DG. Infection Dynamics, Pathogenesis, and Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in Naturally Susceptible Animal Species. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 211:1195-1201. [PMID: 37782853 PMCID: PMC10558081 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, presents a broad host range. Domestic cats and white-tailed deer (WTD) are particularly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 with multiple variant strains being associated with infections in these species. The virus replicates in the upper respiratory tract and in associated lymphoid tissues, and it is shed through oral and nasal secretions, which leads to efficient transmission of the virus to contact animals. Robust cell-mediated and humoral immune responses are induced upon infection in domestic cats, which curb the progression of clinical disease and are associated with control of infection. In WTD, high levels of neutralizing Abs are detected early upon infection. In this review, the current understanding of the infection dynamics, pathogenesis, and immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals, with special focus on naturally susceptible felids and WTD, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Nooruzzaman
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States of America
| | - Diego G. Diel
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States of America
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46
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Liu B, Zhao P, Xu P, Han Y, Wang Y, Chen L, Wu Z, Yang J. A comprehensive dataset of animal-associated sarbecoviruses. Sci Data 2023; 10:681. [PMID: 37805633 PMCID: PMC10560225 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02558-5] [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: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic spillover of sarbecoviruses (SarbeCoVs) from non-human animals to humans under natural conditions has led to two large-scale pandemics, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) pandemic in 2003 and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Knowledge of the genetic diversity, geographical distribution, and host specificity of SarbeCoVs is therefore of interest for pandemic surveillance and origin tracing of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. This study presents a comprehensive repository of publicly available animal-associated SarbeCoVs, covering 1,535 viruses identified from 63 animal species distributed in 43 countries worldwide (as of February 14,2023). Relevant meta-information, such as host species, sampling time and location, was manually curated and included in the dataset to facilitate further research on the potential patterns of viral diversity and ecological characteristics. In addition, the dataset also provides well-annotated sequence sets of receptor-binding domains (RBDs) and receptor-binding motifs (RBMs) for the scientific community to highlight the potential determinants of successful cross-species transmission that could be aid in risk estimation and strategic design for future emerging infectious disease control and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 110730, China
| | - Peng Zhao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 110730, China
| | - Panpan Xu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 110730, China
| | - Yelin Han
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 110730, China
| | - Yuyang Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 110730, China
| | - Lihong Chen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 110730, China.
| | - Zhiqiang Wu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 110730, China.
| | - Jian Yang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 110730, China.
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47
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Tay JH, Baele G, Duchene S. Detecting Episodic Evolution through Bayesian Inference of Molecular Clock Models. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad212. [PMID: 37738550 PMCID: PMC10560005 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad212] [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: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular evolutionary rate variation is a key aspect of the evolution of many organisms that can be modeled using molecular clock models. For example, fixed local clocks revealed the role of episodic evolution in the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Like all statistical models, however, the reliability of such inferences is contingent on an assessment of statistical evidence. We present a novel Bayesian phylogenetic approach for detecting episodic evolution. It consists of computing Bayes factors, as the ratio of posterior and prior odds of evolutionary rate increases, effectively quantifying support for the effect size. We conducted an extensive simulation study to illustrate the power of this method and benchmarked it to formal model comparison of a range of molecular clock models using (log) marginal likelihood estimation, and to inference under a random local clock model. Quantifying support for the effect size has higher sensitivity than formal model testing and is straight-forward to compute, because it only needs samples from the posterior and prior distribution. However, formal model testing has the advantage of accommodating a wide range molecular clock models. We also assessed the ability of an automated approach, known as the random local clock, where branches under episodic evolution may be detected without their a priori definition. In an empirical analysis of a data set of SARS-CoV-2 genomes, we find "very strong" evidence for episodic evolution. Our results provide guidelines and practical methods for Bayesian detection of episodic evolution, as well as avenues for further research into this phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- John H Tay
- Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Guy Baele
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sebastian Duchene
- Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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48
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Si Y, Wu W, Xue X, Sun X, Qin Y, Li Y, Qiu C, Li Y, Zhuo Z, Mi Y, Zheng P. The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 pandemic. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15990. [PMID: 37701824 PMCID: PMC10493083 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15990] [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: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Scientists have made great efforts to understand the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) to provide crucial information to public health experts on strategies to control this viral pathogen. The pandemic of the coronavirus disease that began in 2019, COVID-19, lasted nearly three years, and nearly all countries have set different epidemic prevention policies for this virus. The continuous evolution of SARS-CoV-2 alters its pathogenicity and infectivity in human hosts, thus the policy and treatments have been continually adjusted. Based on our previous study on the dynamics of binding ability prediction between the COVID-19 spike protein and human ACE2, the present study mined over 10 million sequences and epidemiological data of SARS-CoV-2 during 2020-2022 to understand the evolutionary path of SARS-CoV-2. We analyzed and predicted the mutation rates of the whole genome and main proteins of SARS-CoV-2 from different populations to understand the adaptive relationship between humans and COVID-19. Our study identified a correlation of the mutation rates from each protein of SARS-CoV-2 and various human populations. Overall, this analysis provides a scientific basis for developing data-driven strategies to confront human pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanfang Si
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori & Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Cente, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Weidong Wu
- BGI College & Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xia Xue
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori & Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Cente, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xiangdong Sun
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori & Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Cente, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yaping Qin
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ya Li
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori & Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Cente, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Chunjing Qiu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori & Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Cente, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yingying Li
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori & Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Cente, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ziran Zhuo
- BGI College & Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yang Mi
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori & Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Cente, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Pengyuan Zheng
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori & Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Cente, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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49
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Wang B, Pei J, Xu S, Liu J, Yu J. Recent advances in mRNA cancer vaccines: meeting challenges and embracing opportunities. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1246682. [PMID: 37744371 PMCID: PMC10511650 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1246682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the successful application of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines in preventing COVID-19, researchers have been striving to develop mRNA vaccines for clinical use, including those exploited for anti-tumor therapy. mRNA cancer vaccines have emerged as a promising novel approach to cancer immunotherapy, offering high specificity, better efficacy, and fewer side effects compared to traditional treatments. Multiple therapeutic mRNA cancer vaccines are being evaluated in preclinical and clinical trials, with promising early-phase results. However, the development of these vaccines faces various challenges, such as tumor heterogeneity, an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and practical obstacles like vaccine administration methods and evaluation systems for clinical application. To address these challenges, we highlight recent advances from preclinical studies and clinical trials that provide insight into identifying obstacles associated with mRNA cancer vaccines and discuss potential strategies to overcome them. In the future, it is crucial to approach the development of mRNA cancer vaccines with caution and diligence while promoting innovation to overcome existing barriers. A delicate balance between opportunities and challenges will help guide the progress of this promising field towards its full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bolin Wang
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jinli Pei
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shengnan Xu
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jinming Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
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50
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Bhattacharjee MJ, Bhattacharya A, Kashyap B, Taw MJ, Li WH, Mukherjee AK, Khan MR. Genome analysis of SARS-CoV-2 isolates from a population reveals the rapid selective sweep of a haplotype carrying many pre-existing and new mutations. Virol J 2023; 20:201. [PMID: 37658381 PMCID: PMC10474745 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02139-3] [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: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
To understand the mechanism underlying the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in a population, we sequenced 92 viral genomes from Assam, India. Analysis of these and database sequences revealed a complete selective sweep of a haplotype in Assam carrying 13 pre-existing variants, including a high leap in frequency of a variant on ORF8, which is involved in immune evasion. A comparative study between sequences of same lineage and similar time frames in and outside Assam showed that 10 of the 13 pre-existing variants had a frequency ranging from 96 to 99%, and the remaining 3 had a low frequency outside Assam. Using a phylogenetic approach to infer sequential occurrences of variants we found that the variant Phe120del on ORF8, which had a low frequency (1.75%) outside Assam, is at the base of the phylogenetic tree of variants and became totally fixed (100%) in Assam population. Based on this observation, we inferred that the variant on ORF8 had a selective advantage, so it carried the haplotype to reach the100% frequency. The haplotype also carried 32 pre-existing variants at a frequency from 1.00 to 80.00% outside Assam. Those of these variants that are more closely linked to the S-protein locus, which often carries advantageous mutations and is tightly linked to the ORF8 locus, retained higher frequencies, while the less tightly linked variants showed lower frequencies, likely due to recombination among co- circulating variants in Assam. The ratios of non-synonymous substitutions to synonymous substitutions suggested that some genes such as those coding for the S-protein and non-structural proteins underwent positive selection while others were subject to purifying selection during their evolution in Assam. Furthermore, we observed negative correlation of the Ct value of qRT-PCR of the patients with abundant ORF6 transcripts, suggesting that ORF6 can be used as a marker for estimating viral titer. In conclusion, our in-depth analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genomes in a regional population reveals the mechanism and dynamics of viral evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maloyjo Joyraj Bhattacharjee
- Division of Life Science, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Paschim Boragaon, Guwahati, Assam, 781035, India
| | - Anupam Bhattacharya
- Division of Life Science, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Paschim Boragaon, Guwahati, Assam, 781035, India
| | - Bhaswati Kashyap
- Division of Life Science, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Paschim Boragaon, Guwahati, Assam, 781035, India
| | - Manash Jyoti Taw
- Department of Microbiology, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati, Assam, 781032, India
| | - Wen-Hsiung Li
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 11529, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Ashis K Mukherjee
- Division of Life Science, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Paschim Boragaon, Guwahati, Assam, 781035, India.
| | - Mojibur Rohman Khan
- Division of Life Science, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Paschim Boragaon, Guwahati, Assam, 781035, India.
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