1
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Cheng L, Rui Y, Wang Y, Chen S, Su J, Yu XF. A glimpse into viral warfare: decoding the intriguing role of highly pathogenic coronavirus proteins in apoptosis regulation. J Biomed Sci 2024; 31:70. [PMID: 39003473 PMCID: PMC11245872 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-024-01062-1] [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: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses employ various strategies for survival, among which the activation of endogenous or exogenous apoptosis stands out, with viral proteins playing a pivotal role. Notably, highly pathogenic coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV exhibit a greater array of non-structural proteins compared to low-pathogenic strains, facilitating their ability to induce apoptosis via multiple pathways. Moreover, these viral proteins are adept at dampening host immune responses, thereby bolstering viral replication and persistence. This review delves into the intricate interplay between highly pathogenic coronaviruses and apoptosis, systematically elucidating the molecular mechanisms underpinning apoptosis induction by viral proteins. Furthermore, it explores the potential therapeutic avenues stemming from apoptosis inhibition as antiviral agents and the utilization of apoptosis-inducing viral proteins as therapeutic modalities. These insights not only shed light on viral pathogenesis but also offer novel perspectives for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyi Cheng
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Yajuan Rui
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Yanpu Wang
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Shiqi Chen
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Jiaming Su
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China.
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.
| | - Xiao-Fang Yu
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China.
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.
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2
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Wagner C, Kistler KE, Perchetti GA, Baker N, Frisbie LA, Torres LM, Aragona F, Yun C, Figgins M, Greninger AL, Cox A, Oltean HN, Roychoudhury P, Bedford T. Positive selection underlies repeated knockout of ORF8 in SARS-CoV-2 evolution. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3207. [PMID: 38615031 PMCID: PMC11016114 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47599-5] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Knockout of the ORF8 protein has repeatedly spread through the global viral population during SARS-CoV-2 evolution. Here we use both regional and global pathogen sequencing to explore the selection pressures underlying its loss. In Washington State, we identified transmission clusters with ORF8 knockout throughout SARS-CoV-2 evolution, not just on novel, high fitness viral backbones. Indeed, ORF8 is truncated more frequently and knockouts circulate for longer than for any other gene. Using a global phylogeny, we find evidence of positive selection to explain this phenomenon: nonsense mutations resulting in shortened protein products occur more frequently and are associated with faster clade growth rates than synonymous mutations in ORF8. Loss of ORF8 is also associated with reduced clinical severity, highlighting the diverse clinical impacts of SARS-CoV-2 evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassia Wagner
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Kathryn E Kistler
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Garrett A Perchetti
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Noah Baker
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Frank Aragona
- Washington State Department of Health, Shoreline, WA, USA
| | - Cory Yun
- Washington State Department of Health, Shoreline, WA, USA
| | - Marlin Figgins
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alexander L Greninger
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alex Cox
- Washington State Department of Health, Shoreline, WA, USA
| | - Hanna N Oltean
- Washington State Department of Health, Shoreline, WA, USA
| | - Pavitra Roychoudhury
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Trevor Bedford
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
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3
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Cecchetto R, Tonon E, Medaina N, Turri G, Diani E, Piccaluga PP, Salomoni A, Conti M, Tacconelli E, Lagni A, Lotti V, Favarato M, Gibellini D. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Δ426 ORF8 Deletion Mutant Cluster in NGS Screening. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2378. [PMID: 37894036 PMCID: PMC10609088 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) from SARS-CoV-2-positive swabs collected during the last months of 2022 revealed a large deletion spanning ORF7b and ORF8 (426 nt) in six patients infected with the BA.5.1 Omicron variant. This extensive genome loss removed a large part of these two genes, maintaining in frame the first 22 aminoacids of ORF7b and the last three aminoacids of ORF8. Interestingly, the deleted region was flanked by two small repeats, which were likely involved in the formation of a hairpin structure. Similar rearrangements, comparable in size and location to the deletion, were also identified in 15 sequences in the NCBI database. In this group, seven out of 15 cases from the USA and Switzerland presented both the BA.5.1 variant and the same 426 nucleotides deletion. It is noteworthy that three out of six cases were detected in patients with immunodeficiency, and it is conceivable that this clinical condition could promote the replication and selection of these mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Cecchetto
- Microbiology Section, Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (R.C.); (E.T.); (A.L.); (V.L.); (D.G.)
- UOC Microbiology Unit, AOUI Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (N.M.); (G.T.)
| | - Emil Tonon
- Microbiology Section, Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (R.C.); (E.T.); (A.L.); (V.L.); (D.G.)
- UOC Microbiology Unit, AOUI Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (N.M.); (G.T.)
| | - Nicoletta Medaina
- UOC Microbiology Unit, AOUI Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (N.M.); (G.T.)
| | - Giona Turri
- UOC Microbiology Unit, AOUI Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (N.M.); (G.T.)
| | - Erica Diani
- Microbiology Section, Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (R.C.); (E.T.); (A.L.); (V.L.); (D.G.)
| | - Pier Paolo Piccaluga
- Hematopathology Section, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic, and Experimental Medicine, Bologna University, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Angela Salomoni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy;
| | - Michela Conti
- Infectious Diseases Section, Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (M.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Evelina Tacconelli
- Infectious Diseases Section, Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (M.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Anna Lagni
- Microbiology Section, Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (R.C.); (E.T.); (A.L.); (V.L.); (D.G.)
| | - Virginia Lotti
- Microbiology Section, Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (R.C.); (E.T.); (A.L.); (V.L.); (D.G.)
| | - Mosé Favarato
- Molecular Diagnostics and Genetics, AULSS 3 Serenissima, 30174 Venice, Italy;
| | - Davide Gibellini
- Microbiology Section, Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (R.C.); (E.T.); (A.L.); (V.L.); (D.G.)
- UOC Microbiology Unit, AOUI Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (N.M.); (G.T.)
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4
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Jalal D, Samir O, Elzayat MG, El-Shqanqery HE, Diab AA, ElKaialy L, Mohammed AM, Hamdy D, Matar IK, Amer K, Elnakib M, Hassan W, Mansour T, Soliman S, Hassan R, Al-Toukhy GM, Hammad M, Abdo I, Sayed AA. Genomic characterization of SARS-CoV-2 in Egypt: insights into spike protein thermodynamic stability. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1190133. [PMID: 37333655 PMCID: PMC10273679 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1190133] [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: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The overall pattern of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic so far has been a series of waves; surges in new cases followed by declines. The appearance of novel mutations and variants underlie the rises in infections, making surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 mutations and prediction of variant evolution of utmost importance. In this study, we sequenced 320 SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes isolated from patients from the outpatient COVID-19 clinic in the Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357 (CCHE 57357) and the Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine (ECRRM). The samples were collected between March and December 2021, covering the third and fourth waves of the pandemic. The third wave was found to be dominated by Nextclade 20D in our samples, with a small number of alpha variants. The delta variant was found to dominate the fourth wave samples, with the appearance of omicron variants late in 2021. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that the omicron variants are closest genetically to early pandemic variants. Mutation analysis shows SNPs, stop codon mutation gain, and deletion/insertion mutations, with distinct patterns of mutations governed by Nextclade or WHO variant. Finally, we observed a large number of highly correlated mutations, and some negatively correlated mutations, and identified a general inclination toward mutations that lead to enhanced thermodynamic stability of the spike protein. Overall, this study contributes genetic and phylogenetic data, as well as provides insights into SARS-CoV-2 viral evolution that may eventually help in the prediction of evolving mutations for better vaccine development and drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deena Jalal
- Department of Basic Research, Genomics and Epigenomics Program, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Omar Samir
- Department of Basic Research, Genomics and Epigenomics Program, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mariam G. Elzayat
- Department of Basic Research, Genomics and Epigenomics Program, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hend E. El-Shqanqery
- Department of Basic Research, Genomics and Epigenomics Program, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Aya A. Diab
- Department of Basic Research, Genomics and Epigenomics Program, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Lamiaa ElKaialy
- Department of Basic Research, Genomics and Epigenomics Program, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Aya M. Mohammed
- Department of Basic Research, Genomics and Epigenomics Program, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Donia Hamdy
- Department of Basic Research, Genomics and Epigenomics Program, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Islam K. Matar
- Department of Basic Research, Genomics and Epigenomics Program, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Khaled Amer
- Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine (ECRRM), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mostafa Elnakib
- Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine (ECRRM), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Wael Hassan
- Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine (ECRRM), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Tarek Mansour
- Department of Virology and Immunology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sonia Soliman
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Clinical Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Reem Hassan
- Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Kasr Al-Aini School of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
- Molecular Microbiology Unit, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ghada M. Al-Toukhy
- Department of Virology and Immunology, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Hammad
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ibrahim Abdo
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed A. Sayed
- Department of Basic Research, Genomics and Epigenomics Program, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
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5
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Rodriguez-Rodriguez BA, Ciabattoni GO, Duerr R, Valero-Jimenez AM, Yeung ST, Crosse KM, Schinlever AR, Bernard-Raichon L, Rodriguez Galvan J, McGrath ME, Vashee S, Xue Y, Loomis CA, Khanna KM, Cadwell K, Desvignes L, Frieman MB, Ortigoza MB, Dittmann M. A neonatal mouse model characterizes transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 variants and reveals a role for ORF8. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3026. [PMID: 37230979 PMCID: PMC10211296 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38783-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Small animal models have been a challenge for the study of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, with most investigators using golden hamsters or ferrets. Mice have the advantages of low cost, wide availability, less regulatory and husbandry challenges, and the existence of a versatile reagent and genetic toolbox. However, adult mice do not robustly transmit SARS-CoV-2. Here we establish a model based on neonatal mice that allows for transmission of clinical SARS-CoV-2 isolates. We characterize tropism, respiratory tract replication and transmission of ancestral WA-1 compared to variants Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2), Omicron BA.1 and Omicron BQ.1.1. We identify inter-variant differences in timing and magnitude of infectious particle shedding from index mice, both of which shape transmission to contact mice. Furthermore, we characterize two recombinant SARS-CoV-2 lacking either the ORF6 or ORF8 host antagonists. The removal of ORF8 shifts viral replication towards the lower respiratory tract, resulting in significantly delayed and reduced transmission in our model. Our results demonstrate the potential of our neonatal mouse model to characterize viral and host determinants of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, while revealing a role for an accessory protein in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Grace O Ciabattoni
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Ralf Duerr
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Medicine/Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Vaccine Center, NYU Grossmann of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Ana M Valero-Jimenez
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Stephen T Yeung
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Keaton M Crosse
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Austin R Schinlever
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Lucie Bernard-Raichon
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Joaquin Rodriguez Galvan
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Marisa E McGrath
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Pathogen Research, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Sanjay Vashee
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy, J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Yong Xue
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy, J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Cynthia A Loomis
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Kamal M Khanna
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Ken Cadwell
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Ludovic Desvignes
- Department of Medicine/Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- High Containment Laboratories - Office of Science and Research, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Matthew B Frieman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Pathogen Research, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Mila B Ortigoza
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
- Department of Medicine/Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
| | - Meike Dittmann
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
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6
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Rodriguez-Rodriguez BA, Ciabattoni GO, Valero-Jimenez AM, Crosse KM, Schinlever AR, Galvan JJR, Duerr R, Yeung ST, McGrath ME, Loomis C, Khanna KM, Desvignes L, Frieman MF, Ortigoza MB, Dittmann M. A neonatal mouse model characterizes transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 variants and reveals a role for ORF8. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.10.04.510658. [PMID: 36238716 PMCID: PMC9558433 DOI: 10.1101/2022.10.04.510658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Small animal models have been a challenge for the study of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, with most investigators using golden hamsters or ferrets 1,2 . Mice have the advantages of low cost, wide availability, less regulatory and husbandry challenges, and the existence of a versatile reagent and genetic toolbox. However, adult mice do not transmit SARS-CoV-2 3 . Here we establish a model based on neonatal mice that allows for transmission of clinical SARS-CoV-2 isolates. We characterize tropism, respiratory tract replication and transmission of ancestral WA-1 compared to variants alpha (B.1.1.7), beta (B.1.351), gamma (P.1), delta (B.1.617.2) and omicron (B.1.1.529). We identify inter-variant differences in timing and magnitude of infectious particle shedding from index mice, both of which shape transmission to contact mice. Furthermore, we characterize two recombinant SARS-CoV-2 lacking either the ORF6 or ORF8 host antagonists. The removal of ORF8 shifts viral replication towards the lower respiratory tract, resulting in significantly delayed and reduced transmission. Our results demonstrate the potential of our neonatal mouse model to characterize viral and host determinants of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, while revealing for the first time a role for an accessory protein this context.
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7
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Kee J, Thudium S, Renner DM, Glastad K, Palozola K, Zhang Z, Li Y, Lan Y, Cesare J, Poleshko A, Kiseleva AA, Truitt R, Cardenas-Diaz FL, Zhang X, Xie X, Kotton DN, Alysandratos KD, Epstein JA, Shi PY, Yang W, Morrisey E, Garcia BA, Berger SL, Weiss SR, Korb E. SARS-CoV-2 disrupts host epigenetic regulation via histone mimicry. Nature 2022; 610:381-388. [PMID: 36198800 PMCID: PMC9533993 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05282-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged at the end of 2019 and caused the devastating global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in part because of its ability to effectively suppress host cell responses1-3. In rare cases, viral proteins dampen antiviral responses by mimicking critical regions of human histone proteins4-8, particularly those containing post-translational modifications required for transcriptional regulation9-11. Recent work has demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 markedly disrupts host cell epigenetic regulation12-14. However, how SARS-CoV-2 controls the host cell epigenome and whether it uses histone mimicry to do so remain unclear. Here we show that the SARS-CoV-2 protein encoded by ORF8 (ORF8) functions as a histone mimic of the ARKS motifs in histone H3 to disrupt host cell epigenetic regulation. ORF8 is associated with chromatin, disrupts regulation of critical histone post-translational modifications and promotes chromatin compaction. Deletion of either the ORF8 gene or the histone mimic site attenuates the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to disrupt host cell chromatin, affects the transcriptional response to infection and attenuates viral genome copy number. These findings demonstrate a new function of ORF8 and a mechanism through which SARS-CoV-2 disrupts host cell epigenetic regulation. Further, this work provides a molecular basis for the finding that SARS-CoV-2 lacking ORF8 is associated with decreased severity of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Kee
- Department of Genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Epigenetics Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Samuel Thudium
- Department of Genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Epigenetics Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David M Renner
- Department of Microbiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Center for Research on Coronaviruses and Other Emerging Pathogens at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Karl Glastad
- Epigenetics Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Katherine Palozola
- Department of Genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Epigenetics Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Epigenetics Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yize Li
- Department of Microbiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Center for Research on Coronaviruses and Other Emerging Pathogens at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yemin Lan
- Epigenetics Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Joseph Cesare
- Epigenetics Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrey Poleshko
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Anna A Kiseleva
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Cardiovascular Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rachel Truitt
- Department of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Fabian L Cardenas-Diaz
- Department of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn-CHOP Lung Biology Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Xianwen Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Xuping Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Darrell N Kotton
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- The Pulmonary Center and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Konstantinos D Alysandratos
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- The Pulmonary Center and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan A Epstein
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Cardiovascular Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Pei-Yong Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Wenli Yang
- Department of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Edward Morrisey
- Department of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn-CHOP Lung Biology Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Epigenetics Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shelley L Berger
- Epigenetics Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Susan R Weiss
- Department of Microbiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Center for Research on Coronaviruses and Other Emerging Pathogens at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Erica Korb
- Department of Genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Epigenetics Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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8
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Khandia R, Saeed M, Alharbi AM, Ashraf GM, Greig NH, Kamal MA. Codon Usage Bias Correlates With Gene Length in Neurodegeneration Associated Genes. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:895607. [PMID: 35860292 PMCID: PMC9289476 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.895607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Codon usage analysis is a crucial part of molecular characterization and is used to determine the factors affecting the evolution of a gene. The length of a gene is an important parameter that affects the characteristics of the gene, such as codon usage, compositional parameters, and sometimes, its functions. In the present study, we investigated the association of various parameters related to codon usage with the length of genes. Gene expression is affected by nucleotide disproportion. In sixty genes related to neurodegenerative disorders, the G nucleotide was the most abundant and the T nucleotide was the least. The nucleotide T exhibited a significant association with the length of the gene at both the overall compositional level and the first and second codon positions. Codon usage bias (CUB) of these genes was affected by pyrimidine and keto skews. Gene length was found to be significantly correlated with codon bias in neurodegeneration associated genes. In gene segments with lengths below 1,200 bp and above 2,400 bp, CUB was positively associated with length. Relative synonymous CUB, which is another measure of CUB, showed that codons TTA, GTT, GTC, TCA, GGT, and GGA exhibited a positive association with length, whereas codons GTA, AGC, CGT, CGA, and GGG showed a negative association. GC-ending codons were preferred over AT-ending codons. Overall analysis indicated that the association between CUB and length varies depending on the segment size; however, CUB of 1,200–2,000 bp gene segments appeared not affected by gene length. In synopsis, analysis suggests that length of the genes correlates with various imperative molecular signatures including A/T nucleotide disproportion and codon choices. In the present study we additionally evaluated various molecular features and their correlation with different indices of codon usage, like the Codon Adaptation Index (CAI) and Relative Dynonymous Codon Usage (RSCU) of codons. We also considered the impact of gene fragment size on different molecular features in genes related to neurodegeneration. This analysis will aid our understanding of and in potentially modulating gene expression in cases of defective gene functioning in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rekha Khandia
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India
- *Correspondence: Rekha Khandia, ;
| | - Mohd. Saeed
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed M. Alharbi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ghulam Md. Ashraf
- Pre-clinical Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nigel H. Greig
- Drug Design and Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mohammad Amjad Kamal
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Enzymoics, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, NSW, Australia
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9
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Hassan SS, Kodakandla V, Redwan EM, Lundstrom K, Pal Choudhury P, Abd El-Aziz TM, Takayama K, Kandimalla R, Lal A, Serrano-Aroca Á, Azad GK, Aljabali AA, Palù G, Chauhan G, Adadi P, Tambuwala M, Brufsky AM, Baetas-da-Cruz W, Barh D, Azevedo V, Bazan NG, Andrade BS, Santana Silva RJ, Uversky VN. An issue of concern: unique truncated ORF8 protein variants of SARS-CoV-2. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13136. [PMID: 35341060 PMCID: PMC8944340 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Open reading frame 8 (ORF8) shows one of the highest levels of variability among accessory proteins in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). It was previously reported that the ORF8 protein inhibits the presentation of viral antigens by the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), which interacts with host factors involved in pulmonary inflammation. The ORF8 protein assists SARS-CoV-2 in evading immunity and plays a role in SARS-CoV-2 replication. Among many contributing mutations, Q27STOP, a mutation in the ORF8 protein, defines the B.1.1.7 lineage of SARS-CoV-2, engendering the second wave of COVID-19. In the present study, 47 unique truncated ORF8 proteins (T-ORF8) with the Q27STOP mutations were identified among 49,055 available B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 sequences. The results show that only one of the 47 T-ORF8 variants spread to over 57 geo-locations in North America, and other continents, which include Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Based on various quantitative features, such as amino acid homology, polar/non-polar sequence homology, Shannon entropy conservation, and other physicochemical properties of all specific 47 T-ORF8 protein variants, nine possible T-ORF8 unique variants were defined. The question as to whether T-ORF8 variants function similarly to the wild type ORF8 is yet to be investigated. A positive response to the question could exacerbate future COVID-19 waves, necessitating severe containment measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sk. Sarif Hassan
- Department of Mathematics, Pingla Thana Mahavidyalaya, Maligram, India
| | - Vaishnavi Kodakandla
- Department of Life sciences, Sophia College For Women, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India
| | - Elrashdy M. Redwan
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Tarek Mohamed Abd El-Aziz
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Kazuo Takayama
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ramesh Kandimalla
- Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Amos Lal
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Ángel Serrano-Aroca
- Biomaterials and Bioengineering Lab, Centro de Investigacion Traslacional San Alberto Magno, Universidad Catolica de Valencia San Vicente Martir, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Alaa A.A. Aljabali
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Gaurav Chauhan
- School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Parise Adadi
- Department of Food Science, University of Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Murtaza Tambuwala
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - Adam M. Brufsky
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Wagner Baetas-da-Cruz
- Translational Laboratory in Molecular Physiology, Centre for Experimental Surgery, College of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Debmalya Barh
- Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and 46 Applied Biotechnology (IIOAB), Nonakuri, India
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- Departamento de Genetica, Ecologia e Evolucao, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Nikolas G. Bazan
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, School of Medicine, LSU Health New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Bruno Silva Andrade
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Química Computacional, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié, Brazil
| | - Raner José Santana Silva
- Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas (DCB), Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Genetica e Biologia Molecular (PPGGBM), Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilheus, Brazil
| | - Vladimir N. Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
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