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Huang K, Zhang Y, Hui X, Zhao Y, Gong W, Wang T, Zhang S, Yang Y, Deng F, Zhang Q, Chen X, Yang Y, Sun X, Chen H, Tao YJ, Zou Z, Jin M. Q493K and Q498H substitutions in Spike promote adaptation of SARS-CoV-2 in mice. EBioMedicine 2021; 67:103381. [PMID: 33993052 PMCID: PMC8118724 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background An ideal animal model to study SARS-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pathogenesis and evaluate therapies and vaccines should reproduce SARS-CoV-2 infection and recapitulate lung disease like those seen in humans. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a functional receptor for SARS-CoV-2, but mice are resistant to the infection because their ACE2 is incompatible with the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein . Methods SARS-CoV-2 was passaged in BALB/c mice to obtain mouse-adapted virus strain. Complete genome deep sequencing of different generations of viruses was performed to characterize the dynamics of the adaptive mutations in SARS-CoV-2. Indirect immunofluorescence analysis and Biolayer interferometry experiments determined the binding affinity of mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 WBP-1 RBD to mouse ACE2 and human ACE2. Finally, we tested whether TLR7/8 agonist Resiquimod (R848) could also inhibit the replication of WBP-1 in the mouse model. Findings The mouse-adapted strain WBP-1 showed increased infectivity in BALB/c mice and led to severe interstitial pneumonia. We characterized the dynamics of the adaptive mutations in SARS-CoV-2 and demonstrated that Q493K and Q498H in RBD significantly increased its binding affinity towards mouse ACE2. Additionally, the study tentatively found that the TLR7/8 agonist Resiquimod was able to protect mice against WBP-1 challenge. Therefore, this mouse-adapted strain is a useful tool to investigate COVID-19 and develop new therapies. Interpretation We found for the first time that the Q493K and Q498H mutations in the RBD of WBP-1 enhanced its interactive affinities with mACE2. The mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 provides a valuable tool for the evaluation of novel antiviral and vaccine strategies. This study also tentatively verified the antiviral activity of TLR7/8 agonist Resiquimod against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and in vivo. Funding This research was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2020YFC0845600) and Emergency Science and Technology Project of Hubei Province (2020FCA046) and Robert A. Welch Foundation (C-1565).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of development of veterinary diagnostic products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Yufei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of development of veterinary diagnostic products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Xianfeng Hui
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of development of veterinary diagnostic products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Ya Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of development of veterinary diagnostic products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Wenxiao Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of development of veterinary diagnostic products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Ting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of development of veterinary diagnostic products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Shaoran Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Yong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of development of veterinary diagnostic products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Fei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and National Virus Resource Center, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of development of veterinary diagnostic products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Xi Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Ying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of development of veterinary diagnostic products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Xiaomei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of development of veterinary diagnostic products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Huanchun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Yizhi J Tao
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Zhong Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of development of veterinary diagnostic products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430070, PR China.
| | - Meilin Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of development of veterinary diagnostic products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430070, PR China.
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