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de Souza AS, de Freitas Amorim VM, Guardia GDA, dos Santos FF, Ulrich H, Galante PAF, de Souza RF, Guzzo CR. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Variants of Concern: A Perspective for Emerging More Transmissible and Vaccine-Resistant Strains. Viruses 2022; 14:827. [PMID: 35458557 PMCID: PMC9029021 DOI: 10.3390/v14040827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOC) are constantly threatening global public health. With no end date, the pandemic persists with the emergence of novel variants that threaten the effectiveness of diagnostic tests and vaccines. Mutations in the Spike surface protein of the virus are regularly observed in the new variants, potentializing the emergence of novel viruses with different tropism from the current ones, which may change the severity and symptoms of the disease. Growing evidence has shown that mutations are being selected in favor of variants that are more capable of evading the action of neutralizing antibodies. In this context, the most important factor guiding the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 is its interaction with the host's immune system. Thus, as current vaccines cannot block the transmission of the virus, measures complementary to vaccination, such as the use of masks, hand hygiene, and keeping environments ventilated remain essential to delay the emergence of new variants. Importantly, in addition to the involvement of the immune system in the evolution of the virus, we highlight several chemical parameters that influence the molecular interactions between viruses and host cells during invasion and are also critical tools making novel variants more transmissible. In this review, we dissect the impacts of the Spike mutations on biological parameters such as (1) the increase in Spike binding affinity to hACE2; (2) bound time for the receptor to be cleaved by the proteases; (3) how mutations associate with the increase in RBD up-conformation state in the Spike ectodomain; (4) expansion of uncleaved Spike protein in the virion particles; (5) increment in Spike concentration per virion particles; and (6) evasion of the immune system. These factors play key roles in the fast spreading of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, including the Omicron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anacleto Silva de Souza
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (A.S.d.S.); (V.M.d.F.A.); (R.F.d.S.)
| | - Vitor Martins de Freitas Amorim
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (A.S.d.S.); (V.M.d.F.A.); (R.F.d.S.)
| | - Gabriela D. A. Guardia
- Centro de Oncologia Molecular, Hospital Sírio Libanes, São Paulo 01308-060, Brazil; (G.D.A.G.); (F.F.d.S.); (P.A.F.G.)
| | - Filipe F. dos Santos
- Centro de Oncologia Molecular, Hospital Sírio Libanes, São Paulo 01308-060, Brazil; (G.D.A.G.); (F.F.d.S.); (P.A.F.G.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Pedro A. F. Galante
- Centro de Oncologia Molecular, Hospital Sírio Libanes, São Paulo 01308-060, Brazil; (G.D.A.G.); (F.F.d.S.); (P.A.F.G.)
| | - Robson Francisco de Souza
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (A.S.d.S.); (V.M.d.F.A.); (R.F.d.S.)
| | - Cristiane Rodrigues Guzzo
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (A.S.d.S.); (V.M.d.F.A.); (R.F.d.S.)
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Hanna J, Tipparaju P, Mulherkar T, Lin E, Mischley V, Kulkarni R, Bolton A, Byrareddy SN, Jain P. Risk Factors Associated with the Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19 and Its Variants in the Context of Cytokine Storm and Therapeutics/Vaccine Development Challenges. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:938. [PMID: 34452063 PMCID: PMC8402745 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9080938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent appearance of SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and has brought to light the importance of understanding this highly pathogenic agent to prevent future pandemics. This virus is from the same single-stranded positive-sense RNA family, Coronaviridae, as two other epidemic-causing viruses, SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV. During this pandemic, one crucial focus highlighted by WHO has been to understand the risk factors that may contribute to disease severity and predict COVID-19 outcomes. In doing so, it is imperative to understand the virology of SARS-CoV-2 and the immunological response eliciting the clinical manifestation and progression of COVID-19. In this review, we provide clinical data-based analyses of how multiple risk factors (such as sex, race, HLA genotypes, blood groups, vitamin D deficiency, obesity, smoking, and asthma) contribute to the inflammatory overactivation and cytokine storm (frequently seen in COVID-19 patients) with a focus on the IL-6 pathway. We also draw comparisons to the virulence and pathophysiology of SARS and MERS to establish parallels in immune response and discuss the potential for therapeutic approaches that may limit disease progression in patients with higher risk profiles than others. Moreover, we cover the latest information on approved or upcoming COVID-19 vaccines. This paper also provides perspective on emerging variants and associated opportunistic infections such as black molds and fungus that have added to mortality in some parts of the world, such as India. This compilation of existing COVID-19 studies and data will provide an excellent referencing tool for the research, clinical, and public health communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Hanna
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine Philadelphia, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA; (J.H.); (P.T.); (T.M.); (E.L.); (V.M.); (R.K.); (A.B.)
| | - Padmavathi Tipparaju
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine Philadelphia, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA; (J.H.); (P.T.); (T.M.); (E.L.); (V.M.); (R.K.); (A.B.)
| | - Tania Mulherkar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine Philadelphia, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA; (J.H.); (P.T.); (T.M.); (E.L.); (V.M.); (R.K.); (A.B.)
| | - Edward Lin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine Philadelphia, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA; (J.H.); (P.T.); (T.M.); (E.L.); (V.M.); (R.K.); (A.B.)
| | - Victoria Mischley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine Philadelphia, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA; (J.H.); (P.T.); (T.M.); (E.L.); (V.M.); (R.K.); (A.B.)
| | - Ratuja Kulkarni
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine Philadelphia, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA; (J.H.); (P.T.); (T.M.); (E.L.); (V.M.); (R.K.); (A.B.)
| | - Aliyah Bolton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine Philadelphia, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA; (J.H.); (P.T.); (T.M.); (E.L.); (V.M.); (R.K.); (A.B.)
| | - Siddappa N. Byrareddy
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
| | - Pooja Jain
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine Philadelphia, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA; (J.H.); (P.T.); (T.M.); (E.L.); (V.M.); (R.K.); (A.B.)
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