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Class J, Simons LM, Lorenzo-Redondo R, Achi JG, Cooper L, Dangi T, Penaloza-MacMaster P, Ozer EA, Lutz SE, Rong L, Hultquist JF, Richner JM. Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in the murine central nervous system drives viral diversification. Nat Microbiol 2024:10.1038/s41564-024-01786-8. [PMID: 39179693 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01786-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Severe coronavirus disease 2019 and post-acute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are associated with neurological complications that may be linked to direct infection of the central nervous system (CNS), but the selective pressures ruling neuroinvasion are poorly defined. Here we assessed SARS-CoV-2 evolution in the lung versus CNS of infected mice. Higher levels of viral divergence were observed in the CNS than the lung after intranasal challenge with a high frequency of mutations in the spike furin cleavage site (FCS). Deletion of the FCS significantly attenuated virulence after intranasal challenge, with lower viral titres and decreased morbidity compared with the wild-type virus. Intracranial inoculation of the FCS-deleted virus, however, was sufficient to restore virulence. After intracranial inoculation, both viruses established infection in the lung, but dissemination from the CNS to the lung required the intact FCS. Cumulatively, these data suggest a critical role for the FCS in determining SARS-CoV-2 tropism and compartmentalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Class
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lacy M Simons
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ramon Lorenzo-Redondo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jazmin Galván Achi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Laura Cooper
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Tanushree Dangi
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Pablo Penaloza-MacMaster
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Egon A Ozer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sarah E Lutz
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lijun Rong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Judd F Hultquist
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Justin M Richner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Thimmiraju SR, Kimata JT, Pollet J. Pseudoviruses, a safer toolbox for vaccine development against enveloped viruses. Expert Rev Vaccines 2024; 23:174-185. [PMID: 38164690 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2023.2299380] [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: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pseudoviruses are recombinant, replication-incompetent, viral particles designed to mimic the surface characteristics of native enveloped viruses. They are a safer, and cost-effective research alternative to live viruses. With the potential emergence of the next major infectious disease, more vaccine scientists must become familiar with the pseudovirus platform as a vaccine development tool to mitigate future outbreaks. AREAS COVERED This review aims at vaccine developers to provide a basic understanding of pseudoviruses, list their production methods, and discuss their utility to assess vaccine efficacy against enveloped viral pathogens. We further illustrate their usefulness as wet-lab simulators for emerging mutant variants, and new viruses to help prepare for current and future viral outbreaks, minimizing the need for gain-of-function experiments with highly infectious or lethal enveloped viruses. EXPERT OPINION With this platform, researchers can better understand the role of virus-receptor interactions and entry in infections, prepare for dangerous mutations, and develop effective vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syamala R Thimmiraju
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jason T Kimata
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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3
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Romeu AR. Probable human origin of the SARS-CoV-2 polybasic furin cleavage motif. BMC Genom Data 2023; 24:71. [PMID: 37990144 PMCID: PMC10664542 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-023-01169-8] [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: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The key evolutionary step leading to the pandemic virus was the acquisition of the PRRA furin cleavage motif at the spike glycoprotein S1/S2 junction by a progenitor of SARS-CoV-2. Two of its features draw attention: (i) it is absent in other known lineage B beta-coronaviruses, including the newly discovered coronaviruses in bats from Laos and Vietnam, which are the closest known relatives of the covid virus; and, (ii) it introduced the pair of arginine codons (CGG-CGG), whose usage is extremely rare in coronaviruses. With an occurrence rate of only 3%, the arginine CGG codon is considered a minority in SARS CoV-2. On the other hand, Laos and Vietnam bat coronaviruses contain receptor-binding domains that are almost identical to that of SARS-CoV-2 and can therefore infect human cells despite the absence of the furin cleavage motif. RESULTS Based on these data, the aim of this work is to provide a detailed sequence analysis between the SARS-CoV-2 S gene insert encoding PRRA and the human mRNA transcripts. The result showed a 100% match to several mRNA transcripts. The set of human genes whose mRNAs match this S gene insert are ubiquitous and highly expressed, e.g., the ATPase F1 (ATP5F1) and the ubiquitin specific peptidase 21 (USP21) genes; or specific genes of target organs or tissues of the SARS-CoV-2 infection (e.g., MEMO1, SALL3, TRIM17, CWC15, CCDC187, FAM71E2, GAB4, PRDM13). Results suggest that a recombination between the genome of a SARS-CoV-2 progenitor and human mRNA transcripts could be the origin of the S gene 12-nucleotide insert encoding the S protein PRRA motif. CONCLUSIONS The hypothesis of probable human origin of the SARS-CoV-2 polybasic furin cleavage motif is supported by: (i) the nature of human genes whose mRNA sequence 100% match the S gene insert; (ii) the synonymous base substitution in the arginine codons (CGG-CGG); and (iii) further spike glycoprotein PRRA-like insertions suggesting that the acquisition of PRRA may not have been a single recombination event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio R Romeu
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
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4
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Richner J, Class J, Simons L, Lorenzo-Redondo R, Cooper L, Dangi T, Penaloza-MacMaster P, Ozer E, Rong L, Hultquist J. SARS-CoV-2 Bottlenecks and Tissue-Specific Adaptation in the Central Nervous System. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3220157. [PMID: 37790412 PMCID: PMC10543031 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3220157/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Severe COVID-19 and post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection are associated with neurological complications that may be linked to direct infection of the central nervous system (CNS), but the selective pressures ruling neuroinvasion are poorly defined. Here, we assessed SARS-CoV-2 evolution in the lung versus CNS of infected mice. Higher levels of viral diversity were observed in the CNS than the lung after intranasal challenge with a high frequency of mutations in the Spike furin cleavage site (FCS). Deletion of the FCS significantly attenuated virulence after intranasal challenge, with lower viral titers and decreased morbidity compared to the wild-type virus. Intracranial inoculation of the FCS-deleted virus, however, was sufficient to restore virulence. After intracranial inoculation, both viruses established infection in the lung, but this required reversion of the FCS deletion. Cumulatively, these data suggest a critical role for the FCS in determining SARS-CoV-2 tropism and compartmentalization with possible implications for the treatment of neuroinvasive COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lijun Rong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
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5
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Italiya J, Bhavsar T, Černý J. Assessment and strategy development for SARS-CoV-2 screening in wildlife: A review. Vet World 2023; 16:1193-1200. [PMID: 37577208 PMCID: PMC10421538 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.1193-1200] [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: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses (members of the Coronaviridae family) are prominent in veterinary medicine, with several known infectious agents commonly reported. In contrast, human medicine has disregarded coronaviruses for an extended period. Within the past two decades, coronaviruses have caused three major outbreaks. One such outbreak was the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Over the 3-year COVID-19 outbreak, several instances of zooanthroponosis have been documented, which pose risks for virus modifications and possible re-emergence of the virus into the human population, causing a new epidemic and possible threats for vaccination or treatment failure. Therefore, widespread screening of animals is an essential technique for mitigating future risks and repercussions. However, mass detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wild animals might be challenging. In silico prediction modeling, experimental studies conducted on various animal species, and natural infection episodes recorded in various species might provide information on the potential threats to wildlife. They may be useful for diagnostic and mass screening purposes. In this review, the possible methods of wildlife screening, based on experimental data and environmental elements that might play a crucial role in its effective implementation, are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jignesh Italiya
- Centre for Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Tropical Agrisciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague – Suchdol, Czechia
| | - Tanvi Bhavsar
- Animal Physiology Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India
| | - Jiří Černý
- Centre for Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Tropical Agrisciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague – Suchdol, Czechia
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Li SY, Shen YX, Xiang XL, Li YX, Li NL, Wang AD, Cui M, Han XF, Huang Y, Xia J. The conserved L1089 in the S2 subunit of avian infectious bronchitis virus determines viral kidney tropism by disrupting virus-cell fusion. Vet Microbiol 2023; 277:109619. [PMID: 36525909 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2022.109619] [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: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The virulence of avian gamma-coronavirus infectious bronchitis viruses (IBV) for the kidney has led to high mortality in dominant-genotype isolations, but the key sites of viral protein that determine kidney tropism are still not fully clear. In this study, the amino acid sequences of the S2 subunit of IBVs with opposing adaptivity to chicken embryonic kidney cells (CEKs) were aligned to identify putative sites associated with differences in viral adaptability. The S2 gene and the putative sites of the non-adapted CN strain were introduced into the CEKs-adapted SczyC30 strain to rescue seven mutants. Analysis of growth characteristics showed that the replacement of the entire S2 subunit and the L1089I substitution in the S2 subunit entirely abolished the proliferation of recombinant IBV in CEKs as well as in primary chicken oviduct epithelial cells. Pathogenicity assays also support the decisive role of this L1089 for viral nephrotropism, and this non-nephrotropic L1089I substitution significantly attenuates pathogenicity. Analysis of the putative cause of proliferation inhibition in CEKs suggests that the L1089I substitution affects neither virus attachment nor endocytosis, but instead fails to form double-membrane vesicles to initiate the viral replication and translation. Position 1089 of the IBV S2 subunit is conservative and predicted to lie in heptad repeat 2 domains. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the L1089I substitution alters the nephrotropism of parent strain by affecting virus-cell fusion. These findings provide crucial insights into the adaptive mechanisms of IBV and have applications in the development of vaccines and drugs against IB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Yun Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, P. R. China.
| | - Yu-Xi Shen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, P. R. China.
| | - Xue-Lian Xiang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, P. R. China.
| | - Yong-Xin Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, P. R. China.
| | - Nian-Ling Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, P. R. China.
| | - An-Dong Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, P. R. China.
| | - Min Cui
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, P. R. China.
| | - Xin-Feng Han
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, P. R. China.
| | - Yong Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, P. R. China.
| | - Jing Xia
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, P. R. China.
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Proprotein convertases regulate trafficking and maturation of key proteins within the secretory pathway. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2023; 133:1-54. [PMID: 36707198 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Proprotein Convertases (PCs) are serine endoproteases that regulate the homeostasis of protein substrates in the cell. The PCs family counts 9 members-PC1/3, PC2, PC4, PACE4, PC5/6, PC7, Furin, SKI-1/S1P, and PCSK9. The first seven PCs are known as Basic Proprotein Convertases due to their propensity to cleave after polybasic clusters. SKI-1/S1P requires the additional presence of hydrophobic residues for processing, whereas PCSK9 is catalytically dead after autoactivation and exerts its functions using mechanisms alternative to direct cleavage. All PCs traffic through the canonical secretory pathway, reaching different compartments where the various substrates reside. Despite PCs members do not share the same subcellular localization, most of the cellular organelles count one or more Proprotein Convertases, including ER, Golgi stack, endosomes, secretory granules, and plasma membranes. The widespread expression of these enzymes at the systemic level speaks for their importance in the homeostasis of a large number of biological functions. Among others, PCs cleave precursors of hormones and growth factors and activate receptors and transcription factors. Notably, dysregulation of the enzymatic activity of Proprotein Convertases is associated to major human pathologies, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, infections, inflammation, autoimmunity diseases, and Parkinson. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, Furin has further attracted the attention as a key player for conferring high pathogenicity to SARS-CoV-2. Here, we review the Proprotein Convertases family and their most important substrates along the secretory pathway. Knowledge about the complex functions of PCs is important to identify potential drug strategies targeting this class of enzymes.
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8
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Liu S, Stauft CB, Selvaraj P, Chandrasekaran P, D’Agnillo F, Chou CK, Wu WW, Lien CZ, Meseda CA, Pedro CL, Starost MF, Weir JP, Wang TT. Intranasal delivery of a rationally attenuated SARS-CoV-2 is immunogenic and protective in Syrian hamsters. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6792. [PMID: 36357440 PMCID: PMC9648440 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34571-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Few live attenuated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines are in pre-clinical or clinical development. We seek to attenuate SARS-CoV-2 (isolate WA1/2020) by removing the polybasic insert within the spike protein and the open reading frames (ORFs) 6-8, and by introducing mutations that abolish non-structural protein 1 (Nsp1)-mediated toxicity. The derived virus (WA1-ΔPRRA-ΔORF6-8-Nsp1K164A/H165A) replicates to 100- to 1000-fold-lower titers than the ancestral virus and induces little lung pathology in both K18-human ACE2 (hACE2) transgenic mice and Syrian hamsters. Immunofluorescence and transcriptomic analyses of infected hamsters confirm that three-pronged genetic modifications attenuate the proinflammatory pathways more than the removal of the polybasic cleavage site alone. Finally, intranasal administration of just 100 PFU of the WA1-ΔPRRA-ΔORF6-8-Nsp1K164A/H165A elicits robust antibody responses in Syrian hamsters and protects against SARS-CoV-2-induced weight loss and pneumonia. As a proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate that live but sufficiently attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines may be attainable by rational design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shufeng Liu
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Charles B. Stauft
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Prabhuanand Selvaraj
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Prabha Chandrasekaran
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institutes of Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, USA
| | - Felice D’Agnillo
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Laboratory of Biochemistry and Vascular Biology, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Chao-Kai Chou
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Facility for Biotechnology Resources, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Wells W. Wu
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Facility for Biotechnology Resources, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Christopher Z. Lien
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Clement A. Meseda
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Cyntia L. Pedro
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Matthew F. Starost
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Division of Veterinary Resources, Diagnostic and Research Services Branch, National Institutes of Health, Rockville Pike, USA
| | - Jerry P. Weir
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Tony T. Wang
- grid.417587.80000 0001 2243 3366Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD USA
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9
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Long COVID and the Neuroendocrinology of Microbial Translocation Outside the GI Tract: Some Treatment Strategies. ENDOCRINES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/endocrines3040058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Similar to previous pandemics, COVID-19 has been succeeded by well-documented post-infectious sequelae, including chronic fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, myalgia, and concentration difficulties, which may last 5 to 12 weeks or longer after the acute phase of illness. Both the psychological stress of SARS-CoV-2 infection and being diagnosed with COVID-19 can upregulate cortisol, a stress hormone that disrupts the efferocytosis effectors, macrophages, and natural killer cells, leading to the excessive accumulation of senescent cells and disruption of biological barriers. This has been well-established in cancer patients who often experience unrelenting fatigue as well as gut and blood–brain barrier dysfunction upon treatment with senescence-inducing radiation or chemotherapy. In our previous research from 2020 and 2021, we linked COVID-19 to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) via angiotensin II upregulation, premature endothelial senescence, intestinal barrier dysfunction, and microbial translocation from the gastrointestinal tract into the systemic circulation. In 2021 and 2022, these hypotheses were validated and SARS-CoV-2-induced cellular senescence as well as microbial translocation were documented in both acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, long COVID, and ME/CFS, connecting intestinal barrier dysfunction to disabling fatigue and specific infectious events. The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize what is currently known about host immune responses to translocated gut microbes and how these responses relate to fatiguing illnesses, including long COVID. To accomplish this goal, we examine the role of intestinal and blood–brain barriers in long COVID and other illnesses typified by chronic fatigue, with a special emphasis on commensal microbes functioning as viral reservoirs. Furthermore, we discuss the role of SARS-CoV-2/Mycoplasma coinfection in dysfunctional efferocytosis, emphasizing some potential novel treatment strategies, including the use of senotherapeutic drugs, HMGB1 inhibitors, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) blockers, and membrane lipid replacement.
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Bedada FB, Gorfu G, Teng S, Neita ME. Insight into genomic organization of pathogenic coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2: Implication for emergence of new variants, laboratory diagnosis and treatment options. FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR MEDICINE 2022; 2:917201. [PMID: 39157715 PMCID: PMC11328875 DOI: 10.3389/fmmed.2022.917201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a novel zoonotic positive-sense RNA virus (ssRNA+) belonging to the genus beta coronaviruses (CoVs) in the Coronaviridae family. It is the causative agent for the outbreak of the disease, COVID-19. It is the third CoV causing pneumonia around the world in the past 2 decades. To date, it has caused significant deaths worldwide. Notably, the emergence of new genetic variants conferring efficient transmission and immune evasion remained a challenge, despite the reduction in the number of death cases, owing to effective vaccination regimen (boosting) and safety protocols. Thus, information harnessed from SARS-CoV-2 genomic organization is indispensable for seeking laboratory diagnosis and treatment options. Here in, we review previously circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2 designated variant of concern (VOC) including the Alpha (United Kingdom), Beta (South Africa), Gamma (Brazil), Delta (India), and recently circulating VOC, Omicron (South Africa) and its divergent subvariants (BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5) with BA.5 currently becoming dominant and prolonging the COVID pandemic. In addition, we address the role of computational models for mutagenesis analysis which can predict important residues that contribute to transmissibility, virulence, immune evasion, and molecular detections of SARS-CoV-2. Concomitantly, the importance of harnessing the immunobiology of SARS-CoV-2 and host interaction for therapeutic purpose; and use of an in slilico based biocomputational approaches to achieve this purpose via predicting novel therapeutic agents targeting PRR such as toll like receptor, design of universal vaccine and chimeric antibodies tailored to the emergent variant have been highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fikru B. Bedada
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Howard University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Gezahegn Gorfu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Howard University, Washington, DC, United States
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Shaolei Teng
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Howard University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Marguerite E. Neita
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Howard University, Washington, DC, United States
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11
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Neerukonda SN, Wang R, Vassell R, Baha H, Lusvarghi S, Liu S, Wang T, Weiss CD, Wang W. Characterization of Entry Pathways, Species-Specific Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Residues Determining Entry, and Antibody Neutralization Evasion of Omicron BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, and BA.3 Variants. J Virol 2022; 96:e0114022. [PMID: 36000843 PMCID: PMC9472608 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01140-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants were first detected in November 2021, and several Omicron lineages (BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, and BA.5) have since rapidly emerged. Studies characterizing the mechanisms of Omicron variant infection and sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies induced upon vaccination are ongoing by several groups. In the present study, we used pseudoviruses to show that the transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) enhances infection of BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, and BA.3 Omicron variants to a lesser extent than ancestral D614G. We further show that Omicron variants have higher sensitivity to inhibition by soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the endosomal inhibitor chloroquine compared to D614G. The Omicron variants also more efficiently used ACE2 receptors from 9 out of 10 animal species tested, and unlike the D614G variant, used mouse ACE2 due to the Q493R and Q498R spike substitutions. Finally, neutralization of the Omicron variants by antibodies induced by three doses of Pfizer/BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine was 7- to 8-fold less potent than the D614G. These results provide insights into the transmissibility and immune evasion capacity of the emerging Omicron variants to curb their ongoing spread. IMPORTANCE The ongoing emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants with an extensive number of spike mutations poses a significant public health and zoonotic concern due to enhanced transmission fitness and escape from neutralizing antibodies. We studied three Omicron lineage variants (BA.1, BA.2, and BA.3) and found that transmembrane serine protease 2 has less influence on Omicron entry into cells than on D614G, and Omicron exhibits greater sensitivity to endosomal entry inhibition compared to D614G. In addition, Omicron displays more efficient usage of diverse animal species ACE2 receptors than D614G. Furthermore, due to Q493R/Q498R substitutions in spike, Omicron, but not D614G, can use the mouse ACE2 receptor. Finally, three doses of Pfizer/BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination elicit high neutralization titers against Omicron variants, although the neutralization titers are still 7- to 8-fold lower those that against D614G. These results may give insights into the transmissibility and immune evasion capacity of the emerging Omicron variants to curb their ongoing spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabari Nath Neerukonda
- US Food and Drug Administration, Office of Vaccine Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation, Research and Review, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Richard Wang
- US Food and Drug Administration, Office of Vaccine Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation, Research and Review, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Russell Vassell
- US Food and Drug Administration, Office of Vaccine Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation, Research and Review, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Haseebullah Baha
- US Food and Drug Administration, Office of Vaccine Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation, Research and Review, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Sabrina Lusvarghi
- US Food and Drug Administration, Office of Vaccine Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation, Research and Review, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Shufeng Liu
- US Food and Drug Administration, Office of Vaccine Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation, Research and Review, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Tony Wang
- US Food and Drug Administration, Office of Vaccine Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation, Research and Review, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Carol D. Weiss
- US Food and Drug Administration, Office of Vaccine Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation, Research and Review, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Wei Wang
- US Food and Drug Administration, Office of Vaccine Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation, Research and Review, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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12
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Liu S, Selvaraj P, Sangare K, Luan B, Wang TT. Spike protein-independent attenuation of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in laboratory mice. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111359. [PMID: 36075211 PMCID: PMC9420700 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite being more transmissible, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant only causes milder diseases in laboratory animals, often accompanied by a lower viral load compared with previous variants of concern. In this study, we report the structural basis for a robust interaction between the receptor-binding domain of the Omicron spike protein and mouse ACE2. We show that pseudovirus bearing the Omicron spike protein efficiently utilizes mouse ACE2 for entry. By comparing viral load and disease severity among laboratory mice infected by a natural Omicron variant or recombinant ancestral viruses bearing either the entire Omicron spike or only the N501Y/Q493R mutations in its spike, we find that mutations outside the spike protein in the Omicron variant may be responsible for the observed lower viral load. Together, our results imply that a post-entry block to the Omicron variant exists in laboratory mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shufeng Liu
- Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Prabhuanand Selvaraj
- Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Kotou Sangare
- Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Binquan Luan
- Computational Biological Center, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, USA.
| | - Tony T Wang
- Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA.
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Li Z, Jiang J, Tong Y, Ruan X, Xu J. COVID-19 is a natural infectious disease. JOURNAL OF BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY 2022; 4:38-42. [PMID: 34927018 PMCID: PMC8664692 DOI: 10.1016/j.jobb.2021.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjun Li
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, PR China
| | - Jiafu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, PR China
| | - Yigang Tong
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, PR China
| | - Xiangdong Ruan
- Academy of Forest Inventory and Planning, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100714, PR China
| | - Jianguo Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, PR China
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Petrenko VA, Gillespie JW, De Plano LM, Shokhen MA. Phage-Displayed Mimotopes of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Targeted to Authentic and Alternative Cellular Receptors. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020384. [PMID: 35215976 PMCID: PMC8879608 DOI: 10.3390/v14020384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by the emergence of new heavily mutated viral variants with increased infectivity and/or resistance to detection by the human immune system. To respond to the urgent need for advanced methods and materials to empower a better understanding of the mechanisms of virus’s adaptation to human host cells and to the immuno-resistant human population, we suggested using recombinant filamentous bacteriophages, displaying on their surface foreign peptides termed “mimotopes”, which mimic the structure of viral receptor-binding sites on the viral spike protein and can serve as molecular probes in the evaluation of molecular mechanisms of virus infectivity. In opposition to spike-binding antibodies that are commonly used in studying the interaction of the ACE2 receptor with SARS-CoV-2 variants in vitro, phage spike mimotopes targeted to other cellular receptors would allow discovery of their role in viral infection in vivo using cell culture, tissue, organs, or the whole organism. Phage mimotopes of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 protein have been developed using a combination of phage display and molecular mimicry concepts, termed here “phage mimicry”, supported by bioinformatics methods. The key elements of the phage mimicry concept include: (1) preparation of a collection of p8-type (landscape) phages, which interact with authentic active receptors of live human cells, presumably mimicking the binding interactions of human coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and its variants; (2) discovery of closely related amino acid clusters with similar 3D structural motifs on the surface of natural ligands (FGF1 and NRP1), of the model receptor of interest FGFR and the S1 spike protein; and (3) an ELISA analysis of the interaction between candidate phage mimotopes with FGFR3 (a potential alternative receptor) in comparison with ACE2 (the authentic receptor).
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Affiliation(s)
- Valery A. Petrenko
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Correspondence: (V.A.P.); (J.W.G.); Tel.: +1-334-844-2897 (V.A.P.); +1-334-844-2625 (J.W.G.)
| | - James W. Gillespie
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Correspondence: (V.A.P.); (J.W.G.); Tel.: +1-334-844-2897 (V.A.P.); +1-334-844-2625 (J.W.G.)
| | - Laura Maria De Plano
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy;
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15
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Liu S, Huynh T, Stauft CB, Wang TT, Luan B. Structure-Function Analysis of Resistance to Bamlanivimab by SARS-CoV-2 Variants Kappa, Delta, and Lambda. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:5133-5140. [PMID: 34648284 PMCID: PMC8524965 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c01058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The newly emerging Kappa, Delta, and Lambda SARS-CoV-2 variants are worrisome, characterized with the double mutations E484Q/L452R, T478K/L452R, and F490S/L452Q, respectively, in their receptor binding domains (RBDs) of the spike proteins. As revealed in crystal structures, most of these residues (e.g., 452 and 484 in RBDs) are not in direct contact with interfacial residues in the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). This suggests that albeit there are some possibly nonlocal effects, these mutations might not significantly affect RBD's binding with ACE2, which is an important step for viral entry into host cells. Thus, without knowing the molecular mechanism, these successful mutations (from the point of view of SARS-CoV-2) may be hypothesized to evade human antibodies. Using all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, here, we show that the E484Q/L452R mutations significantly reduce the binding affinity between the RBD of the Kappa variant and the antibody LY-CoV555 (also named as Bamlanivimab), which was efficacious for neutralizing the wild-type SARS-CoV-2. To verify simulation results, we further carried out experiments with both pseudovirions- and live virus-based neutralization assays and demonstrated that LY-CoV555 completely lost neutralizing activity against the L452R/E484Q mutant. Similarly, we show that mutations in the Delta and Lambda variants can also destabilize the RBD's binding with LY-CoV555. With the revealed molecular mechanism on how these variants evade LY-CoV555, we expect that more specific therapeutic antibodies can be accordingly designed and/or a precise mixing of antibodies can be achieved as a cocktail treatment for patients infected with these variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shufeng Liu
- Division
of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, United States
| | - Tien Huynh
- Computational
Biological Center, IBM Thomas J. Watson
Research, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598, United States
| | - Charles B. Stauft
- Division
of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, United States
| | - Tony T. Wang
- Division
of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, United States
| | - Binquan Luan
- Computational
Biological Center, IBM Thomas J. Watson
Research, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598, United States
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Hörnich BF, Großkopf AK, Schlagowski S, Tenbusch M, Kleine-Weber H, Neipel F, Stahl-Hennig C, Hahn AS. SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV Spike-Mediated Cell-Cell Fusion Differ in Their Requirements for Receptor Expression and Proteolytic Activation. J Virol 2021; 95:e00002-21. [PMID: 33608407 PMCID: PMC8104116 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00002-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects cells through interaction of its spike protein (SARS2-S) with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and activation by proteases, in particular transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). Viruses can also spread through fusion of infected with uninfected cells. We compared the requirements of ACE2 expression, proteolytic activation, and sensitivity to inhibitors for SARS2-S-mediated and SARS-CoV-S (SARS1-S)-mediated cell-cell fusion. SARS2-S-driven fusion was moderately increased by TMPRSS2 and strongly by ACE2, while SARS1-S-driven fusion was strongly increased by TMPRSS2 and less so by ACE2 expression. In contrast to that of SARS1-S, SARS2-S-mediated cell-cell fusion was efficiently activated by batimastat-sensitive metalloproteases. Mutation of the S1/S2 proteolytic cleavage site reduced effector cell-target cell fusion when ACE2 or TMPRSS2 was limiting and rendered SARS2-S-driven cell-cell fusion more dependent on TMPRSS2. When both ACE2 and TMPRSS2 were abundant, initial target cell-effector cell fusion was unaltered compared to that of wild-type (wt) SARS2-S, but syncytia remained smaller. Mutation of the S2 cleavage (S2') site specifically abrogated activation by TMPRSS2 for both cell-cell fusion and SARS2-S-driven pseudoparticle entry but still allowed for activation by metalloproteases for cell-cell fusion and by cathepsins for particle entry. Finally, we found that the TMPRSS2 inhibitor bromhexine, unlike the inhibitor camostat, was unable to reduce TMPRSS2-activated cell-cell fusion by SARS1-S and SARS2-S. Paradoxically, bromhexine enhanced cell-cell fusion in the presence of TMPRSS2, while its metabolite ambroxol exhibited inhibitory activity under some conditions. On Calu-3 lung cells, ambroxol weakly inhibited SARS2-S-driven lentiviral pseudoparticle entry, and both substances exhibited a dose-dependent trend toward weak inhibition of authentic SARS-CoV-2.IMPORTANCE Cell-cell fusion allows viruses to infect neighboring cells without the need to produce free virus and contributes to tissue damage by creating virus-infected syncytia. Our results demonstrate that the S2' cleavage site is essential for activation by TMPRSS2 and unravel important differences between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, among those, greater dependence of SARS-CoV-2 on ACE2 expression and activation by metalloproteases for cell-cell fusion. Bromhexine, reportedly an inhibitor of TMPRSS2, is currently being tested in clinical trials against coronavirus disease 2019. Our results indicate that bromhexine enhances fusion under some conditions. We therefore caution against the use of bromhexine in high dosages until its effects on SARS-CoV-2 spike activation are better understood. The related compound ambroxol, which similarly to bromhexine is clinically used as an expectorant, did not exhibit activating effects on cell-cell fusion. Both compounds exhibited weak inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection at high concentrations, which might be clinically attainable for ambroxol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojan F Hörnich
- Nachwuchsgruppe Herpesviren, Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anna K Großkopf
- Nachwuchsgruppe Herpesviren, Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sarah Schlagowski
- Nachwuchsgruppe Herpesviren, Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Tenbusch
- Virologisches Institut, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hannah Kleine-Weber
- Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frank Neipel
- Virologisches Institut, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christiane Stahl-Hennig
- Abteilung Infektionsmodelle, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexander S Hahn
- Nachwuchsgruppe Herpesviren, Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
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