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Toft CJ, Stocks BB, Schaeffer PM. Comparison of the analytical sensitivity of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests in Australia and Canada. Talanta 2024; 275:126147. [PMID: 38677170 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.126147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Rapid testing has become an indispensable strategy to identify the most infectious individuals and prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in vulnerable populations. As such, COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs) are being manufactured faster than ever yet lack relevant comparative analyses required to inform on absolute analytical sensitivity and performance, limiting end-user ability to accurately compare brands for decision making. To date, more than 1000 different COVID-19 RATs are commercially available in the world, most of which detect the viral nucleocapsid protein (NP). Here, we examine and compare the analytical sensitivity of 26 RATs that are readily available in Canada and/or Australia using two NP reference materials (RMs) - a fluorescent NP-GFP expressed in bacterial cells and NCAP-1 produced in a mammalian expression system. Both RMs generate highly comparable results within each RAT, indicating minimal bias due to differing expression systems and final buffer compositions. However, we demonstrate orders of magnitude differences in analytical sensitivities among distinct RATs, and find little correlation with the median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) assay values reported by manufacturers. In addition, two COVID-19/Influenza A&B combination RATs were evaluated with influenza A NP-GFP. Finally, important logistics considerations are discussed regarding the robustness, ease of international shipping and safe use of these reference proteins. Taken together, our data highlight the need for and practicality of readily available, reliable reference proteins for end-users that will ensure that manufacturers maintain batch-to-batch quality and accuracy of RATs. They will aid international public health and government agencies, as well as health and aged care facilities to reliably benchmark and select the best RATs to curb transmission of future SARS-CoV-2 and influenza outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey J Toft
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Douglas, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bradley B Stocks
- Metrology, National Research Council Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0R6, Canada.
| | - Patrick M Schaeffer
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Douglas, Queensland, Australia.
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2
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Kumari S, Mistry H, Bihani SC, Mukherjee SP, Gupta GD. Unveiling potential inhibitors targeting the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2: Structural insights into their binding sites. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 273:133167. [PMID: 38885868 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133167] [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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The Nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2 plays a crucial role in viral replication and pathogenesis, making it an attractive target for developing antiviral therapeutics. In this study, we used differential scanning fluorimetry to establish a high-throughput screening method for identifying high-affinity ligands of N-terminal domain of the N protein (N-NTD). We screened an FDA-approved drug library of 1813 compounds and identified 102 compounds interacting with N-NTD. The screened compounds were further investigated for their ability to inhibit the nucleic-acid binding activity of the N protein using electrophoretic mobility-shift assays. We have identified three inhibitors, Ceftazidime, Sennoside A, and Tannic acid, that disrupt the N protein's interaction with RNA probe. Ceftazidime and Sennoside A exhibited nano-molar range binding affinities with N protein, determined through surface plasmon resonance. The binding sites of Ceftazidime and Sennoside A were investigated using [1H, 15N]-heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) NMR spectroscopy. Ceftazidime and Sennoside A bind to the putative RNA binding site of the N protein, thus providing insights into the inhibitory mechanism of these compounds. These findings will contribute to the development of novel antiviral agents targeting the N protein of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Kumari
- Protein Crystallography Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, India
| | - Hiral Mistry
- Protein Crystallography Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, India
| | - Subhash C Bihani
- Protein Crystallography Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, India
| | - Sulakshana P Mukherjee
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India; Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Berhampur, Odisha 760003, India
| | - Gagan D Gupta
- Protein Crystallography Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, India.
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3
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Brudenell EL, Pohare MB, Zafred D, Phipps J, Hornsby HR, Darby JF, Dai J, Liggett E, Cain KM, Barran PE, de Silva TI, Sayers JR. Efficient overexpression and purification of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 nucleocapsid proteins in Escherichia coli. Biochem J 2024; 481:669-682. [PMID: 38713013 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20240019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The fundamental biology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleocapsid protein (Ncap), its use in diagnostic assays and its potential application as a vaccine component have received considerable attention since the outbreak of the Covid19 pandemic in late 2019. Here we report the scalable expression and purification of soluble, immunologically active, SARS-CoV-2 Ncap in Escherichia coli. Codon-optimised synthetic genes encoding the original Ncap sequence and four common variants with an N-terminal 6His affinity tag (sequence MHHHHHHG) were cloned into an inducible expression vector carrying a regulated bacteriophage T5 synthetic promoter controlled by lac operator binding sites. The constructs were used to express Ncap proteins and protocols developed which allow efficient production of purified Ncap with yields of over 200 mg per litre of culture media. These proteins were deployed in ELISA assays to allow comparison of their responses to human sera. Our results suggest that there was no detectable difference between the 6His-tagged and untagged original Ncap proteins but there may be a slight loss of sensitivity of sera to other Ncap isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Brudenell
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids and Florey Institute, Section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, U.K
| | - Manoj B Pohare
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids and Florey Institute, Section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, U.K
| | - Domen Zafred
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids and Florey Institute, Section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, U.K
| | - Janine Phipps
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids and Florey Institute, Section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, U.K
| | - Hailey R Hornsby
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids and Florey Institute, Section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, U.K
| | - John F Darby
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids and Florey Institute, Section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, U.K
| | - Junxiao Dai
- Michael Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Ellen Liggett
- Michael Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Kathleen M Cain
- Michael Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Perdita E Barran
- Michael Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Thushan I de Silva
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids and Florey Institute, Section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, U.K
| | - Jon R Sayers
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids and Florey Institute, Section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, U.K
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Wang R, Lu S, Deng F, Wu L, Yang G, Chong S, Liu Y. Enhancing the understanding of SARS-CoV-2 protein with structure and detection methods: An integrative review. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 270:132237. [PMID: 38734351 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
As the rapid and accurate screening of infectious diseases can provide meaningful information for outbreak prevention and control, as well as owing to the existing limitations of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), it is imperative to have new and validated detection techniques for SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, the rationale for outlining the techniques used to detect SARS-CoV-2 proteins and performing a comprehensive comparison to serve as a practical benchmark for future identification of similar viral proteins is clear. This review highlights the urgent need to strengthen pandemic preparedness by emphasizing the importance of integrated measures. These include improved tools for pathogen characterization, optimized societal precautions, the establishment of early warning systems, and the deployment of highly sensitive diagnostics for effective surveillance, triage, and resource management. Additionally, with an improved understanding of the virus' protein structure, considerable advances in targeted detection, treatment, and prevention strategies are expected to greatly improve our ability to respond to future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Wang
- Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang 110142, China; National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Song Lu
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Fanyu Deng
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100029, China; North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
| | - Liqing Wu
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Guowu Yang
- Shenzhen Academy of Metrology and Quality Inspection, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Siying Chong
- Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang 110142, China
| | - Yahui Liu
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100029, China.
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Ciszewski WM, Woźniak LA, Sobierajska K. Diverse roles of SARS-CoV-2 Spike and Nucleocapsid proteins in EndMT stimulation through the TGF-β-MRTF axis inhibited by aspirin. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:296. [PMID: 38807115 PMCID: PMC11134719 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01665-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes severe COVID-19 in one-fifth of patients. In addition to high mortality, infection may induce respiratory failure and cardiovascular complications associated with inflammation. Acute or prolonged inflammation results in organ fibrosis, the cause of which might be endothelial disorders arising during the endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). METHODS HUVECs and HMEC-1 cells were stimulated with SARS-CoV-2 S (Spike) and N (Nucleocapsid) proteins, and EndMT induction was evaluated by studying specific protein markers via Western blotting. Wound healing and tube formation assays were employed to assess the potential of SARS-CoV-2 to stimulate changes in cell behaviour. MRTF nuclear translocation, ROS generation, TLR4 inhibitors, TGF-β-neutralizing antibodies, and inhibitors of the TGF-β-dependent pathway were used to investigate the role of the TGF-β-MRTF signalling axis in SARS-CoV-2-dependent EndMT stimulation. RESULTS Both viral proteins stimulate myofibroblast trans-differentiation. However, the N protein is more effective at EndMT induction. The TGF-β-MRTF pathway plays a critical role in this process. The N protein preferentially favours action through TGF-β2, whose secretion is induced through TLR4-ROS action. TGF-β2 stimulates MRTF-A and MRTF-B nuclear translocation and strongly regulates EndMT. In contrast, the Spike protein stimulates TGF-β1 secretion as a result of ACE2 downregulation. TGF-β1 induces only MRTF-B, which, in turn, weakly regulates EndMT. Furthermore, aspirin, a common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, might prevent and reverse SARS-CoV-2-dependent EndMT induction through TGF-β-MRTF pathway deregulation. CONCLUSION The reported study revealed that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces EndMT. Moreover, it was demonstrated for the first time at the molecular level that the intensity of the EndMT triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection may vary and depend on the viral protein involved. The N protein acts through TLR4-ROS-TGF-β2-MRTF-A/B, whereas the S protein acts through ACE2-TGF-β1-MRTF-B. Furthermore, we identified aspirin as a potential anti-fibrotic drug for treating patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech M Ciszewski
- Department of Molecular Cell Mechanisms, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka Str. 6/8, Lodz, 92- 215, Poland
| | - Lucyna A Woźniak
- Department of Structural Biology, Medical University of Lodz, Żeligowskiego Str. 7/9, Lodz, 90-752, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Sobierajska
- Department of Molecular Cell Mechanisms, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka Str. 6/8, Lodz, 92- 215, Poland.
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Yadav AJ, Kumar S, Maurya S, Bhagat K, Padhi AK. Interface design of SARS-CoV-2 symmetrical nsp7 dimer and machine learning-guided nsp7 sequence prediction reveals physicochemical properties and hotspots for nsp7 stability, adaptation, and therapeutic design. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:14046-14061. [PMID: 38686454 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp01014k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, driven by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), necessitates a profound understanding of the virus and its lifecycle. As an RNA virus with high mutation rates, SARS-CoV-2 exhibits genetic variability leading to the emergence of variants with potential implications. Among its key proteins, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is pivotal for viral replication. Notably, RdRp forms dimers via non-structural protein (nsp) subunits, particularly nsp7, crucial for efficient viral RNA copying. Similar to the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2, there is a possibility that the nsp7 might also undergo mutational selection events to generate more stable and adaptable versions of nsp7 dimer during virus evolution. However, efforts to obtain such cohesive and comprehensive information are lacking. To address this, we performed this study focused on deciphering the molecular intricacies of nsp7 dimerization using a multifaceted approach. Leveraging computational protein design (CPD), machine learning (ML), AlphaFold v2.0-based structural analysis, and several related computational approaches, we aimed to identify critical residues and mutations influencing nsp7 dimer stability and adaptation. Our methodology involved identifying potential hotspot residues within the dimeric nsp7 interface using an interface-based CPD approach. Through Rosetta-based symmetrical protein design, we designed and modulated nsp7 dimerization, considering selected interface residues. Analysis of physicochemical features revealed acceptable structural changes and several structural and residue-specific insights emphasizing the intricate nature of such protein-protein complexes. Our ML models, particularly the random forest regressor (RFR), accurately predicted binding affinities and ML-guided sequence predictions corroborated CPD findings, elucidating potential nsp7 mutations and their impact on binding affinity. Validation against clinical sequencing data demonstrated the predictive accuracy of our approach. Moreover, AlphaFold v2.0 structural analyses validated optimal dimeric configurations of affinity-enhancing designs, affirming methodological precision. Affinity-enhancing designs exhibited favourable energetics and higher binding affinity as compared to their counterparts. The obtained physicochemical properties, molecular interactions, and sequence predictions advance our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 evolution and inform potential avenues for therapeutic intervention against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amar Jeet Yadav
- Laboratory for Computational Biology & Biomolecular Design, School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Shivank Kumar
- Laboratory for Computational Biology & Biomolecular Design, School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Shweata Maurya
- Laboratory for Computational Biology & Biomolecular Design, School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Khushboo Bhagat
- Laboratory for Computational Biology & Biomolecular Design, School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Aditya K Padhi
- Laboratory for Computational Biology & Biomolecular Design, School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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Wiriyachaiporn N, Kongrueng J, Sukkuea K, Tanrattanawong R, Vanichtanankul J, Saeyang T, Jantra T, Japrung D, Maneeprakorn W, Bamrungsap S, Janchompoo P, Pasomsub E. Characterizing a visual lateral flow device for rapid SARS-CoV-2 virus protein detection: pre-clinical and system assessment. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2024; 16:2740-2750. [PMID: 38634326 DOI: 10.1039/d3ay02075d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections have affected more than 769 million individuals worldwide over the last few years. Although the pandemic is transitioning into an endemic, the COVID-19 outbreak is still a global concern. A rapid screening platform is needed for effective preventive and control measures. Herein, a visual rapid lateral flow platform for SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein detection is developed. Under optimal conditions, the system demonstrated good detection sensitivity and selectivity against tested respiratory viruses. The system provides direct visual detection with a limit of 0.7 ng of the nucleocapsid protein per mL of a sample (0.7 ng mL-1) within 15 minutes. Further, a correlation between direct visual detection and semi-quantitative analysis using a reader showed a similar detection limit (R2 = 0.9571). The repeatability and reproducibility studies highlighted the potential of the system for the rapid screening of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with variations within 5% and 10% at high and low protein concentrations, respectively. Subsequent pre-clinical validation to correlate the performance with the standard molecular approach (RT-PCR) using 170 nasopharyngeal swabs demonstrated 98% estimated sensitivity (95% CI, 89.35-99.95%) and 100% specificity (95% CI, 96.38-100%). The positive and negative predictive values were reported to be 100% and 99%, respectively, with an accuracy of 99.3%. With high viral load samples (Ct value ≤25, n = 47), the system demonstrated 100% detection sensitivity and specificity. The proposed technique provides a valuable platform for potential use in rapid screening, particularly during pandemics, where diagnostic capacity and mass screening are crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natpapas Wiriyachaiporn
- National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand.
| | - Jetnapang Kongrueng
- National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand.
| | - Kannika Sukkuea
- National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand.
| | - Rattana Tanrattanawong
- National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand.
| | - Jarunee Vanichtanankul
- National Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
| | - Thanaya Saeyang
- National Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
| | - Tararat Jantra
- National Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
| | - Deanpen Japrung
- National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand.
| | - Weerakanya Maneeprakorn
- National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand.
| | - Suwussa Bamrungsap
- National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand.
| | - Pareena Janchompoo
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ekawat Pasomsub
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Mansueto G, Fusco G, Colonna G. A Tiny Viral Protein, SARS-CoV-2-ORF7b: Functional Molecular Mechanisms. Biomolecules 2024; 14:541. [PMID: 38785948 PMCID: PMC11118181 DOI: 10.3390/biom14050541] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This study presents the interaction with the human host metabolism of SARS-CoV-2 ORF7b protein (43 aa), using a protein-protein interaction network analysis. After pruning, we selected from BioGRID the 51 most significant proteins among 2753 proven interactions and 1708 interactors specific to ORF7b. We used these proteins as functional seeds, and we obtained a significant network of 551 nodes via STRING. We performed topological analysis and calculated topological distributions by Cytoscape. By following a hub-and-spoke network architectural model, we were able to identify seven proteins that ranked high as hubs and an additional seven as bottlenecks. Through this interaction model, we identified significant GO-processes (5057 terms in 15 categories) induced in human metabolism by ORF7b. We discovered high statistical significance processes of dysregulated molecular cell mechanisms caused by acting ORF7b. We detected disease-related human proteins and their involvement in metabolic roles, how they relate in a distorted way to signaling and/or functional systems, in particular intra- and inter-cellular signaling systems, and the molecular mechanisms that supervise programmed cell death, with mechanisms similar to that of cancer metastasis diffusion. A cluster analysis showed 10 compact and significant functional clusters, where two of them overlap in a Giant Connected Component core of 206 total nodes. These two clusters contain most of the high-rank nodes. ORF7b acts through these two clusters, inducing most of the metabolic dysregulation. We conducted a co-regulation and transcriptional analysis by hub and bottleneck proteins. This analysis allowed us to define the transcription factors and miRNAs that control the high-ranking proteins and the dysregulated processes within the limits of the poor knowledge that these sectors still impose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gelsomina Mansueto
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche Avanzate, Università della Campania, L. Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy;
| | - Giovanna Fusco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Colonna
- Medical Informatics AOU, Università della Campania, L. Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
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9
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Ray P, Ledgerwood-Lee M, Brickner H, Clark AE, Garretson A, Graham R, Van Zant W, Carlin AF, Aronoff-Spencer ES. Design and Development of an Antigen Test for SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein to Validate the Viral Quality Assurance Panels. Viruses 2024; 16:662. [PMID: 38793544 PMCID: PMC11125937 DOI: 10.3390/v16050662] [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: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The continuing mutability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can result in failures of diagnostic assays. To address this, we describe a generalizable bioinformatics-to-biology pipeline developed for the calibration and quality assurance of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 variant panels provided to Radical Acceleration of Diagnostics programs (RADx)-radical program awardees. A heuristic genetic analysis based on variant-defining mutations demonstrated the lowest genetic variance in the Nucleocapsid protein (Np)-C-terminal domain (CTD) across all SARS-CoV-2 variants. We then employed the Shannon entropy method on (Np) sequences collected from the major variants, verifying the CTD with lower entropy (less prone to mutations) than other Np regions. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were raised against this target CTD antigen and used to develop an Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) test for SARS-CoV-2. Blinded Viral Quality Assurance (VQA) panels comprised of UV-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 variants (XBB.1.5, BF.7, BA.1, B.1.617.2, and WA1) and distractor respiratory viruses (CoV 229E, CoV OC43, RSV A2, RSV B, IAV H1N1, and IBV) were assembled by the RADx-rad Diagnostics core and tested using the ELISA described here. The assay tested positive for all variants with high sensitivity (limit of detection: 1.72-8.78 ng/mL) and negative for the distractor virus panel. Epitope mapping for the monoclonal antibodies identified a 20 amino acid antigenic peptide on the Np-CTD that an in-silico program also predicted for the highest antigenicity. This work provides a template for a bioinformatics pipeline to select genetic regions with a low propensity for mutation (low Shannon entropy) to develop robust 'pan-variant' antigen-based assays for viruses prone to high mutational rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Partha Ray
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; (P.R.); (M.L.-L.); (H.B.); (A.E.C.); (A.G.); (R.G.); (W.V.Z.); (A.F.C.)
| | - Melissa Ledgerwood-Lee
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; (P.R.); (M.L.-L.); (H.B.); (A.E.C.); (A.G.); (R.G.); (W.V.Z.); (A.F.C.)
| | - Howard Brickner
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; (P.R.); (M.L.-L.); (H.B.); (A.E.C.); (A.G.); (R.G.); (W.V.Z.); (A.F.C.)
| | - Alex E. Clark
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; (P.R.); (M.L.-L.); (H.B.); (A.E.C.); (A.G.); (R.G.); (W.V.Z.); (A.F.C.)
| | - Aaron Garretson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; (P.R.); (M.L.-L.); (H.B.); (A.E.C.); (A.G.); (R.G.); (W.V.Z.); (A.F.C.)
| | - Rishi Graham
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; (P.R.); (M.L.-L.); (H.B.); (A.E.C.); (A.G.); (R.G.); (W.V.Z.); (A.F.C.)
| | - Westley Van Zant
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; (P.R.); (M.L.-L.); (H.B.); (A.E.C.); (A.G.); (R.G.); (W.V.Z.); (A.F.C.)
| | - Aaron F. Carlin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; (P.R.); (M.L.-L.); (H.B.); (A.E.C.); (A.G.); (R.G.); (W.V.Z.); (A.F.C.)
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Eliah S. Aronoff-Spencer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; (P.R.); (M.L.-L.); (H.B.); (A.E.C.); (A.G.); (R.G.); (W.V.Z.); (A.F.C.)
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10
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Wu F, Jiang Y, Yang H, Ma L. Development of Detection Antibody Targeting the Linear Epitope in SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein with Ultra-High Sensitivity. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4436. [PMID: 38674021 PMCID: PMC11050370 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084436] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 highlighted the importance of reliable detection methods for disease control and surveillance. Optimizing detection antibodies by rational screening antigens would improve the sensitivity and specificity of antibody-based detection methods such as colloidal gold immunochromatography. In this study, we screened three peptide antigens with conserved sequences in the N protein of SARS-CoV-2 using bioinformatical and structural biological analyses. Antibodies that specifically recognize these peptides were prepared. The epitope of the peptide that had the highest binding affinity with its antibody was located on the surface of the N protein, which was favorable for antibody binding. Using the optimal antibody that can recognize this epitope, we developed colloidal gold immunochromatography, which can detect the N protein at 10 pg/mL. Importantly, this antibody could effectively recognize both the natural peptide antigen and mutated peptide antigen in the N protein, showing the feasibility of being applied in the large-scale population testing of SARS-CoV-2. Our study provides a platform with reference significance for the rational screening of detection antibodies with high sensitivity, specificity, and reliability for SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wu
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; (F.W.); (H.Y.)
- Shenzhen Institute of Drug Control, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Yike Jiang
- Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China;
| | - Hongtian Yang
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; (F.W.); (H.Y.)
- Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China;
| | - Lan Ma
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; (F.W.); (H.Y.)
- Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China;
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
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11
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Shengule S, Alai S, Bhandare S, Patil S, Gautam M, Mangaonkar B, Gupta S, Shaligram U, Gairola S. Validation and Suitability Assessment of Multiplex Mesoscale Discovery Immunogenicity Assay for Establishing Serological Signatures Using Vaccinated, Non-Vaccinated and Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Infected Cases. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:433. [PMID: 38675815 PMCID: PMC11053742 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12040433] [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: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Antibody responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are multi-targeted and variable over time. Multiplex quantitative serological assays are needed to provide accurate and robust seropositivity data for the establishment of serological signatures during vaccination and or infection. We describe here the validation and evaluation of an electro-chemiluminescence (ECL)-based Mesoscale Discovery assay (MSD) for estimation of total and functional IgG relative to SARS-CoV-2 spike, nucleocapsid and receptor binding (RBD) proteins in human serum samples to establish serological signatures of SARS-CoV-2 natural infection and breakthrough cases. The 9-PLEX assay was validated as per ICH, EMA, and US FDA guidelines using a panel of sera samples, including the NIBSC/WHO reference panel (20/268). The assay demonstrated high specificity and selectivity in inhibition assays, wherein the homologous inhibition was more than 85% and heterologous inhibition was below 10%. The assay also met predetermined acceptance criteria for precision (CV < 20%), accuracy (70-130%) and dilutional linearity. The method's applicability to serological signatures was demonstrated using sera samples (n = 45) representing vaccinated, infected and breakthrough cases. The method was able to establish distinct serological signatures and thus provide a potential tool for seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 during vaccination or infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sunil Gairola
- Clinical Bioanalytical Department, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Pune 411028, India; (S.S.); (S.A.); (M.G.); (U.S.)
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12
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Mustapa MA, Yuzir A, Latif AA, Ambran S, Abdullah N. A nucleic acid-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering of gold nanorods in N-gene integrated principal component analysis for COVID-19 detection. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2024; 311:123977. [PMID: 38310743 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2024.123977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
A rapid, simple, sensitive, and selective point-of-care diagnosis tool kit is vital for detecting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) based on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strain. Currently, the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the best technique to detect the disease. Although a good sensitivity has been observed in RT-PCR, the isolation and screening process for high sample volume is limited due to the time-consuming and laborious work. This study introduced a nucleic acid-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor to detect the nucleocapsid gene (N-gene) of SARS-CoV-2. The Raman scattering signal was amplified using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) possessing a rod-like morphology to improve the SERS effect, which was approximately 12-15 nm in diameter and 40-50 nm in length. These nanoparticles were functionalised with the single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (ssDNA) complemented with the N-gene. Furthermore, the study demonstrates method selectivity by strategically testing the same virus genome at different locations. This focused approach showcases the method's capability to discern specific genetic variations, ensuring accuracy in viral detection. A multivariate statistical analysis technique was then applied to analyse the raw SERS spectra data using the principal component analysis (PCA). An acceptable variance amount was demonstrated by the overall variance (82.4 %) for PC1 and PC2, which exceeded the desired value of 80 %. These results successfully revealed the hidden information in the raw SERS spectra data. The outcome suggested a more significant thymine base detection than other nitrogenous bases at wavenumbers 613, 779, 1219, 1345, and 1382 cm-1. Adenine was also less observed at 734 cm-1, and ssDNA-RNA hybridisations were presented in the ketone with amino base SERS bands in 1746, 1815, 1871, and 1971 cm-1 of the fingerprint. Overall, the N-gene could be detected as low as 0.1 nM within 10 mins of incubation time. This approach could be developed as an alternative point-of-care diagnosis tool kit to detect and monitor the COVID-19 disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Mustapa
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (ChEE), Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ali Yuzir
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (ChEE), Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - A A Latif
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sumiaty Ambran
- Department of Electronic Systems Engineering (ESE), Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - N Abdullah
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (ChEE), Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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13
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Laughlin PM, Young K, Gonzalez-Gutierrez G, Wang JC, Zlotnick A. A narrow ratio of nucleic acid to SARS-CoV-2 N-protein enables phase separation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.10.588883. [PMID: 38645044 PMCID: PMC11030382 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.10.588883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid protein (N) is a viral structural protein that packages the 30kb genomic RNA inside virions and forms condensates within infected cells through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). N, in both soluble and condensed forms, has accessory roles in the viral life cycle including genome replication and immunosuppression. The ability to perform these tasks depends on phase separation and its reversibility. The conditions that stabilize and destabilize N condensates and the role of N-N interactions are poorly understood. We have investigated LLPS formation and dissolution in a minimalist system comprised of N protein and an ssDNA oligomer just long enough to support assembly. The short oligo allows us to focus on the role of N-N interaction. We have developed a sensitive FRET assay to interrogate LLPS assembly reactions from the perspective of the oligonucleotide. We find that N alone can form oligomers but that oligonucleotide enables their assembly into a three-dimensional phase. At a ~1:1 ratio of N to oligonucleotide LLPS formation is maximal. We find that a modest excess of N or of nucleic acid causes the LLPS to break down catastrophically. Under the conditions examined here assembly has a critical concentration of about 1 μM. The responsiveness of N condensates to their environment may have biological consequences. A better understanding of how nucleic acid modulates N-N association will shed light on condensate activity and could inform antiviral strategies targeting LLPS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kimberly Young
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University
| | | | - Joseph C.Y. Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
| | - Adam Zlotnick
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University
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14
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Schoenmakers T, Leers MPG, Gorissen SHM, van Loo IHM, van Rosmalen F, Aydeniz E, Schellens J, Driessen M, Deneer R, de Venne WPHGVV, Wolffs PFG, van Mook WNKA, van Bussel BCT. The laboratory parameters-derived CoLab score as an indicator of the host response in ICU COVID-19 patients decreases over time: a prospective cohort study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8220. [PMID: 38589581 PMCID: PMC11001996 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58727-y] [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: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The CoLab score was developed and externally validated to rule out COVID-19 among suspected patients presenting at the emergency department. We hypothesized a within-patient decrease in the CoLab score over time in an intensive care unit (ICU) cohort. Such a decrease would create the opportunity to potentially rule out the need for isolation when the infection is overcome. Using linear mixed-effects models, data from the Maastricht Intensive Care COVID (MaastrICCht) cohort were used to investigate the association between time and the CoLab score. Models were adjusted for sex, APACHE II score, ICU mortality, and daily SOFA score. The CoLab score decreased by 0.30 points per day (95% CI - 0.33 to - 0.27), independent of sex, APACHE II, and Mortality. With increasing SOFA score over time, the CoLab score decreased more strongly (- 0.01 (95% CI - 0.01 to - 0.01) additional decrease per one-point increase in SOFA score.) The CoLab score decreased in ICU patients on mechanical ventilation for COVID-19, with a one-point reduction per three days, independent of sex, APACHE II, and ICU mortality, and somewhat stronger with increasing multi-organ failure over time. This suggests that the CoLab score would decrease below a threshold where COVID-19 can be excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Schoenmakers
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Sittard-Geleen, Dr. H. Van Der Hoffplein 1, 6162 BG, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands.
- School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center +, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Mathie P G Leers
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Sittard-Geleen, Dr. H. Van Der Hoffplein 1, 6162 BG, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands
- School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Science, Environmental Sciences, Open Universiteit, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan H M Gorissen
- Zuyderland Academy, Zuyderland Medical Center, Sittard-Geleen/Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Inge H M van Loo
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention, Maastricht University Medical Center +, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Frank van Rosmalen
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center +, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Eda Aydeniz
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center +, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Joep Schellens
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center +, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Marielle Driessen
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center +, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Ruben Deneer
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Sittard-Geleen, Dr. H. Van Der Hoffplein 1, 6162 BG, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands
| | - Wilhelmine P H G Verboeket-van de Venne
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Sittard-Geleen, Dr. H. Van Der Hoffplein 1, 6162 BG, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands
| | - Petra F G Wolffs
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention, Maastricht University Medical Center +, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Walther N K A van Mook
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center +, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School of Health Professions Education (SHE), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Bas C T van Bussel
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center +, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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15
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Zhao H, Syed AM, Khalid MM, Nguyen A, Ciling A, Wu D, Yau WM, Srinivasan S, Esposito D, Doudna JA, Piszczek G, Ott M, Schuck P. Assembly of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein with nucleic acid. Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae256. [PMID: 38587193 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The viral genome of SARS-CoV-2 is packaged by the nucleocapsid (N-)protein into ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs), 38 ± 10 of which are contained in each virion. Their architecture has remained unclear due to the pleomorphism of RNPs, the high flexibility of N-protein intrinsically disordered regions, and highly multivalent interactions between viral RNA and N-protein binding sites in both N-terminal (NTD) and C-terminal domain (CTD). Here we explore critical interaction motifs of RNPs by applying a combination of biophysical techniques to ancestral and mutant proteins binding different nucleic acids in an in vitro assay for RNP formation, and by examining nucleocapsid protein variants in a viral assembly assay. We find that nucleic acid-bound N-protein dimers oligomerize via a recently described protein-protein interface presented by a transient helix in its long disordered linker region between NTD and CTD. The resulting hexameric complexes are stabilized by multivalent protein-nucleic acid interactions that establish crosslinks between dimeric subunits. Assemblies are stabilized by the dimeric CTD of N-protein offering more than one binding site for stem-loop RNA. Our study suggests a model for RNP assembly where N-protein scaffolding at high density on viral RNA is followed by cooperative multimerization through protein-protein interactions in the disordered linker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaying Zhao
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Abdullah M Syed
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Mir M Khalid
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ai Nguyen
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Alison Ciling
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Di Wu
- Biophysics Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Wai-Ming Yau
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sanjana Srinivasan
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Dominic Esposito
- Protein Expression Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jennifer A Doudna
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- HHMI, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Grzegorz Piszczek
- Biophysics Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Melanie Ott
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Peter Schuck
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Center for Biomedical Engineering Technology Acceleration, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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16
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Yang W, Wang Y, Han D, Tang W, Sun L. Recent advances in application of computer-aided drug design in anti-COVID-19 Virials Drug Discovery. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 173:116423. [PMID: 38493593 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116423] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic epidemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which poses a serious threat to human health worldwide and results in significant economic losses. With the continuous emergence of new virus strains, small molecule drugs remain the most effective treatment for COVID-19. The traditional drug development process usually requires several years; however, the development of computer-aided drug design (CADD) offers the opportunity to develop innovative drugs quickly and efficiently. The literature review describes the general process of CADD, the viral proteins that play essential roles in the life cycle of SARS-CoV-2 and can serve as therapeutic targets, and examples of drug screening of viral target proteins by applying CADD methods. Finally, the potential of CADD in COVID-19 therapy, the deficiency, and the possible future development direction are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiying Yang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Ye Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Dongfeng Han
- Department of Emergency Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Wenjing Tang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Lichao Sun
- Department of Emergency Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
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17
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Oktavianthi S, Lages AC, Kusuma R, Kurniasih TS, Trimarsanto H, Andriani F, Rustandi D, Meriyanti T, Yusuf I, Malik SG, Jo J, Suriapranata I. Whole-Genome Sequencing and Mutation Analyses of SARS-CoV-2 Isolates from Indonesia. Pathogens 2024; 13:279. [PMID: 38668234 PMCID: PMC11053823 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13040279] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 infection that caused the COVID-19 pandemic has become a significant public health concern. New variants with distinct mutations have emerged, potentially impacting its infectivity, immune evasion capacity, and vaccine response. A whole-genome sequencing study of 292 SARS-CoV-2 isolates collected from selected regions of Indonesia between January and October 2021 was performed to identify the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 variants and common mutations in Indonesia. During January-April 2021, Indonesian lineages B.1.466.2 and B.1.470 dominated, but from May 2021, Delta's AY.23 lineage outcompeted them. An analysis of 7515 published sequences from January 2021 to June 2022 revealed a decline in Delta in November 2021, followed by the emergence of Omicron variants in December 2021. We identified C241T (5'UTR), P314L (NSP12b), F106F (NSP3), and D614G (Spike) mutations in all sequences. The other common substitutions included P681R (76.4%) and T478K (60%) in Spike, D377Y in Nucleocapsid (61%), and I82T in Membrane (60%) proteins. Breakthrough infection and prolonged viral shedding cases were associated with Delta variants carrying the Spike T19R, G142D, L452R, T478K, D614G, P681R, D950N, and V1264L mutations. The dynamic of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Indonesia highlights the importance of continuous genomic surveillance in monitoring and identifying potential strains leading to disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukma Oktavianthi
- Mochtar Riady Institute for Nanotechnology, Tangerang 15810, Indonesia; (S.O.); (A.C.L.); (R.K.); (T.S.K.); (F.A.); (I.Y.); (S.G.M.); (J.J.)
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia;
| | - Aksar Chair Lages
- Mochtar Riady Institute for Nanotechnology, Tangerang 15810, Indonesia; (S.O.); (A.C.L.); (R.K.); (T.S.K.); (F.A.); (I.Y.); (S.G.M.); (J.J.)
| | - Rinaldy Kusuma
- Mochtar Riady Institute for Nanotechnology, Tangerang 15810, Indonesia; (S.O.); (A.C.L.); (R.K.); (T.S.K.); (F.A.); (I.Y.); (S.G.M.); (J.J.)
| | - Tri Shinta Kurniasih
- Mochtar Riady Institute for Nanotechnology, Tangerang 15810, Indonesia; (S.O.); (A.C.L.); (R.K.); (T.S.K.); (F.A.); (I.Y.); (S.G.M.); (J.J.)
| | - Hidayat Trimarsanto
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia;
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin 0811, Australia
| | - Febi Andriani
- Mochtar Riady Institute for Nanotechnology, Tangerang 15810, Indonesia; (S.O.); (A.C.L.); (R.K.); (T.S.K.); (F.A.); (I.Y.); (S.G.M.); (J.J.)
| | - David Rustandi
- Siloam Hospital Lippo Village, Tangerang 15810, Indonesia; (D.R.); (T.M.)
| | - Tandry Meriyanti
- Siloam Hospital Lippo Village, Tangerang 15810, Indonesia; (D.R.); (T.M.)
| | - Irawan Yusuf
- Mochtar Riady Institute for Nanotechnology, Tangerang 15810, Indonesia; (S.O.); (A.C.L.); (R.K.); (T.S.K.); (F.A.); (I.Y.); (S.G.M.); (J.J.)
| | - Safarina G. Malik
- Mochtar Riady Institute for Nanotechnology, Tangerang 15810, Indonesia; (S.O.); (A.C.L.); (R.K.); (T.S.K.); (F.A.); (I.Y.); (S.G.M.); (J.J.)
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia;
| | - Juandy Jo
- Mochtar Riady Institute for Nanotechnology, Tangerang 15810, Indonesia; (S.O.); (A.C.L.); (R.K.); (T.S.K.); (F.A.); (I.Y.); (S.G.M.); (J.J.)
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Tangerang 15811, Indonesia
| | - Ivet Suriapranata
- Mochtar Riady Institute for Nanotechnology, Tangerang 15810, Indonesia; (S.O.); (A.C.L.); (R.K.); (T.S.K.); (F.A.); (I.Y.); (S.G.M.); (J.J.)
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18
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Nguyen A, Zhao H, Myagmarsuren D, Srinivasan S, Wu D, Chen J, Piszczek G, Schuck P. Modulation of Biophysical Properties of Nucleocapsid Protein in the Mutant Spectrum of SARS-CoV-2. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.21.568093. [PMID: 38045241 PMCID: PMC10690151 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.21.568093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Genetic diversity is a hallmark of RNA viruses and the basis for their evolutionary success. Taking advantage of the uniquely large genomic database of SARS-CoV-2, we examine the impact of mutations across the spectrum of viable amino acid sequences on the biophysical phenotypes of the highly expressed and multifunctional nucleocapsid protein. We find variation in the physicochemical parameters of its extended intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) sufficient to allow local plasticity, but also exhibiting functional constraints that similarly occur in related coronaviruses. In biophysical experiments with several N-protein species carrying mutations associated with major variants, we find that point mutations in the IDRs can have nonlocal impact and modulate thermodynamic stability, secondary structure, protein oligomeric state, particle formation, and liquid-liquid phase separation. In the Omicron variant, distant mutations in different IDRs have compensatory effects in shifting a delicate balance of interactions controlling protein assembly properties, and include the creation of a new protein-protein interaction interface in the N-terminal IDR through the defining P13L mutation. A picture emerges where genetic diversity is accompanied by significant variation in biophysical characteristics of functional N-protein species, in particular in the IDRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai Nguyen
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Huaying Zhao
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Dulguun Myagmarsuren
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sanjana Srinivasan
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Di Wu
- Biophysics Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jiji Chen
- Advanced Imaging and Microscopy Resource, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Grzegorz Piszczek
- Biophysics Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Peter Schuck
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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19
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Liang Y, Yin X, Zhang Y, Guo Y, Wang Y. Predicting lncRNA-protein interactions through deep learning framework employing multiple features and random forest algorithm. BMC Bioinformatics 2024; 25:108. [PMID: 38475723 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-024-05727-4] [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: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA-protein interaction (RPI) is crucial to the life processes of diverse organisms. Various researchers have identified RPI through long-term and high-cost biological experiments. Although numerous machine learning and deep learning-based methods for predicting RPI currently exist, their robustness and generalizability have significant room for improvement. This study proposes LPI-MFF, an RPI prediction model based on multi-source information fusion, to address these issues. The LPI-MFF employed protein-protein interactions features, sequence features, secondary structure features, and physical and chemical properties as the information sources with the corresponding coding scheme, followed by the random forest algorithm for feature screening. Finally, all information was combined and a classification method based on convolutional neural networks is used. The experimental results of fivefold cross-validation demonstrated that the accuracy of LPI-MFF on RPI1807 and NPInter was 97.60% and 97.67%, respectively. In addition, the accuracy rate on the independent test set RPI1168 was 84.9%, and the accuracy rate on the Mus musculus dataset was 90.91%. Accordingly, LPI-MFF demonstrated greater robustness and generalization than other prevalent RPI prediction methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liang
- College of Computer and Information Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Zhimin Avenue, Nanchang, China
| | - XingRui Yin
- College of Computer and Information Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Zhimin Avenue, Nanchang, China
| | - YangSen Zhang
- College of Computer and Information Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Zhimin Avenue, Nanchang, China
| | - You Guo
- First Affiliated Hospital, Gannan Medical University, Medical College Road, Ganzhou, China.
| | - YingLong Wang
- College of Computer and Information Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Zhimin Avenue, Nanchang, China.
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20
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Zhou J, Zhou Y, Wei XF, Fan L, Gao X, Li Y, Wu Y, Feng W, Shen X, Liu L, Xu G, Zhang Z. TRIM6 facilitates SARS-CoV-2 proliferation by catalyzing the K29-typed ubiquitination of NP to enhance the ability to bind viral genomes. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29531. [PMID: 38515377 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The Nucleocapsid Protein (NP) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is not only the core structural protein required for viral packaging, but also participates in the regulation of viral replication, and its post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation have been shown to be an important strategy for regulating virus proliferation. Our previous work identified NP could be ubiquitinated, as confirmed by two independent studies. But the function of NP ubiquitination is currently unknown. In this study, we first pinpointed TRIM6 as the E3 ubiquitin ligase responsible for NP ubiquitination, binding to NP's CTD via its RING and B-box-CCD domains. TRIM6 promotes the K29-typed polyubiquitination of NP at K102, K347, and K361 residues, increasing its binding to viral genomic RNA. Consistently, functional experiments such as the use of the reverse genetic tool trVLP model and gene knockout of TRIM6 further confirmed that blocking the ubiquitination of NP by TRIM6 significantly inhibited the proliferation of SARS-CoV-2. Notably, the NP of coronavirus is relatively conserved, and the NP of SARS-CoV can also be ubiquitinated by TRIM6, indicating that NP could be a broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus target. These findings shed light on the intricate interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the host, potentially opening new opportunities for COVID-19 therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhou
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yuzheng Zhou
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xia-Fei Wei
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Lujie Fan
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Gao
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yunfei Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yezi Wu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wei Feng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - XiaoTong Shen
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Lei Liu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Gang Xu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zheng Zhang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
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21
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Zheng G, Qiu G, Qian H, Shu Q, Xu J. Multifaceted role of SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins in lung injury. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1332440. [PMID: 38375473 PMCID: PMC10875085 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1332440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the third human coronavirus to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and contains four structural proteins: spike, envelope, membrane, and nucleocapsid. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that all four structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 are capable of causing lung injury, even without the presence of intact virus. Therefore, the topic of SARS-CoV-2 structural protein-evoked lung injury warrants more attention. In the current article, we first synopsize the structural features of SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins. Second, we discuss the mechanisms for structural protein-induced inflammatory responses in vitro. Finally, we list the findings that indicate structural proteins themselves are toxic and sufficient to induce lung injury in vivo. Recognizing mechanisms of lung injury triggered by SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins may facilitate the development of targeted modalities in treating COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Guanguan Qiu
- Shaoxing Second Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huifeng Qian
- Shaoxing Second Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qiang Shu
- The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianguo Xu
- Shaoxing Second Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
- The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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22
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Zhang D, Kukkar D, Kim KH, Bhatt P. A comprehensive review on immunogen and immune-response proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and their applications in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 259:129284. [PMID: 38211928 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome-corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) prompts humoral immune responses in the human body. As the auxiliary diagnosis of a current infection, the existence of viral proteins can be checked from specific antibodies (Abs) induced by immunogenic viral proteins. For people with a weakened immune system, Ab treatment can help neutralize viral antigens to resist and treat the disease. On the other hand, highly immunogenic viral proteins can serve as effective markers for detecting prior infections. Additionally, the identification of viral particles or the presence of antibodies may help establish an immune defense against the virus. These immunogenic proteins rather than SARS-CoV-2 can be given to uninfected people as a vaccination to improve their coping ability against COVID-19 through the generation of memory plasma cells. In this work, we review immunogenic and immune-response proteins derived from SARS-CoV-2 with regard to their classification, origin, and diverse applications (e.g., prevention (vaccine development), diagnostic testing, and treatment (via neutralizing Abs)). Finally, advanced immunization strategies against COVID-19 are discussed along with the contemporary circumstances and future challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daohong Zhang
- College of Food Engineering, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, Shandong, China; Bio-Nanotechnology Research Institute, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, Shandong, China
| | - Deepak Kukkar
- Department of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali 140413, Punjab, India; University Center for Research and Development, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali 140413, Punjab, India
| | - Ki-Hyun Kim
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-Ro, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea.
| | - Poornima Bhatt
- Department of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali 140413, Punjab, India; University Center for Research and Development, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali 140413, Punjab, India
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Kim D, Kim M, Kim J, Baek K, Park H, Park S, Kang BM, Kim S, Kim MJ, Mostafa MN, Maharjan S, Shin HE, Lee MH, Il Kim J, Park MS, Kim YS, Choi EK, Lee Y, Kwon HJ. A mouse xenograft long-term replication yields a SARS-CoV-2 Delta mutant with increased lethality. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29459. [PMID: 38345153 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
We recently established a long-term SARS-CoV-2 infection model using lung-cancer xenograft mice and identified mutations that arose in the SARS-CoV-2 genome during long-term propagation. Here, we applied our model to the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, which has increased transmissibility and immune escape compared with ancestral SARS-CoV-2. We observed limited mutations in SARS-CoV-2 Delta during long-term propagation, including two predominant mutations: R682W in the spike protein and L330W in the nucleocapsid protein. We analyzed two representative isolates, Delta-10 and Delta-12, with both predominant mutations and some additional mutations. Delta-10 and Delta-12 showed lower replication capacity compared with SARS-CoV-2 Delta in cultured cells; however, Delta-12 was more lethal in K18-hACE2 mice compared with SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Delta-10. Mice infected with Delta-12 had higher viral titers, more severe histopathology in the lungs, higher chemokine expression, increased astrocyte and microglia activation, and extensive neutrophil infiltration in the brain. Brain tissue hemorrhage and mild vacuolation were also observed, suggesting that the high lethality of Delta-12 was associated with lung and brain pathology. Our long-term infection model can provide mutant viruses derived from SARS-CoV-2 Delta and knowledge about the possible contributions of emergent mutations to the properties of new variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongbum Kim
- Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Minyoung Kim
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinsoo Kim
- Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeongbin Baek
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Heedo Park
- Department of Microbiology, Vaccine Innovation Center College of Medicine, Institute for Viral Diseases, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangkyu Park
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo Min Kang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Suyeon Kim
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Mo-Jong Kim
- Ilsong Institute of Life Science, Hallym University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mohd Najib Mostafa
- Ilsong Institute of Life Science, Hallym University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Gerontology, Graduate School of Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sony Maharjan
- Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha-Eun Shin
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeong-Heon Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Il Kim
- Department of Microbiology, Vaccine Innovation Center College of Medicine, Institute for Viral Diseases, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Man-Seong Park
- Department of Microbiology, Vaccine Innovation Center College of Medicine, Institute for Viral Diseases, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Sun Kim
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
- Ilsong Institute of Life Science, Hallym University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Kyoung Choi
- Ilsong Institute of Life Science, Hallym University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Gerontology, Graduate School of Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Younghee Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Joo Kwon
- Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
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Wondeu ALD, Abakar MF, Frasca F, Nodjikouambaye AZ, Abdelrazakh F, Naibei N, Dzomo GRT, Djimtoibaye D, Mad‐Toingue J, Scagnolari C, Antonelli G, Linardos G, Russo C, Perno CF, Yandai FH, Atturo S, Hiscott J, Colizzi V, Cappelli G, Ngueadoum N, Haroun A, Choua O, Moussa AM. Presence of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in asymptomatic population of N'Djamena, Chad. Immun Inflamm Dis 2024; 12:e1154. [PMID: 38270301 PMCID: PMC10790679 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.1154] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) are an important specific defence against viral infections, as these antibodies bind to specific receptor(s) and block the viral entry. NAbs assessments are therefore useful in determining individual or herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2. This study aims to deepen the investigation by assessing the positivity rate of neutralizing anti-spike antibodies to understand the real protection of the studied population against SARS-CoV-2. METHODS This study involved 260 plasma samples from a larger cohort of 2,700 asymptomatic volunteer donors, enrolled between August and October 2021 in health facilities of N'Djamena. In this study four different kits and techniques including the pseudotype assay have been used and compared with detect the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Pseudotyped vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), was used both the identify and measure the NAbs that to evaluate the performance of two cheaper and easy to use commercial kits, specific for the detection of receptor-binding domain antibodies (anti-RBD) against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. RESULTS The VSV spike neutralization assay showed that 59.0% (n = 59) samples were positive for NAbs with titers ranging from 1:10 to 1:4800. While 23 out the 41 negative NAbs samples were detected positive using anti-RBD (Abbott) test. Furthermore, a direct and significant strong correlation was found between NAbs and anti-RBD, specifically with Abbott kit. Taken together, the Roche and Abbott methods indicated agreement at the high concentrations of antibodies with the VSV-pseudovirus method. Abbott and Roche indicated a good sensitivity, but the Abbott system test appeared to have better specificity than the Roche test. CONCLUSION Our findings indicated a high presence of NAbs against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein among asymptomatic individuals in N'Djamena. This could be one of the reasons for the low severity of Covid-19 observed in this area, given the key role of NAbs in blocking SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrillene Laure Deutou Wondeu
- Laboratoire des Grandes Epidémies Tropicales (LAGET)Complexe Hospitalo‐Universitaire le Bon SamaritainN'DjamenaChad
- Department of Biology and Interdepartmental Centre for Comparative MedicineUniversity of Rome Tor VergataRomeItaly
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and ImmunopathologyEvangelical University of CameroonMbouo‐BandjounCameroon
| | | | - Federica Frasca
- Laboratory of Virology, Department of Molecular MedicineSapienza University of RomeItaly
| | - Aleyo Zita Nodjikouambaye
- Laboratoire des Grandes Epidémies Tropicales (LAGET)Complexe Hospitalo‐Universitaire le Bon SamaritainN'DjamenaChad
| | - Fatima Abdelrazakh
- Institut de Recherche en Elevage pour le Développement (IRED)N'DjamenaChad
| | - Nathan Naibei
- Communauté des Amis de l'Informatique pour le Développement (CAID‐Tchad)N'DjamenaChad
| | - Guy Rodrigue Takoudjou Dzomo
- Laboratoire des Grandes Epidémies Tropicales (LAGET)Complexe Hospitalo‐Universitaire le Bon SamaritainN'DjamenaChad
| | - Djallaye Djimtoibaye
- Laboratoire des Grandes Epidémies Tropicales (LAGET)Complexe Hospitalo‐Universitaire le Bon SamaritainN'DjamenaChad
| | - Joseph Mad‐Toingue
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Référence Nationale (CHU‐RN)N'DjamenaChad
- Coordination nationale de riposte sanitaire contre la Covid‐19, Ministère de la Santé PubliqueN'DjamenaChad
| | - Carolina Scagnolari
- Laboratory of Virology, Department of Molecular MedicineSapienza University of RomeItaly
| | - Guido Antonelli
- Laboratory of Virology, Department of Molecular MedicineSapienza University of RomeItaly
| | - Giulia Linardos
- Virology and Mycobacteriology Unit, “Bambino Gesù” Children Hospital—Healthcare and Research Institute—RomeRomeItaly
| | - Cristina Russo
- Virology and Mycobacteriology Unit, “Bambino Gesù” Children Hospital—Healthcare and Research Institute—RomeRomeItaly
| | - Carlo Federico Perno
- Virology and Mycobacteriology Unit, “Bambino Gesù” Children Hospital—Healthcare and Research Institute—RomeRomeItaly
| | - Fissou Henry Yandai
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Référence Nationale (CHU‐RN)N'DjamenaChad
| | - Sabrina Atturo
- Laboratoire des Grandes Epidémies Tropicales (LAGET)Complexe Hospitalo‐Universitaire le Bon SamaritainN'DjamenaChad
| | - John Hiscott
- Institute Pasteur Cenci‐Bolognetti FoundationRomeItaly
| | - Vittorio Colizzi
- Laboratoire des Grandes Epidémies Tropicales (LAGET)Complexe Hospitalo‐Universitaire le Bon SamaritainN'DjamenaChad
- Department of Biology and Interdepartmental Centre for Comparative MedicineUniversity of Rome Tor VergataRomeItaly
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and ImmunopathologyEvangelical University of CameroonMbouo‐BandjounCameroon
| | - Giulia Cappelli
- Institute for Biological SystemsNational Research CouncilRomeItaly
| | - Nambatibe Ngueadoum
- Direction Générale des Laboratoires, Pharmacie & Médicaments, Ministère de la Santé PubliqueN'DjamenaChad
| | - Alsadick Haroun
- Coordination nationale de riposte sanitaire contre la Covid‐19, Ministère de la Santé PubliqueN'DjamenaChad
- Direction Générale des Laboratoires, Pharmacie & Médicaments, Ministère de la Santé PubliqueN'DjamenaChad
| | - Ouchemi Choua
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Référence Nationale (CHU‐RN)N'DjamenaChad
- Coordination nationale de riposte sanitaire contre la Covid‐19, Ministère de la Santé PubliqueN'DjamenaChad
| | - Ali Mahamat Moussa
- Laboratoire des Grandes Epidémies Tropicales (LAGET)Complexe Hospitalo‐Universitaire le Bon SamaritainN'DjamenaChad
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Référence Nationale (CHU‐RN)N'DjamenaChad
- Coordination nationale de riposte sanitaire contre la Covid‐19, Ministère de la Santé PubliqueN'DjamenaChad
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Khramtsov YV, Ulasov AV, Lupanova TN, Slastnikova TA, Rosenkranz AA, Bunin ES, Georgiev GP, Sobolev AS. Intracellular Degradation of SARS-CoV-2 N-Protein Caused by Modular Nanotransporters Containing Anti-N-Protein Monobody and a Sequence That Recruits the Keap1 E3 Ligase. Pharmaceutics 2023; 16:4. [PMID: 38276482 PMCID: PMC10818351 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16010004] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The proper viral assembly relies on both nucleic acids and structural viral proteins. Thus a biologically active agent that provides the degradation of one of these key proteins and/or destroys the viral factory could suppress viral replication efficiently. The nucleocapsid protein (N-protein) is a key protein for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As a bioactive agent, we offer a modular nanotransporter (MNT) developed by us, which, in addition to an antibody mimetic to the N-protein, contains an amino acid sequence for the attraction of the Keap1 E3 ubiquitin ligase. This should lead to the subsequent degradation of the N-protein. We have shown that the functional properties of modules within the MNT permit its internalization into target cells, endosome escape into the cytosol, and binding to the N-protein. Using flow cytometry and western blotting, we demonstrated significant degradation of N-protein when A549 and A431 cells transfected with a plasmid coding for N-protein were incubated with the developed MNTs. The proposed MNTs open up a new approach for the treatment of viral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri V. Khramtsov
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Intracellular Transport, Institute of Gene Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov St., 119334 Moscow, Russia; (Y.V.K.); (A.V.U.); (T.N.L.); (T.A.S.); (A.A.R.); (E.S.B.); (G.P.G.)
| | - Alexey V. Ulasov
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Intracellular Transport, Institute of Gene Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov St., 119334 Moscow, Russia; (Y.V.K.); (A.V.U.); (T.N.L.); (T.A.S.); (A.A.R.); (E.S.B.); (G.P.G.)
| | - Tatiana N. Lupanova
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Intracellular Transport, Institute of Gene Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov St., 119334 Moscow, Russia; (Y.V.K.); (A.V.U.); (T.N.L.); (T.A.S.); (A.A.R.); (E.S.B.); (G.P.G.)
| | - Tatiana A. Slastnikova
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Intracellular Transport, Institute of Gene Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov St., 119334 Moscow, Russia; (Y.V.K.); (A.V.U.); (T.N.L.); (T.A.S.); (A.A.R.); (E.S.B.); (G.P.G.)
| | - Andrey A. Rosenkranz
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Intracellular Transport, Institute of Gene Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov St., 119334 Moscow, Russia; (Y.V.K.); (A.V.U.); (T.N.L.); (T.A.S.); (A.A.R.); (E.S.B.); (G.P.G.)
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory St., 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Egor S. Bunin
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Intracellular Transport, Institute of Gene Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov St., 119334 Moscow, Russia; (Y.V.K.); (A.V.U.); (T.N.L.); (T.A.S.); (A.A.R.); (E.S.B.); (G.P.G.)
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory St., 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Georgii P. Georgiev
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Intracellular Transport, Institute of Gene Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov St., 119334 Moscow, Russia; (Y.V.K.); (A.V.U.); (T.N.L.); (T.A.S.); (A.A.R.); (E.S.B.); (G.P.G.)
| | - Alexander S. Sobolev
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Intracellular Transport, Institute of Gene Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov St., 119334 Moscow, Russia; (Y.V.K.); (A.V.U.); (T.N.L.); (T.A.S.); (A.A.R.); (E.S.B.); (G.P.G.)
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory St., 119234 Moscow, Russia
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Dhaka P, Singh A, Choudhary S, Peddinti RK, Kumar P, Sharma GK, Tomar S. Mechanistic and thermodynamic characterization of antiviral inhibitors targeting nucleocapsid N-terminal domain of SARS-CoV-2. Arch Biochem Biophys 2023; 750:109820. [PMID: 37956938 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2023.109820] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
The nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2 plays a pivotal role in encapsulating the viral genome. Developing antiviral treatments for SARS-CoV-2 is imperative due to the diminishing immunity of the available vaccines. This study targets the RNA-binding site located in the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the N-protein to identify the potential antiviral molecules against SARS-CoV-2. A structure-based repurposing approach identified the twelve high-affinity molecules from FDA-approved drugs, natural products, and the LOPAC1280 compound libraries that precisely bind to the RNA binding site within the NTD. The interaction of these potential antiviral agents with the purified NTD protein was thermodynamically characterized using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). A fluorescence-based plate assay to assess the RNA binding inhibitory activity of small molecules against the NTD has been employed, and the selected compounds exhibited significant RNA binding inhibition with calculated IC50 values ranging from 8.8 μM to 15.7 μM. Furthermore, the antiviral efficacy of these compounds was evaluated using in vitro cell-based assays targeting the replication of SARS-CoV-2. Remarkably, two compounds, Telmisartan and BMS-189453, displayed potential antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2, with EC50 values of approximately 1.02 μM and 0.98 μM, and a notable selective index of >98 and > 102, respectively. This study gives valuable insight into developing therapeutic interventions against SARS-CoV-2 by targeting the N-protein, a significant effort given the global public health concern posed due to the virus re-emergence and long COVID-19 disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preeti Dhaka
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
| | - Ankur Singh
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
| | - Shweta Choudhary
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
| | - Rama Krishna Peddinti
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
| | - Pravindra Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India.
| | - Gaurav Kumar Sharma
- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India.
| | - Shailly Tomar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India.
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Schuck P, Zhao H. Diversity of short linear interaction motifs in SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. mBio 2023; 14:e0238823. [PMID: 38018991 PMCID: PMC10746173 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02388-23] [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: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Short linear motifs (SLiMs) are 3-10 amino acid long binding motifs in intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDRs) that serve as ubiquitous protein-protein interaction modules in eukaryotic cells. Through molecular mimicry, viruses hijack these sequence motifs to control host cellular processes. It is thought that the small size of SLiMs and the high mutation frequencies of viral IDRs allow rapid host adaptation. However, a salient characteristic of RNA viruses, due to high replication errors, is their obligate existence as mutant swarms. Taking advantage of the uniquely large genomic database of SARS-CoV-2, here, we analyze the role of sequence diversity in the presentation of SLiMs, focusing on the highly abundant, multi-functional nucleocapsid protein. We find that motif mimicry is a highly dynamic process that produces an abundance of motifs transiently present in subsets of mutant species. This diversity allows the virus to efficiently explore eukaryotic motifs and evolve the host-virus interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Schuck
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Huaying Zhao
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Zhao H, Syed AM, Khalid MM, Nguyen A, Ciling A, Wu D, Yau WM, Srinivasan S, Esposito D, Doudna JA, Piszczek G, Ott M, Schuck P. Assembly reactions of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein with nucleic acid. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.22.568361. [PMID: 38045338 PMCID: PMC10690241 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.22.568361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The viral genome of SARS-CoV-2 is packaged by the nucleocapsid (N-) protein into ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs), 38±10 of which are contained in each virion. Their architecture has remained unclear due to the pleomorphism of RNPs, the high flexibility of N-protein intrinsically disordered regions, and highly multivalent interactions between viral RNA and N-protein binding sites in both N-terminal (NTD) and C-terminal domain (CTD). Here we explore critical interaction motifs of RNPs by applying a combination of biophysical techniques to mutant proteins binding different nucleic acids in an in vitro assay for RNP formation, and by examining mutant proteins in a viral assembly assay. We find that nucleic acid-bound N-protein dimers oligomerize via a recently described protein-protein interface presented by a transient helix in its long disordered linker region between NTD and CTD. The resulting hexameric complexes are stabilized by multi-valent protein-nucleic acid interactions that establish crosslinks between dimeric subunits. Assemblies are stabilized by the dimeric CTD of N-protein offering more than one binding site for stem-loop RNA. Our study suggests a model for RNP assembly where N-protein scaffolding at high density on viral RNA is followed by cooperative multimerization through protein-protein interactions in the disordered linker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaying Zhao
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Abdullah M. Syed
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | | | - Ai Nguyen
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Alison Ciling
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Di Wu
- Biophysics Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Wai-Ming Yau
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Sanjana Srinivasan
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Dominic Esposito
- Protein Expression Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Jennifer A. Doudna
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- HHMI, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Grzegorz Piszczek
- Biophysics Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Melanie Ott
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158
| | - Peter Schuck
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
- Center for Biomedical Engineering Technology Acceleration, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
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Zhang FM, Huang T, Wang F, Zhang GS, Liu D, Dai J, Zhang JW, Li QH, Lin GQ, Gao D, Zhao J, Tian P. Discovery of highly potent covalent SARS-CoV-2 3CL pro inhibitors bearing 2-sulfoxyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole scaffold for combating COVID-19. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 260:115721. [PMID: 37598484 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has emerged as a major public health crisis, posing a significant threat to human well-being. Despite the availability of vaccines, COVID-19 continues to spread owing to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutants. This highlights the urgent need for the discovery of more effective drugs to combat COVID-19. As an important target for COVID-19 treatment, 3C-like protease (3CLpro) plays a crucial role in the replication of SARS-CoV-2. In our previous research, we demonstrated the potent inhibitory activities of compound A1, which contains a 2-sulfonyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole scaffold, against SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. Herein, we present a detailed investigation of structural optimization of A1 and conduct a study on the structure-activity relationship. Among the various compounds tested, sulfoxide D6 demonstrates a potent irreversible inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.030 μM) against SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro, as well as a favorable selectivity towards host cysteine proteases such as cathepsin B and cathepsin L. Utilizing mass spectrometry-based peptide profiling, we found that D6 covalently binds to Cys145 of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. Some representative compounds, namely C11, D9 and D10 also demonstrates antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in Vero E6 cells. Overall, the investigation of the 2-sulfoxyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole scaffold as a novel cysteine reactive warhead would provide valuable insights into the design of potent covalent 3CLpro inhibitors for COVID-19 treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Mao Zhang
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for TCM Chemical Biology, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ting Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510182, China
| | - Feng Wang
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for TCM Chemical Biology, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Gui-Shan Zhang
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for TCM Chemical Biology, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Donglan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510182, China
| | - Jun Dai
- Guangzhou Customs District Technology Center, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Jian-Wei Zhang
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for TCM Chemical Biology, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Qing-Hua Li
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for TCM Chemical Biology, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Guo-Qiang Lin
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for TCM Chemical Biology, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Dingding Gao
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for TCM Chemical Biology, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Jincun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510182, China.
| | - Ping Tian
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for TCM Chemical Biology, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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30
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Lopes-Ribeiro Á, Oliveira PDM, Retes H, Barbosa-Stancioli EF, da Fonseca FG, Tsuji M, Coelho-dos-Reis JGA. Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 immunogenicity: loss of immunodominant HLA-A*02-restricted epitopes that activate CD8 + T cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1229712. [PMID: 38022506 PMCID: PMC10656734 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1229712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction and methods In this present work, coronavirus subfamilies and SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs) were investigated for the presence of MHC-I immunodominant viral peptides using in silico and in vitro tools. Results In our results, HLA-A*02 haplotype showed the highest number of immunodominant epitopes but with the lowest combined prediction score. Furthermore, a decrease in combined prediction score was observed for HLA-A*02-restricted epitopes when the original strain was compared to the VOCs, indicating that the mutations on the VOCs are promoting escape from HLA-A2-mediated antigen presentation, which characterizes a immune evasion process. Additionally, epitope signature analysis revealed major immunogenic peptide loss for structural (S) and non-structural (ORF8) proteins of VOCs in comparison to the Wuhan sequence. Discussion These results may indicate that the antiviral CD8+ T-cell responses generated by original strains could not be sufficient for clearance of variants in either newly or reinfection with SARS-CoV-2. In contrast, N epitopes remain the most conserved and reactive peptides across SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Overall, our data could contribute to the rational design and development of new vaccinal platforms to induce a broad cellular CD8+ T cell antiviral response, aiming at controlling viral transmission of future SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ágata Lopes-Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Virologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Patrícia de Melo Oliveira
- Laboratório de Virologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Henrique Morais Retes
- Laboratório de Virologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Edel Figueiredo Barbosa-Stancioli
- Laboratório de Virologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Flávio Guimarães da Fonseca
- Laboratório de Virologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Centro de Tecnologia (CT) Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Moriya Tsuji
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Irving Medical School, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jordana Grazziela Alves Coelho-dos-Reis
- Laboratório de Virologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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31
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Tavares ER, de Lima TF, Bartolomeu-Gonçalves G, de Castro IM, de Lima DG, Borges PHG, Nakazato G, Kobayashi RKT, Venancio EJ, Tarley CRT, de Almeida ERD, Pelisson M, Vespero EC, Simão ANC, Perugini MRE, Kerbauy G, Fornazieri MA, Tognim MCB, Góes VM, de Souza TDACB, Oliveira DBL, Durigon EL, Faccin-Galhardi LC, Yamauchi LM, Yamada-Ogatta SF. Development of a Melting-Curve-Based Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assay for the Simultaneous Detection of Viruses Causing Respiratory Infection. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2692. [PMID: 38004704 PMCID: PMC10672821 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The prompt and accurate identification of the etiological agents of viral respiratory infections is a critical measure in mitigating outbreaks. In this study, we developed and clinically evaluated a novel melting-curve-based multiplex real-time PCR (M-m-qPCR) assay targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and nucleocapsid phosphoprotein N of SARS-CoV-2, the Matrix protein 2 of the Influenza A virus, the RdRp domain of the L protein from the Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus, and the polyprotein from Rhinovirus B genes. The analytical performance of the M-m-qPCR underwent assessment using in silico analysis and a panel of reference and clinical strains, encompassing viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens, exhibiting 100% specificity. Moreover, the assay showed a detection limit of 10 copies per reaction for all targeted pathogens using the positive controls. To validate its applicability, the assay was further tested in simulated nasal fluid spiked with the viruses mentioned above, followed by validation on nasopharyngeal swabs collected from 811 individuals. Among them, 13.4% (109/811) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and 1.1% (9/811) tested positive for Influenza A. Notably, these results showed 100% concordance with those obtained using a commercial kit. Therefore, the M-m-qPCR exhibits great potential for the routine screening of these respiratory viral pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliandro Reis Tavares
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Microorganisms, Department of Microbiology, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil; (E.R.T.); (D.G.d.L.)
| | - Thiago Ferreira de Lima
- Graduate Program in Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil; (T.F.d.L.); (I.M.d.C.); (P.H.G.B.); (G.N.); (R.K.T.K.); (L.C.F.-G.)
| | - Guilherme Bartolomeu-Gonçalves
- Graduate Program in Clinical and Laboratory Pathophysiology, Department of Pathology, Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86038-350, Brazil; (G.B.-G.); (E.J.V.); (M.P.); (E.C.V.); (A.N.C.S.); (M.R.E.P.)
| | - Isabela Madeira de Castro
- Graduate Program in Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil; (T.F.d.L.); (I.M.d.C.); (P.H.G.B.); (G.N.); (R.K.T.K.); (L.C.F.-G.)
| | - Daniel Gaiotto de Lima
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Microorganisms, Department of Microbiology, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil; (E.R.T.); (D.G.d.L.)
| | - Paulo Henrique Guilherme Borges
- Graduate Program in Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil; (T.F.d.L.); (I.M.d.C.); (P.H.G.B.); (G.N.); (R.K.T.K.); (L.C.F.-G.)
| | - Gerson Nakazato
- Graduate Program in Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil; (T.F.d.L.); (I.M.d.C.); (P.H.G.B.); (G.N.); (R.K.T.K.); (L.C.F.-G.)
| | - Renata Katsuko Takayama Kobayashi
- Graduate Program in Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil; (T.F.d.L.); (I.M.d.C.); (P.H.G.B.); (G.N.); (R.K.T.K.); (L.C.F.-G.)
| | - Emerson José Venancio
- Graduate Program in Clinical and Laboratory Pathophysiology, Department of Pathology, Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86038-350, Brazil; (G.B.-G.); (E.J.V.); (M.P.); (E.C.V.); (A.N.C.S.); (M.R.E.P.)
| | | | | | - Marsileni Pelisson
- Graduate Program in Clinical and Laboratory Pathophysiology, Department of Pathology, Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86038-350, Brazil; (G.B.-G.); (E.J.V.); (M.P.); (E.C.V.); (A.N.C.S.); (M.R.E.P.)
| | - Eliana Carolina Vespero
- Graduate Program in Clinical and Laboratory Pathophysiology, Department of Pathology, Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86038-350, Brazil; (G.B.-G.); (E.J.V.); (M.P.); (E.C.V.); (A.N.C.S.); (M.R.E.P.)
| | - Andrea Name Colado Simão
- Graduate Program in Clinical and Laboratory Pathophysiology, Department of Pathology, Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86038-350, Brazil; (G.B.-G.); (E.J.V.); (M.P.); (E.C.V.); (A.N.C.S.); (M.R.E.P.)
| | - Márcia Regina Eches Perugini
- Graduate Program in Clinical and Laboratory Pathophysiology, Department of Pathology, Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86038-350, Brazil; (G.B.-G.); (E.J.V.); (M.P.); (E.C.V.); (A.N.C.S.); (M.R.E.P.)
| | - Gilselena Kerbauy
- Graduate Program in Nursing, Department of Nursing, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86038-350, Brazil;
| | - Marco Aurélio Fornazieri
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Surgery, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86038-350, Brazil;
| | | | | | | | - Danielle Bruna Leal Oliveira
- Albert Einstein Hospital, São Paulo 05652-900, Brazil;
- Laboratory of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Edison Luiz Durigon
- Laboratory of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Lígia Carla Faccin-Galhardi
- Graduate Program in Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil; (T.F.d.L.); (I.M.d.C.); (P.H.G.B.); (G.N.); (R.K.T.K.); (L.C.F.-G.)
| | - Lucy Megumi Yamauchi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Microorganisms, Department of Microbiology, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil; (E.R.T.); (D.G.d.L.)
- Graduate Program in Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil; (T.F.d.L.); (I.M.d.C.); (P.H.G.B.); (G.N.); (R.K.T.K.); (L.C.F.-G.)
| | - Sueli Fumie Yamada-Ogatta
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Microorganisms, Department of Microbiology, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil; (E.R.T.); (D.G.d.L.)
- Graduate Program in Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Brazil; (T.F.d.L.); (I.M.d.C.); (P.H.G.B.); (G.N.); (R.K.T.K.); (L.C.F.-G.)
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32
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Grand RJ. SARS-CoV-2 and the DNA damage response. J Gen Virol 2023; 104:001918. [PMID: 37948194 PMCID: PMC10768691 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 is characterized by respiratory distress, multiorgan dysfunction and, in some cases, death. The virus is also responsible for post-COVID-19 condition (commonly referred to as 'long COVID'). SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus with a genome of approximately 30 kb, which encodes 26 proteins. It has been reported to affect multiple pathways in infected cells, resulting, in many cases, in the induction of a 'cytokine storm' and cellular senescence. Perhaps because it is an RNA virus, replicating largely in the cytoplasm, the effect of SARS-Cov-2 on genome stability and DNA damage responses (DDRs) has received relatively little attention. However, it is now becoming clear that the virus causes damage to cellular DNA, as shown by the presence of micronuclei, DNA repair foci and increased comet tails in infected cells. This review considers recent evidence indicating how SARS-CoV-2 causes genome instability, deregulates the cell cycle and targets specific components of DDR pathways. The significance of the virus's ability to cause cellular senescence is also considered, as are the implications of genome instability for patients suffering from long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger J. Grand
- Institute for Cancer and Genomic Science, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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33
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Boniardi I, Corona A, Basquin J, Basquin C, Milia J, Nagy I, Tramontano E, Zinzula L. Suramin inhibits SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid phosphoprotein genome packaging function. Virus Res 2023; 336:199221. [PMID: 37704176 PMCID: PMC10514558 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is fading, however its etiologic agent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues posing - despite the availability of licensed vaccines - a global health threat, due to the potential emergence of vaccine-resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants. This makes the development of new drugs against COVID-19 a persistent urgency and sets as research priority the validation of novel therapeutic targets within the SARS-CoV-2 proteome. Among these, a promising one is the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) phosphoprotein, a major structural component of the virion with indispensable role in packaging the viral genome into a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex, which also contributes to SARS-CoV-2 innate immune evasion by inhibiting the host cell type-I interferon (IFN-I) response. By combining miniaturized differential scanning fluorimetry with microscale thermophoresis, we found that the 100-year-old drug Suramin interacts with SARS-CoV-2 N-terminal domain (NTD) and C-terminal domain (CTD), thereby inhibiting their single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) binding function with low-micromolar Kd and IC50 values. Molecular docking suggests that Suramin interacts with basic NTD cleft and CTD dimer interface groove, highlighting three potentially druggable ssRNA binding sites. Electron microscopy shows that Suramin inhibits the formation in vitro of RNP complex-like condensates by SARS-CoV-2 N with a synthetic ssRNA. In a dose-dependent manner, Suramin also reduced SARS-CoV-2-induced cytopathic effect on Vero E6 and Calu-3 cells, partially reverting the SARS-CoV-2 N-inhibited IFN-I production in 293T cells. Our findings indicate that Suramin inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication by hampering viral genome packaging, thereby representing a starting model for design of new COVID-19 antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Boniardi
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Angela Corona
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato 09042, Italy
| | - Jerome Basquin
- Department of Structural Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Claire Basquin
- Department of Structural Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Jessica Milia
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato 09042, Italy
| | - István Nagy
- Center of Research and Development, Eszterházy Károly Catholic University, Eger 3300, Hungary
| | - Enzo Tramontano
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato 09042, Italy.
| | - Luca Zinzula
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried 82152, Germany.
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Ciszewski WM, Wozniak LA, Sobierajska K. SARS-CoV-2 S and N protein peptides drive invasion abilities of colon cancer cells through TGF-β1 regulation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2023; 1870:119541. [PMID: 37468071 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2023.119541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the delay of colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis, which causes CRC to be treated at more advanced, often metastatic stages. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for metastatic CRC stages, which are considered the leading cause of patients' death. The mortality induced by SARS-CoV-2 is significantly higher in cancer patients than in patients with other diseases. Interestingly, COVID-19 patients often develop fibrosis which depends on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) - the process also involved in cancer progression. The study aimed to verify whether SARS-CoV-2 induces EMT and consequently increases the invasion potential of colon cancer cells. CRC cells were stimulated with SARS-CoV-2 S and N protein peptides and epithelial and mesenchymal markers were analysed with Western blotting to detect the occurrence of the EMT. The migration, invasion assays and MMP-7 secretion were employed to evaluate the potential of SARS-CoV-2 to stimulate the cells invasion in vitro. ELISA assay, TGF-β1 neutralizing antibodies, TGF-βR silencing and inhibitors were used to investigate the role of the TGF-β1 signalling pathways in the SARS-CoV-2-dependent CRC stimulation. The SARS-CoV-2 induced EMT, which increased the invasion ability of CRC cells. Moreover, the SARS-CoV-2 proteins drive colon cancer cell invasion through TGF-β1. Additionally, secreted TGF-β1 induced a bystander effect in colon cancer cells. However, blocking TGF-β1/Smad- and -non-Smad-dependent pathways suppressed the SARS-CoV-2-induced invasiveness of CRC. In conclusion, we revealed that SARS-CoV-2 stimulates the invasion abilities of CRC by regulating TGF-β1-induced EMT. Our results provide a theoretical basis for using anti-TGF-β1 therapy to reduce the risk of CRC metastasis during SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech M Ciszewski
- Department of Molecular Cell Mechanisms, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215, Lodz, Poland.
| | - Lucyna A Wozniak
- Department of Structural Biology, Medical University of Lodz, Zeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752, Lodz, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Sobierajska
- Department of Molecular Cell Mechanisms, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215, Lodz, Poland
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35
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Ogarek N, Oboza P, Olszanecka-Glinianowicz M, Kocelak P. SARS-CoV-2 infection as a potential risk factor for the development of cancer. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1260776. [PMID: 37753372 PMCID: PMC10518417 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1260776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on public health and the estimated number of excess deaths may be more than three times higher than documented in official statistics. Numerous studies have shown an increased risk of severe COVID-19 and death in patients with cancer. In addition, the role of SARS-CoV-2 as a potential risk factor for the development of cancer has been considered. Therefore, in this review, we summarise the available data on the potential effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on oncogenesis, including but not limited to effects on host signal transduction pathways, immune surveillance, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, cell cycle dysregulation, potential viral genome integration, epigenetic alterations and genetic mutations, oncolytic effects and reactivation of dormant cancer cells. We also investigated the potential long-term effects and impact of the antiviral therapy used in COVID-19 on cancer development and its progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Ogarek
- Pathophysiology Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, The Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Paulina Oboza
- Students’ Scientific Society at the Pathophysiology Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, The Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Magdalena Olszanecka-Glinianowicz
- Health Promotion and Obesity Management Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, The Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Piotr Kocelak
- Pathophysiology Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, The Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
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36
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Korobova ZR, Arsentieva NA, Totolian AA. Macrophage-Derived Chemokine MDC/CCL22: An Ambiguous Finding in COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13083. [PMID: 37685890 PMCID: PMC10487728 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713083] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) is a chemokine of the C-C subfamily. It is involved in T-cellular maturation and migration. Our previous research shows that plasma CCL22/MDC tends to show a statistically significant depletion of concentrations in acute patients and convalescents when compared to healthy donors. In the current work, we investigate existing views on MDC/CCL22 dynamics in association with various pathologies, including respiratory diseases and, specifically, COVID-19. Additionally, we present our explanations for the observed decrease in MDC/CCL22 concentrations in COVID-19. The first hypothesis we provide implies that viral products bind to MDC/CCL22 and block its activity. Another explanation for this phenomenon is based on dendritic cells population and the inhibition of their function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoia R. Korobova
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Saint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, Mira St. 14, 197101 St. Petersburg, Russia; (Z.R.K.); (N.A.A.)
- Department of Immunology, Pavlov First State Medical University of St. Petersburg, L’va Tolstogo St. 6–8, 197022 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Natalia A. Arsentieva
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Saint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, Mira St. 14, 197101 St. Petersburg, Russia; (Z.R.K.); (N.A.A.)
- Department of Immunology, Pavlov First State Medical University of St. Petersburg, L’va Tolstogo St. 6–8, 197022 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Areg A. Totolian
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Saint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, Mira St. 14, 197101 St. Petersburg, Russia; (Z.R.K.); (N.A.A.)
- Department of Immunology, Pavlov First State Medical University of St. Petersburg, L’va Tolstogo St. 6–8, 197022 St. Petersburg, Russia
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Schuck P, Zhao H. Diversity of Short Linear Interaction Motifs in SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.01.551467. [PMID: 37790474 PMCID: PMC10542142 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.01.551467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Molecular mimicry of short linear interaction motifs has emerged as a key mechanism for viral proteins binding host domains and hijacking host cell processes. Here, we examine the role of RNA-virus sequence diversity in the dynamics of the virus-host interface, by analyzing the uniquely vast sequence record of viable SARS-CoV-2 species with focus on the multi-functional nucleocapsid protein. We observe the abundant presentation of motifs encoding several essential host protein interactions, alongside a majority of possibly non-functional and randomly occurring motif sequences absent in subsets of viable virus species. A large number of motifs emerge ex nihilo through transient mutations relative to the ancestral consensus sequence. The observed mutational landscape implies an accessible motif space that spans at least 25% of known eukaryotic motifs. This reveals motif mimicry as a highly dynamic process with the capacity to broadly explore host motifs, allowing the virus to rapidly evolve the virus-host interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Schuck
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Huaying Zhao
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Min YQ, Huang M, Feng K, Jia Y, Sun X, Ning YJ. A New Cellular Interactome of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein and Its Biological Implications. Mol Cell Proteomics 2023; 22:100579. [PMID: 37211047 PMCID: PMC10198743 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
There is still much to uncover regarding the molecular details of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. As the most abundant protein, coronavirus nucleocapsid (N) protein encapsidates viral RNAs, serving as the structural component of ribonucleoprotein and virion, and participates in transcription, replication, and host regulations. Virus-host interaction might give clues to better understand how the virus affects or is affected by its host during infection and identify promising therapeutic candidates. Considering the critical roles of N, we here established a new cellular interactome of SARS-CoV-2 N by using a high-specific affinity purification (S-pulldown) assay coupled with quantitative mass spectrometry and immunoblotting validations, uncovering many N-interacting host proteins unreported previously. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that these host factors are mainly involved in translation regulations, viral transcription, RNA processes, stress responses, protein folding and modification, and inflammatory/immune signaling pathways, in line with the supposed actions of N in viral infection. Existing pharmacological cellular targets and the directing drugs were then mined, generating a drug-host protein network. Accordingly, we experimentally identified several small-molecule compounds as novel inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 replication. Furthermore, a newly identified host factor, DDX1, was verified to interact and colocalize with N mainly by binding to the N-terminal domain of the viral protein. Importantly, loss/gain/reconstitution-of-function experiments showed that DDX1 acts as a potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 host factor, inhibiting the viral replication and protein expression. The N-targeting and anti-SARS-CoV-2 abilities of DDX1 are consistently independent of its ATPase/helicase activity. Further mechanism studies revealed that DDX1 impedes multiple activities of N, including the N-N interaction, N oligomerization, and N-viral RNA binding, thus likely inhibiting viral propagation. These data provide new clues to better depiction of the N-cell interactions and SARS-CoV-2 infection and may help inform the development of new therapeutic candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Qin Min
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengzhuo Huang
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Virology and National Virus Resource Center, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Kuan Feng
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; State Key Laboratory of Virology and National Virus Resource Center, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yajie Jia
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiulian Sun
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yun-Jia Ning
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; State Key Laboratory of Virology and National Virus Resource Center, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, China.
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Puenpa J, Sawaswong V, Nimsamer P, Payungporn S, Rattanakomol P, Saengdao N, Chansaenroj J, Yorsaeng R, Suwannakarn K, Poovorawan Y. Investigation of the Molecular Epidemiology and Evolution of Circulating Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Thailand from 2020 to 2022 via Next-Generation Sequencing. Viruses 2023; 15:1394. [PMID: 37376693 DOI: 10.3390/v15061394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious condition caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which surfaced in Thailand in early 2020. The current study investigated the SARS-CoV-2 lineages circulating in Thailand and their evolutionary history. Complete genome sequencing of 210 SARS-CoV-2 samples collected from collaborating hospitals and the Institute of Urban Disease Control and Prevention over two years, from December 2020 to July 2022, was performed using next-generation sequencing technology. Multiple lineage introductions were observed before the emergence of the B.1.1.529 omicron variant, including B.1.36.16, B.1.351, B.1.1, B.1.1.7, B.1.524, AY.30, and B.1.617.2. The B.1.1.529 omicron variant was subsequently detected between January 2022 and June 2022. The evolutionary rate for the spike gene of SARS-CoV-2 was estimated to be between 0.87 and 1.71 × 10-3 substitutions per site per year. There was a substantial prevalence of the predominant mutations C25672T (L94F), C25961T (T190I), and G26167T (V259L) in the ORF3a gene during the Thailand outbreaks. Complete genome sequencing can enhance the prediction of future variant changes in viral genomes, which is crucial to ensuring that vaccine strains are protective against worldwide outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiratchaya Puenpa
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Vorthon Sawaswong
- Center of Excellence in Systems Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Pattaraporn Nimsamer
- Center of Excellence in Systems Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Sunchai Payungporn
- Center of Excellence in Systems Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Patthaya Rattanakomol
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Nutsada Saengdao
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Jira Chansaenroj
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Ritthideach Yorsaeng
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Kamol Suwannakarn
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Yong Poovorawan
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- FRS(T), The Royal Society of Thailand, Sanam Sueapa, Dusit, Bangkok 10300, Thailand
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40
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Wang Y, Ling X, Zhang C, Zou J, Luo B, Luo Y, Jia X, Jia G, Zhang M, Hu J, Liu T, Wang Y, Lu K, Li D, Ma J, Liu C, Su Z. Modular characterization of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein domain functions in nucleocapsid-like assembly. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2023; 4:16. [PMID: 37211575 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-023-00129-z] [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: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, with the Omicron subvariant XBB currently prevailing the global infections, continue to pose threats on public health worldwide. This non-segmented positive-stranded RNA virus encodes the multi-functional nucleocapsid protein (N) that plays key roles in viral infection, replication, genome packaging and budding. N protein consists of two structural domains, NTD and CTD, and three intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) including the NIDR, the serine/arginine rich motif (SRIDR), and the CIDR. Previous studies revealed functions of N protein in RNA binding, oligomerization, and liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), however, characterizations of individual domains and their dissected contributions to N protein functions remain incomplete. In particular, little is known about N protein assembly that may play essential roles in viral replication and genome packing. Here, we present a modular approach to dissect functional roles of individual domains in SARS-CoV-2 N protein that reveals inhibitory or augmented modulations of protein assembly and LLPS in the presence of viral RNAs. Intriguingly, full-length N protein (NFL) assembles into ring-like architecture whereas the truncated SRIDR-CTD-CIDR (N182-419) promotes filamentous assembly. Moreover, LLPS droplets of NFL and N182-419 are significantly enlarged in the presence of viral RNAs, and we observed filamentous structures in the N182-419 droplets using correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM), suggesting that the formation of LLPS droplets may promote higher-order assembly of N protein for transcription, replication and packaging. Together this study expands our understanding of the multiple functions of N protein in SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaobin Ling
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Chong Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Jian Zou
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Bingnan Luo
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Yongbo Luo
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Xinyu Jia
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Guowen Jia
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Minghua Zhang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, China
| | - Junchao Hu
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Ting Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuanfeiyi Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Kefeng Lu
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Dan Li
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Jinbiao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| | - Cong Liu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center On Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Organic and Natural Products Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Zhaoming Su
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China.
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Bonam SR, Hu H. Next-Generation Vaccines Against COVID-19 Variants: Beyond the Spike Protein. ZOONOSES (BURLINGTON, MASS.) 2023; 3:10.15212/zoonoses-2023-0003. [PMID: 38031548 PMCID: PMC10686570 DOI: 10.15212/zoonoses-2023-0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Vaccines are among the most effective medical countermeasures against infectious diseases. The current Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spurred the scientific strategies to fight against the disease. Since 2020, a great number of vaccines based on different platforms have been in development in response to the pandemic, among which mRNA, adenoviral vector, and subunit vaccines have been clinically approved for use in humans. These first-generation COVID-19 vaccines largely target the viral spike (S) protein and aim for eliciting potent neutralizing antibodies. With the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, especially the highly transmissible Omicron strains, the S-based vaccine strategies have been faced constant challenges due to strong immune escape by the variants. The coronavirus nucleocapsid (N) is one of the viral proteins that induces strong T-cell immunity and is more conserved across different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Inclusion of N in the development of COVID-19 vaccines has been reported. Here, we briefly reviewed and discussed COVID-19 disease, current S-based vaccine strategies, and focused on the immunobiology of N protein in SARS-CoV-2 host immunity, as well as the next-generation vaccine strategies involving N protein, to combat current and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinivasa Reddy Bonam
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA 77555
| | - Haitao Hu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA 77555
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA 77555
- Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA 77555
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Damiani V, Pizzinato E, Cicalini I, Demattia G, Zucchelli M, Natale L, Palmarini C, Di Marzio C, Federici L, De Laurenzi V, Pieragostino D. Development of a Method for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Antibodies on Dried Blood Spot by DELFIA Immunoassay. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13050897. [PMID: 36900041 PMCID: PMC10000641 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13050897] [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: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein are produced by the immune system in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, but most available vaccines developed to fight the pandemic spread target the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The aim of this study was to improve the detection of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid by providing a simple and robust method applicable to a large population. For this purpose, we developed a DELFIA immunoassay on dried blood spots (DBSs) by converting a commercially available IVD ELISA assay. A total of forty-seven paired plasma and dried blood spots were collected from vaccinated and/or previously SARS-CoV-2-infected subjects. The DBS-DELFIA resulted in a wider dynamic range and higher sensitivity for detecting antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid. Moreover, the DBS-DELFIA showed a good total intra-assay coefficient of variability of 14.6%. Finally, a strong correlation was found between SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies detected by the DBS-DELFIA and ELISA immunoassays (r = 0.9). Therefore, the association of dried blood sampling with DELFIA technology may provide an easier, minimally invasive, and accurate measurement of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies in previously SARS-CoV-2-infected subjects. In conclusion, these results justify further research to develop a certified IVD DBS-DELFIA assay for detecting SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies useful for diagnostics as well as for serosurveillance studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Damiani
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0871355582
| | - Erika Pizzinato
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Ilaria Cicalini
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Gianmaria Demattia
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Mirco Zucchelli
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Luca Natale
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Claudia Palmarini
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Claudia Di Marzio
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Luca Federici
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Vincenzo De Laurenzi
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Damiana Pieragostino
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
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