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Toews S, Wacker A, Faison EM, Duchardt-Ferner E, Richter C, Mathieu D, Bottaro S, Zhang Q, Schwalbe H. The 5'-terminal stem-loop RNA element of SARS-CoV-2 features highly dynamic structural elements that are sensitive to differences in cellular pH. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:7971-7986. [PMID: 38842942 PMCID: PMC11260494 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
We present the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) solution structure of the 5'-terminal stem loop 5_SL1 (SL1) of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. SL1 contains two A-form helical elements and two regions with non-canonical structure, namely an apical pyrimidine-rich loop and an asymmetric internal loop with one and two nucleotides at the 5'- and 3'-terminal part of the sequence, respectively. The conformational ensemble representing the averaged solution structure of SL1 was validated using NMR residual dipolar coupling (RDC) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data. We show that the internal loop is the major binding site for fragments of low molecular weight. This internal loop of SL1 can be stabilized by an A12-C28 interaction that promotes the transient formation of an A+•C base pair. As a consequence, the pKa of the internal loop adenosine A12 is shifted to 5.8, compared to a pKa of 3.63 of free adenosine. Furthermore, applying a recently developed pH-differential mutational profiling (PD-MaP) approach, we not only recapitulated our NMR findings of SL1 but also unveiled multiple sites potentially sensitive to pH across the 5'-UTR of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Toews
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Hesse 60438, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Hesse 60438, Germany
| | - Anna Wacker
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Hesse 60438, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Hesse 60438, Germany
| | - Edgar M Faison
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599, USA
| | - Elke Duchardt-Ferner
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Hesse 60438, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Hesse 60438, Germany
| | - Christian Richter
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Hesse 60438, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Hesse 60438, Germany
| | - Daniel Mathieu
- Bruker BioSpin GmbH, Ettlingen, Baden-Württemberg 76275, Germany
| | - Sandro Bottaro
- Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599, USA
| | - Harald Schwalbe
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Hesse 60438, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Hesse 60438, Germany
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Sievers BL, Cheng MTK, Csiba K, Meng B, Gupta RK. SARS-CoV-2 and innate immunity: the good, the bad, and the "goldilocks". Cell Mol Immunol 2024; 21:171-183. [PMID: 37985854 PMCID: PMC10805730 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-023-01104-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
An ancient conflict between hosts and pathogens has driven the innate and adaptive arms of immunity. Knowledge about this interplay can not only help us identify biological mechanisms but also reveal pathogen vulnerabilities that can be leveraged therapeutically. The humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 infection has been the focus of intense research, and the role of the innate immune system has received significantly less attention. Here, we review current knowledge of the innate immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the various means SARS-CoV-2 employs to evade innate defense systems. We also consider the role of innate immunity in SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and in the phenomenon of long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark T K Cheng
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kata Csiba
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bo Meng
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Ravindra K Gupta
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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3
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Dorji T, Dorji K, Wangchuk T, Pelki T, Gyeltshen S. Genetic diversity and evolutionary patterns of SARS-CoV-2 among the Bhutanese population during the pandemic. Osong Public Health Res Perspect 2023; 14:494-507. [PMID: 38204428 PMCID: PMC10788421 DOI: 10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0209] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by a dynamic virus, has had a profound global impact. Despite declining global COVID-19 cases and mortality rates, the emergence of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants remains a major concern. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the genomic sequences of SARS-CoV-2 within the Bhutanese population during the pandemic. The primary aim was to elucidate the molecular epidemiology and evolutionary patterns of SARS-CoV-2 in Bhutan, with a particular focus on genetic variations and lineage dynamics. METHODS Whole-genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 collected from Bhutan between May 2020 and February 2023 (n=135) were retrieved from the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Database. RESULTS The SARS-CoV-2 variants in Bhutan were predominantly classified within the Nextstrain clade 20A (31.1%), followed by clade 21L (20%) and clade 22D (15.6%). We identified 26 Pangolin lineages with variations in their spatial and temporal distribution. Bayesian time-scaled phylogenetic analysis estimated the time to the most recent common ancestor as February 15, 2020, with a substitution rate of 0.97×10-3 substitutions per site per year. Notably, the spike glycoprotein displayed the highest mutation frequency among major viral proteins, with 116 distinct mutations, including D614G. The Bhutanese isolates also featured mutations such as E484K, K417N, and S477N in the spike protein, which have implications for altered viral properties. CONCLUSION This is the first study to describe the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in Bhutan during the pandemic, and this data can inform public health policies and strategies for preventing future outbreaks in Bhutan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tshering Dorji
- Royal Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
| | - Kunzang Dorji
- Royal Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
| | - Tandin Wangchuk
- Royal Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
| | - Tshering Pelki
- Royal Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
| | - Sonam Gyeltshen
- Royal Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
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Granadillo Rodríguez M, Wong L, Chelico L. Similar deamination activities but different phenotypic outcomes induced by APOBEC3 enzymes in breast epithelial cells. Front Genome Ed 2023; 5:1196697. [PMID: 37324648 PMCID: PMC10267419 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2023.1196697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
APOBEC3 (A3) enzymes deaminate cytosine to uracil in viral single-stranded DNA as a mutagenic barrier for some viruses. A3-induced deaminations can also occur in human genomes resulting in an endogenous source of somatic mutations in multiple cancers. However, the roles of each A3 are unclear since few studies have assessed these enzymes in parallel. Thus, we developed stable cell lines expressing A3A, A3B, or A3H Hap I using non-tumorigenic MCF10A and tumorigenic MCF7 breast epithelial cells to assess their mutagenic potential and cancer phenotypes in breast cells. The activity of these enzymes was characterized by γH2AX foci formation and in vitro deamination. Cell migration and soft agar colony formation assays assessed cellular transformation potential. We found that all three A3 enzymes had similar γH2AX foci formation, despite different deamination activities in vitro. Notably, in nuclear lysates, the in vitro deaminase activity of A3A, A3B, and A3H did not require digestion of cellular RNA, in contrast to that of A3B and A3H in whole-cell lysates. Their similar activities in cells, nonetheless, resulted in distinct phenotypes where A3A decreased colony formation in soft agar, A3B decreased colony formation in soft agar after hydroxyurea treatment, and A3H Hap I promoted cell migration. Overall, we show that in vitro deamination data do not always reflect cell DNA damage, all three A3s induce DNA damage, and the impact of each is different.
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Li M, Du J, Liu W, Li Z, Lv F, Hu C, Dai Y, Zhang X, Zhang Z, Liu G, Pan Q, Yu Y, Wang X, Zhu P, Tan X, Garber PA, Zhou X. Comparative susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV across mammals. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:549-560. [PMID: 36690780 PMCID: PMC9869846 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01368-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Exploring wild reservoirs of pathogenic viruses is critical for their long-term control and for predicting future pandemic scenarios. Here, a comparative in vitro infection analysis was first performed on 83 cell cultures derived from 55 mammalian species using pseudotyped viruses bearing S proteins from SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV. Cell cultures from Thomas's horseshoe bats, king horseshoe bats, green monkeys, and ferrets were found to be highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV pseudotyped viruses. Moreover, five variants (del69-70, D80Y, S98F, T572I, and Q675H), that beside spike receptor-binding domain can significantly alter the host tropism of SARS-CoV-2. An examination of phylogenetic signals of transduction rates revealed that closely related taxa generally have similar susceptibility to MERS-CoV but not to SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped viruses. Additionally, we discovered that the expression of 95 genes, e.g., PZDK1 and APOBEC3, were commonly associated with the transduction rates of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped viruses. This study provides basic documentation of the susceptibility, variants, and molecules that underlie the cross-species transmission of these coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Juan Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Weiqiang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zihao Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Fei Lv
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chunyan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yichen Dai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Gaoming Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Qi Pan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yang Yu
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Pingfen Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xu Tan
- Beijing Advanced Center for Structural Biology, Beijing Frontier Innovation Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Paul A Garber
- Department of Anthropology, Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Xuming Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
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Zhao L, Hall M, de Cesare M, MacIntyre-Cockett G, Lythgoe K, Fraser C, Bonsall D, Golubchik T, Ferretti L. The mutational spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 genomic and antigenomic RNA. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221747. [PMID: 36382519 PMCID: PMC9667359 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The raw material for viral evolution is provided by intra-host mutations occurring during replication, transcription or post-transcription. Replication and transcription of Coronaviridae proceed through the synthesis of negative-sense 'antigenomes' acting as templates for positive-sense genomic and subgenomic RNA. Hence, mutations in the genomes of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses can occur during (and after) the synthesis of either negative-sense or positive-sense RNA, with potentially distinct patterns and consequences. We explored for the first time the mutational spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 (sub)genomic and anti(sub)genomic RNA. We use a high-quality deep sequencing dataset produced using a quantitative strand-aware sequencing method, controlled for artefacts and sequencing errors, and scrutinized for accurate detection of within-host diversity. The nucleotide differences between negative- and positive-sense strand consensus vary between patients and do not show dependence on age or sex. Similarities and differences in mutational patterns between within-host minor variants on the two RNA strands suggested strand-specific mutations or editing by host deaminases and oxidative damage. We observe generally neutral and slight negative selection on the negative strand, contrasting with purifying selection in ORF1a, ORF1b and S genes of the positive strand of the genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lele Zhao
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Matthew Hall
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
| | | | | | - Katrina Lythgoe
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Christophe Fraser
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
| | - David Bonsall
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK,Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Tanya Golubchik
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK,Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute (Sydney ID), Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
| | | | - Luca Ferretti
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
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7
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Lessons Learned and Yet-to-Be Learned on the Importance of RNA Structure in SARS-CoV-2 Replication. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2022; 86:e0005721. [PMID: 35862724 PMCID: PMC9491204 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00057-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, is a member of the virus family Coronaviridae, known for relatively extensive (~30-kb) RNA genomes that not only encode for numerous proteins but are also capable of forming elaborate structures. As highlighted in this review, these structures perform critical functions in various steps of the viral life cycle, ultimately impacting pathogenesis and transmissibility. We examine these elements in the context of coronavirus evolutionary history and future directions for curbing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other potential human coronaviruses. While we focus on structures supported by a variety of biochemical, biophysical, and/or computational methods, we also touch here on recent evidence for novel structures in both protein-coding and noncoding regions of the genome, including an assessment of the potential role for RNA structure in the controversial finding of SARS-CoV-2 integration in “long COVID” patients. This review aims to serve as a consolidation of previous works on coronavirus and more recent investigation of SARS-CoV-2, emphasizing the need for improved understanding of the role of RNA structure in the evolution and adaptation of these human viruses.
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8
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The low abundance of CpG in the SARS-CoV-2 genome is not an evolutionarily signature of ZAP. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2420. [PMID: 35165300 PMCID: PMC8844275 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06046-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP) is known to restrict viral replication by binding to the CpG rich regions of viral RNA, and subsequently inducing viral RNA degradation. This enzyme has recently been shown to be capable of restricting SARS-CoV-2. These data have led to the hypothesis that the low abundance of CpG in the SARS-CoV-2 genome is due to an evolutionary pressure exerted by the host ZAP. To investigate this hypothesis, we performed a detailed analysis of many coronavirus sequences and ZAP RNA binding preference data. Our analyses showed neither evidence for an evolutionary pressure acting specifically on CpG dinucleotides, nor a link between the activity of ZAP and the low CpG abundance of the SARS-CoV-2 genome.
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9
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Forni D, Cagliani R, Pontremoli C, Clerici M, Sironi M. The substitution spectra of coronavirus genomes. Brief Bioinform 2022; 23:bbab382. [PMID: 34518866 PMCID: PMC8499949 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbab382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has triggered an unprecedented international effort to sequence complete viral genomes. We leveraged this wealth of information to characterize the substitution spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 and to compare it with those of other human and animal coronaviruses. We show that, once nucleotide composition is taken into account, human and most animal coronaviruses display a mutation spectrum dominated by C to U and G to U substitutions, a feature that is not shared by other positive-sense RNA viruses. However, the proportions of C to U and G to U substitutions tend to decrease as divergence increases, suggesting that, whatever their origin, a proportion of these changes is subsequently eliminated by purifying selection. Analysis of the sequence context of C to U substitutions showed little evidence of apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC)-mediated editing and such contexts were similar for SARS-CoV-2 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus sampled from different hosts, despite different repertoires of APOBEC3 proteins in distinct species. Conversely, we found evidence that C to U and G to U changes affect CpG dinucleotides at a frequency higher than expected. Whereas this suggests ongoing selective reduction of CpGs, this effect alone cannot account for the substitution spectra. Finally, we show that, during the first months of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic spread, the frequency of both G to U and C to U substitutions increased. Our data suggest that the substitution spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 is determined by an interplay of factors, including intrinsic biases of the replication process, avoidance of CpG dinucleotides and other constraints exerted by the new host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Forni
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Bioinformatics, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Rachele Cagliani
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Bioinformatics, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Chiara Pontremoli
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Bioinformatics, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Mario Clerici
- Department of Physiopathology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Don C. Gnocchi Foundation ONLUS, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Manuela Sironi
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Bioinformatics, Bosisio Parini, Italy
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10
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Muñoz M, Patiño LH, Ballesteros N, Castañeda S, Luna N, Delgado L, Hernandez-Pereira C, Shaban MV, Muñoz SA, Paniz-Mondolfi A, Ramírez JD. Striking lineage diversity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 from non-human sources. One Health 2021; 14:100363. [PMID: 34931174 PMCID: PMC8673956 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the necessity to control human-to-human spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the overwhelming majority of the generated data on this virus was solely related to the genomic characteristics of strains infecting humans; conversely, this work aimed to recover and analyze the diversity of viral genomes from non-human sources. From a set of 3595 publicly available SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences, 128 lineages were identified in non-human hosts, the majority represented by the variants of concern Delta (n = 1105, 30.7%) and Alpha (n = 466, 12.9%), followed by B.1.1.298 lineage (n = 458, 12.7%). Environment, Neovison vison, Odocoileus virginianus and Felis catus were the non-human sources with the highest number of lineages (14, 12 and 10, respectively). Phylogenomic analyses showed viral clusters from environmental sources, N. vison, O. virginianus, Panthera tigris, and Panthera leo. These clusters were collectively related to human viruses as well as all other non-human sources that were heterogeneously distributed in the phylogenetic tree. Further, the genetic details of viral genomes from bats and pangolins were independently investigated owing to their high divergence, revealing five distinct clusters. Cluster 4 exclusively included bat-sourced genomes and the SARS-CoV-2 reference strain Wuhan-01. In summary, this study identified new genetic landmarks of SARS-CoV-2 evolution. We propose potential interspecies transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 between animals and humans, which should be considered in order to establish better pathogen surveillance and containment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Muñoz
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Luz Helena Patiño
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Nathalia Ballesteros
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sergio Castañeda
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Nicolás Luna
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Lourdes Delgado
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas IDB/Incubadora Venezolana de la Ciencia, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
| | - Carlos Hernandez-Pereira
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas IDB/Incubadora Venezolana de la Ciencia, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
| | - Maryia V Shaban
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas IDB/Incubadora Venezolana de la Ciencia, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
| | - Shirly Alexandra Muñoz
- Centro de Tecnología en Salud (CETESA), Innovaseq SAS, Bogotá, Colombia.,Unidad de Salud de Ibagué (USI) E.S.E., Ibagué, Colombia
| | - Alberto Paniz-Mondolfi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas IDB/Incubadora Venezolana de la Ciencia, Barquisimeto, Venezuela.,Microbiology Division, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.,Microbiology Division, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
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11
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Kim K, Calabrese P, Wang S, Qin C, Rao Y, Feng P, Chen XS. The Roles of APOBEC-mediated RNA Editing in SARS-CoV-2 Mutations, Replication and Fitness.. [PMID: 34981048 PMCID: PMC8722585 DOI: 10.1101/2021.12.18.473309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
During COVID-19 pandemic, mutations of SARS-CoV-2 produce new strains that can be more infectious or evade vaccines. Viral RNA mutations can arise from misincorporation by RNA-polymerases and modification by host factors. Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 sequence from patients showed a strong bias toward C-to-U mutation, suggesting a potential mutational role by host APOBEC cytosine deaminases that possess broad anti-viral activity. We report the first experimental evidence demonstrating that APOBEC3A, APOBEC1, and APOBEC3G can edit on specific sites of SARS-CoV-2 RNA to produce C-to-U mutations. However, SARS-CoV-2 replication and viral progeny production in Caco-2 cells are not inhibited by the expression of these APOBECs. Instead, expression of wild-type APOBEC3 greatly promotes viral replication/propagation, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 utilizes the APOBEC-mediated mutations for fitness and evolution. Unlike the random mutations, this study suggests the predictability of all possible viral genome mutations by these APOBECs based on the UC/AC motifs and the viral genomic RNA structure. Efficient Editing of SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA by Host APOBEC deaminases and Its Potential Impacts on the Viral Replication and Emergence of New Strains in COVID-19 Pandemic
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12
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Ullah A, Mabood N, Maqbool M, Khan L, Ullah M. Cytidine deamination-induced perpetual immunity to SAR-CoV-2 infection is a potential new therapeutic target. Int J Med Sci 2021; 18:3788-3793. [PMID: 34790054 PMCID: PMC8579299 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.61779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
As the world is racing to develop perpetual immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The emergence of new viral strains, together with vaccination and reinfections, are all contributing to a long-term immunity against the deadly virus that has taken over the world since its introduction to humans in late December 2019. The discovery that more than 95 percent of people who recovered from COVID-19 had long-lasting immunity and that asymptomatic people have a different immune response to SARS-CoV-2 than symptomatic people has shifted attention to how our immune system initiates such diverse responses. These findings have provided reason to believe that SARS-CoV-2 days are numbered. Hundreds of research papers have been published on the causes of long-lasting immune responses and variations in the numbers of different immune cell types in COVID 19 survivors, but the main reason of these differences has still not been adequately identified. In this article, we focus on the activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), which initiates molecular processes that allow our immune system to generate antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. To establish lasting immunity to SARS-CoV-2, we suggest that AID could be the key to unlocking it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asad Ullah
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Neelam Mabood
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Muhammad Maqbool
- Department of Clinical & Diagnostic Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Luqman Khan
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Mujib Ullah
- Department of Immunology and Transplantation, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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13
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Voloch CM, da Silva Francisco R, de Almeida LGP, Brustolini OJ, Cardoso CC, Gerber AL, Guimarães APDC, Leitão IDC, Mariani D, Ota VA, Lima CX, Teixeira MM, Dias ACF, Galliez RM, Faffe DS, Pôrto LC, Aguiar RS, Castiñeira TMPP, Ferreira OC, Tanuri A, de Vasconcelos ATR. Intra-host evolution during SARS-CoV-2 prolonged infection. Virus Evol 2021; 7:veab078. [PMID: 34642605 PMCID: PMC8500031 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veab078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) represents a challenge to virus dispersion and the control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The reason why some people have prolonged infection and how the virus persists for so long are still not fully understood. Recent studies suggested that the accumulation of intra-host single nucleotide variants (iSNVs) over the course of the infection might play an important role in persistence as well as emergence of mutations of concern. For this reason, we aimed to investigate the intra-host evolution of SARS-CoV-2 during prolonged infection. Thirty-three patients who remained reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive in the nasopharynx for on average 18 days from the symptoms onset were included in this study. Whole-genome sequences were obtained for each patient at two different time points. Phylogenetic, populational, and computational analyses of viral sequences were consistent with prolonged infection without evidence of coinfection in our cohort. We observed an elevated within-host genomic diversity at the second time point samples positively correlated with cycle threshold (Ct) values (lower viral load). Direct transmission was also confirmed in a small cluster of healthcare professionals that shared the same workplace by the presence of common iSNVs. A differential accumulation of missense variants between the time points was detected targeting crucial structural and non-structural proteins such as Spike and helicase. Interestingly, longitudinal acquisition of iSNVs in Spike protein coincided in many cases with SARS-CoV-2 reactive and predicted T cell epitopes. We observed a distinguishing pattern of mutations over the course of the infection mainly driven by increasing A→U and decreasing G→A signatures. G→A mutations may be associated with RNA-editing enzyme activities; therefore, the mutational profiles observed in our analysis were suggestive of innate immune mechanisms of the host cell defense. Therefore, we unveiled a dynamic and complex landscape of host and pathogen interaction during prolonged infection of SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that the host’s innate immunity shapes the increase of intra-host diversity. Our findings may also shed light on possible mechanisms underlying the emergence and spread of new variants resistant to the host immune response as recently observed in COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina M Voloch
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 - Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo da Silva Francisco
- Laboratório de Bioinformática, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 333 - Quitandinha, Petrópolis 25651-076, Brazil
| | - Luiz G P de Almeida
- Laboratório de Bioinformática, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 333 - Quitandinha, Petrópolis 25651-076, Brazil
| | - Otavio J Brustolini
- Laboratório de Bioinformática, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 333 - Quitandinha, Petrópolis 25651-076, Brazil
| | - Cynthia C Cardoso
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 - Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Alexandra L Gerber
- Laboratório de Bioinformática, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 333 - Quitandinha, Petrópolis 25651-076, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula de C Guimarães
- Laboratório de Bioinformática, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 333 - Quitandinha, Petrópolis 25651-076, Brazil
| | - Isabela de Carvalho Leitão
- Instituto de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 - Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil
| | - Diana Mariani
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 - Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Victor Akira Ota
- Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Edifício do Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Cristiano X Lima
- Departamento de Cirurgia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190 - Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte, MG 30130-100, Brazil
| | - Mauro M Teixeira
- Departamento de Bioquimica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627 - Pampulha, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina F Dias
- Simile Instituto de Imunologia Aplicada Ltda. R. São Paulo, 1932, Belo Horizonte, 30170-132, Brazil
| | - Rafael Mello Galliez
- Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Edifício do Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Débora Souza Faffe
- Instituto de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 - Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil
| | - Luís Cristóvão Pôrto
- Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Boulevard 28 de Setembro, 87, Rio de Janeiro 20511-010, Brazil
| | - Renato S Aguiar
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 - Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Terezinha M P P Castiñeira
- Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Edifício do Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Orlando C Ferreira
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 - Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Amilcar Tanuri
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 - Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Ana Tereza R de Vasconcelos
- Laboratório de Bioinformática, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 333 - Quitandinha, Petrópolis 25651-076, Brazil
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14
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Rahman MM, Kader SB, Rizvi SS. Molecular characterization of SARS-CoV-2 from Bangladesh: implications in genetic diversity, possible origin of the virus, and functional significance of the mutations. Heliyon 2021; 7:e07866. [PMID: 34458642 PMCID: PMC8380069 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In a try to understand the pathogenesis, evolution and epidemiology of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, scientists from all over the world are tracking its genomic changes in real-time. Genomic studies can be helpful in understanding the disease dynamics. We have downloaded 324 complete and near complete SARS-CoV-2 genomes submitted in GISAID database from Bangladesh which were isolated between 30 March to 7 September, 2020. We then compared these genomes with Wuhan reference sequence and found 4160 mutation events including 2253 missense single nucleotide variations, 38 deletions and 10 insertions. The C>T nucleotide change was most prevalent (41% of all mutations) possibly due to selective mutation pressure to reduce CpG sites to evade CpG targeted host immune response. The most frequent mutation that occurred in 98% isolates was 3037C>T which is a synonymous change that usually accompanied 3 other mutations that include 241C>T, 14408C>T (P323L in RdRp) and 23403A>G (D614G in spike protein). The P323L was reported to increase mutation rate and D614G is associated with increased viral replication and currently most prevalent variant circulating all over the world. We identified multiple missense mutations in B-cell and T-cell predicted epitope regions and/or PCR target regions (including R203K and G204R that occurred in 86% of the isolates) that may impact immunogenicity and/or RT-PCR based diagnosis. Our analysis revealed 5 large deletion events in ORF7a and ORF8 gene products that may be associated with less severity of the disease and increased viral clearance. Our phylogeny analysis identified most of the isolates belonged to the Nextstrain clade 20B (86%) and GISAID clade GR (88%). Most of our isolates shared common ancestors either directly with European countries or jointly with middle eastern countries as well as Australia and India. Interestingly, the 19B clade (GISAID S clade) was unique to Chittagong, which was originally prevalent in China. This reveals possible multiple introductions of the virus in Bangladesh via different routes. Hence, more genome sequencing and analysis with related clinical data is needed to interpret functional significance and better predict the disease dynamics that may be helpful for policy makers to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Marufur Rahman
- Centre for Medical Biotechnology, Management Information System, Directorate General of Health Services, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | | | - S.M. Shahriar Rizvi
- Communicable Disease Control, Directorate General of Health Services, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
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15
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Fischer W, Giorgi EE, Chakraborty S, Nguyen K, Bhattacharya T, Theiler J, Goloboff PA, Yoon H, Abfalterer W, Foley BT, Tegally H, San JE, de Oliveira T, Gnanakaran S, Korber B. HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2: Patterns in the evolution of two pandemic pathogens. Cell Host Microbe 2021; 29:1093-1110. [PMID: 34242582 PMCID: PMC8173590 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Humanity is currently facing the challenge of two devastating pandemics caused by two very different RNA viruses: HIV-1, which has been with us for decades, and SARS-CoV-2, which has swept the world in the course of a single year. The same evolutionary strategies that drive HIV-1 evolution are at play in SARS-CoV-2. Single nucleotide mutations, multi-base insertions and deletions, recombination, and variation in surface glycans all generate the variability that, guided by natural selection, enables both HIV-1's extraordinary diversity and SARS-CoV-2's slower pace of mutation accumulation. Even though SARS-CoV-2 diversity is more limited, recently emergent SARS-CoV-2 variants carry Spike mutations that have important phenotypic consequences in terms of both antibody resistance and enhanced infectivity. We review and compare how these mutational patterns manifest in these two distinct viruses to provide the variability that fuels their evolution by natural selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Will Fischer
- T-6: Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA; New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA
| | - Elena E Giorgi
- T-6: Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA; New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA
| | - Srirupa Chakraborty
- T-6: Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA; Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA
| | - Kien Nguyen
- T-6: Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA
| | - Tanmoy Bhattacharya
- T-2: Nuclear and Particle Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545 USA
| | - James Theiler
- ISR-3: Space Data Science and Systems, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA
| | - Pablo A Goloboff
- Unidad Ejecutora Lillo, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas - Fundación Miguel Lillo, S. M. de Tucumán, Miguel Lillo 251 4000, Argentina; Research Associate, American Museum of Natural History, New York 10024, USA
| | - Hyejin Yoon
- T-6: Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA
| | - Werner Abfalterer
- T-6: Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA
| | - Brian T Foley
- T-6: Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA
| | - Houriiyah Tegally
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Department of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - James Emmanuel San
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Department of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Tulio de Oliveira
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Department of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Sandrasegaram Gnanakaran
- T-6: Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA
| | - Bette Korber
- T-6: Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA; New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA.
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16
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Sadykov M, Mourier T, Guan Q, Pain A. Short sequence motif dynamics in the SARS-CoV-2 genome suggest a role for cytosine deamination in CpG reduction. J Mol Cell Biol 2021; 13:225-227. [PMID: 33630074 PMCID: PMC7928816 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjab011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mukhtar Sadykov
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal-Jeddah 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tobias Mourier
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal-Jeddah 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Qingtian Guan
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal-Jeddah 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Arnab Pain
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal-Jeddah 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education (GI-CoRE), Hokkaido University, N20 W10 Kita-Ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan
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17
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Meshcheryakova A, Pietschmann P, Zimmermann P, Rogozin IB, Mechtcheriakova D. AID and APOBECs as Multifaceted Intrinsic Virus-Restricting Factors: Emerging Concepts in the Light of COVID-19. Front Immunol 2021; 12:690416. [PMID: 34276680 PMCID: PMC8282206 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.690416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The AID (activation-induced cytidine deaminase)/APOBEC (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic subunit) family with its multifaceted mode of action emerges as potent intrinsic host antiviral system that acts against a variety of DNA and RNA viruses including coronaviruses. All family members are cytosine-to-uracil deaminases that either have a profound role in driving a strong and specific humoral immune response (AID) or restricting the virus itself by a plethora of mechanisms (APOBECs). In this article, we highlight some of the key aspects apparently linking the AID/APOBECs and SARS-CoV-2. Among those is our discovery that APOBEC4 shows high expression in cell types and anatomical parts targeted by SARS-CoV-2. Additional focus is given by us to the lymphoid structures and AID as the master regulator of germinal center reactions, which result in antibody production by plasma and memory B cells. We propose the dissection of the AID/APOBECs gene signature towards decisive determinants of the patient-specific and/or the patient group-specific antiviral response. Finally, the patient-specific mapping of the AID/APOBEC polymorphisms should be considered in the light of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Meshcheryakova
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Pietschmann
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Igor B Rogozin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Diana Mechtcheriakova
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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18
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Di Gioacchino A, Šulc P, Komarova AV, Greenbaum BD, Monasson R, Cocco S. The Heterogeneous Landscape and Early Evolution of Pathogen-Associated CpG Dinucleotides in SARS-CoV-2. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:2428-2445. [PMID: 33555346 PMCID: PMC7928797 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 can lead to acute respiratory syndrome, which can be due to dysregulated immune signaling. We analyze the distribution of CpG dinucleotides, a pathogen-associated molecular pattern, in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. We characterize CpG content by a CpG force that accounts for statistical constraints acting on the genome at the nucleotidic and amino acid levels. The CpG force, as the CpG content, is overall low compared with other pathogenic betacoronaviruses; however, it widely fluctuates along the genome, with a particularly low value, comparable with the circulating seasonal HKU1, in the spike coding region and a greater value, comparable with SARS and MERS, in the highly expressed nucleocapside coding region (N ORF), whose transcripts are relatively abundant in the cytoplasm of infected cells and present in the 3'UTRs of all subgenomic RNA. This dual nature of CpG content could confer to SARS-CoV-2 the ability to avoid triggering pattern recognition receptors upon entry, while eliciting a stronger response during replication. We then investigate the evolution of synonymous mutations since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, finding a signature of CpG loss in regions with a greater CpG force. Sequence motifs preceding the CpG-loss-associated loci in the N ORF match recently identified binding patterns of the zinc finger antiviral protein. Using a model of the viral gene evolution under human host pressure, we find that synonymous mutations seem driven in the SARS-CoV-2 genome, and particularly in the N ORF, by the viral codon bias, the transition-transversion bias, and the pressure to lower CpG content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Di Gioacchino
- Laboratoire de Physique de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL & CNRS UMR8063, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Petr Šulc
- School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Anastassia V Komarova
- Molecular Genetics of RNA Viruses, Department of Virology, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR-3569, Paris, France
| | - Benjamin D Greenbaum
- Computational Oncology, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rémi Monasson
- Laboratoire de Physique de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL & CNRS UMR8063, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Simona Cocco
- Laboratoire de Physique de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL & CNRS UMR8063, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Paris, France
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19
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Anastassopoulou C, Manoussopoulos Y, Lampropoulou V, Tsakris A. Glimpses into evolutionary trajectories of SARS-CoV-2: emerging variants and potential immune evasion routes. Future Microbiol 2021; 16:455-459. [PMID: 33960807 PMCID: PMC8111931 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tweetable abstract An opinion on the coronaviruses' evolution paradoxes, the continuing adaptation of the SARS-CoV-2 in humans following the zoonotic transmission, and clues into escape routes from host immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cleo Anastassopoulou
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National
& Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Yiannis Manoussopoulos
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National
& Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Laboratory of Virology, Plant Protection Division of
Patras, ELGO-Demeter, Patras, Greece
| | - Vicky Lampropoulou
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Center for Clinical,
Experimental Surgery & Translational Research, Biomedical Research
Foundation of The Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios Tsakris
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National
& Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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20
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Zhang M, Li L, Luo M, Liang B. Genomic characterization and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 of a Canadian population. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247799. [PMID: 33662015 PMCID: PMC7932534 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 has greatly affected public health and world economy. In this study, we analyzed 129 full-length genomes of SARS-CoV-2 viruses of a Canadian population during early phase of the pandemic. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three major paths of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 viruses into Canada. Twenty-one substitutions that have frequencies greater than 3% of viral population were identified. Analysis of these substitutions indicated that P1427I (ORF1b), Y1464C (ORF1b), and Q57H (ORF3a) might affect functions of the corresponding SARS-CoV-2 encoded proteins. Additionally, we found the evidence of positive selection on the ORF3a and codon 614 of Spike protein, suggesting the viral components responsible for host entry and activation of inflammation response were targeted by host immune responses. The study showed genomic variation and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in a Canadian population. These information may help develop preventive strategies and be used for further study of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and therapeutics development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manna Zhang
- Section of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Lin Li
- JC Wilt Infectious Disease Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Ma Luo
- JC Wilt Infectious Disease Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Rudy Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Binhua Liang
- JC Wilt Infectious Disease Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, Rudy Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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21
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Mourier T, Sadykov M, Carr MJ, Gonzalez G, Hall WW, Pain A. Host-directed editing of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 538:35-39. [PMID: 33234239 PMCID: PMC7643664 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.10.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The extensive sequence data generated from SARS-CoV-2 during the 2020 pandemic has facilitated the study of viral genome evolution over a brief period of time. This has highlighted instances of directional mutation pressures exerted on the SARS-CoV-2 genome from host antiviral defense systems. In this brief review we describe three such human defense mechanisms, the apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like proteins (APOBEC), adenosine deaminase acting on RNA proteins (ADAR), and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and discuss their potential implications on SARS-CoV-2 evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Mourier
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal-Jeddah, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mukhtar Sadykov
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal-Jeddah, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael J Carr
- National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL), School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8, Dublin, Ireland; Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education (GI-CoRE), Hokkaido University, N20 W10 Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0020, Japan
| | - Gabriel Gonzalez
- National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL), School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8, Dublin, Ireland; Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education (GI-CoRE), Hokkaido University, N20 W10 Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0020, Japan
| | - William W Hall
- National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL), School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8, Dublin, Ireland; Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education (GI-CoRE), Hokkaido University, N20 W10 Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0020, Japan; Global Virus Network (GVN), 801 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Arnab Pain
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal-Jeddah, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education (GI-CoRE), Hokkaido University, N20 W10 Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0020, Japan.
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Domains and Functions of Spike Protein in Sars-Cov-2 in the Context of Vaccine Design. Viruses 2021; 13:v13010109. [PMID: 33466921 PMCID: PMC7829931 DOI: 10.3390/v13010109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The spike protein in SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-2-S) interacts with the human ACE2 receptor to gain entry into a cell to initiate infection. Both Pfizer/BioNTech's BNT162b2 and Moderna's mRNA-1273 vaccine candidates are based on stabilized mRNA encoding prefusion SARS-2-S that can be produced after the mRNA is delivered into the human cell and translated. SARS-2-S is cleaved into S1 and S2 subunits, with S1 serving the function of receptor-binding and S2 serving the function of membrane fusion. Here, I dissect in detail the various domains of SARS-2-S and their functions discovered through a variety of different experimental and theoretical approaches to build a foundation for a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of how SARS-2-S works to achieve its function of mediating cell entry and subsequent cell-to-cell transmission. The integration of structure and function of SARS-2-S in this review should enhance our understanding of the dynamic processes involving receptor binding, multiple cleavage events, membrane fusion, viral entry, as well as the emergence of new viral variants. I highlighted the relevance of structural domains and dynamics to vaccine development, and discussed reasons for the spike protein to be frequently featured in the conspiracy theory claiming that SARS-CoV-2 is artificially created.
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