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Kim SM, Kim EH, Casel MAB, Kim YI, Sun R, Kwak MJ, Yoo JS, Yu M, Yu KM, Jang SG, Rollon R, Choi JH, Gil J, Eun K, Kim H, Ensser A, Hwang J, Song MS, Kim MH, Jung JU, Choi YK. SARS-CoV-2 variants with NSP12 P323L/G671S mutations display enhanced virus replication in ferret upper airways and higher transmissibility. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113077. [PMID: 37676771 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
With the emergence of multiple predominant SARS-CoV-2 variants, it becomes important to have a comprehensive assessment of their viral fitness and transmissibility. Here, we demonstrate that natural temperature differences between the upper (33°C) and lower (37°C) respiratory tract have profound effects on SARS-CoV-2 replication and transmissibility. Specifically, SARS-CoV-2 variants containing the NSP12 mutations P323L or P323L/G671S exhibit enhanced RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) activity at 33°C compared with 37°C and high transmissibility. Molecular dynamics simulations and microscale thermophoresis demonstrate that the NSP12 P323L and P323L/G671S mutations stabilize the NSP12-NSP7-NSP8 complex through hydrophobic effects, leading to increased viral RdRp activity. Furthermore, competitive transmissibility assay reveals that reverse genetic (RG)-P323L or RG-P323L/G671S NSP12 outcompetes RG-WT (wild-type) NSP12 for replication in the upper respiratory tract, allowing markedly rapid transmissibility. This suggests that NSP12 P323L or P323L/G671S mutation of SARS-CoV-2 is associated with increased RdRp complex stability and enzymatic activity, promoting efficient transmissibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se-Mi Kim
- Center for Study of Emerging and Re-emerging Viruses, Korea Virus Research Institute, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34126, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Ha Kim
- Center for Study of Emerging and Re-emerging Viruses, Korea Virus Research Institute, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34126, Republic of Korea
| | - Mark Anthony B Casel
- College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Il Kim
- Center for Study of Emerging and Re-emerging Viruses, Korea Virus Research Institute, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34126, Republic of Korea
| | - Rong Sun
- Department of Cancer Biology, Infection Biology Program, and Global Center for Pathogens and Human Health Research, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mi-Jeong Kwak
- Department of Cancer Biology, Infection Biology Program, and Global Center for Pathogens and Human Health Research, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ji-Seung Yoo
- Center for Study of Emerging and Re-emerging Viruses, Korea Virus Research Institute, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34126, Republic of Korea
| | - Mina Yu
- Center for Study of Emerging and Re-emerging Viruses, Korea Virus Research Institute, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34126, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang-Min Yu
- College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Gyu Jang
- College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Rare Rollon
- College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Ho Choi
- College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Juryeon Gil
- College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Kiyoung Eun
- Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunggee Kim
- Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Armin Ensser
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jungwon Hwang
- Infection and Immunity Research Laboratory, Metabolic Regulation Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Min-Suk Song
- College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung Hee Kim
- Infection and Immunity Research Laboratory, Metabolic Regulation Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Jae U Jung
- Department of Cancer Biology, Infection Biology Program, and Global Center for Pathogens and Human Health Research, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Young Ki Choi
- Center for Study of Emerging and Re-emerging Viruses, Korea Virus Research Institute, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34126, Republic of Korea; College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea.
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Zheng P, Zhou C, Ding Y, Liu B, Lu L, Zhu F, Duan S. Nanopore sequencing technology and its applications. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e316. [PMID: 37441463 PMCID: PMC10333861 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the development of Sanger sequencing in 1977, sequencing technology has played a pivotal role in molecular biology research by enabling the interpretation of biological genetic codes. Today, nanopore sequencing is one of the leading third-generation sequencing technologies. With its long reads, portability, and low cost, nanopore sequencing is widely used in various scientific fields including epidemic prevention and control, disease diagnosis, and animal and plant breeding. Despite initial concerns about high error rates, continuous innovation in sequencing platforms and algorithm analysis technology has effectively addressed its accuracy. During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, nanopore sequencing played a critical role in detecting the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 virus genome and containing the pandemic. However, a lack of understanding of this technology may limit its popularization and application. Nanopore sequencing is poised to become the mainstream choice for preventing and controlling COVID-19 and future epidemics while creating value in other fields such as oncology and botany. This work introduces the contributions of nanopore sequencing during the COVID-19 pandemic to promote public understanding and its use in emerging outbreaks worldwide. We discuss its application in microbial detection, cancer genomes, and plant genomes and summarize strategies to improve its accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peijie Zheng
- Department of Clinical MedicineSchool of MedicineZhejiang University City CollegeHangzhouChina
| | - Chuntao Zhou
- Department of Clinical MedicineSchool of MedicineZhejiang University City CollegeHangzhouChina
| | - Yuemin Ding
- Department of Clinical MedicineSchool of MedicineZhejiang University City CollegeHangzhouChina
- Institute of Translational Medicine, School of MedicineZhejiang University City CollegeHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of MedicineZhejiang University City CollegeHangzhouChina
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Clinical MedicineSchool of MedicineZhejiang University City CollegeHangzhouChina
| | - Liuyi Lu
- Department of Clinical MedicineSchool of MedicineZhejiang University City CollegeHangzhouChina
| | - Feng Zhu
- Department of Clinical MedicineSchool of MedicineZhejiang University City CollegeHangzhouChina
| | - Shiwei Duan
- Department of Clinical MedicineSchool of MedicineZhejiang University City CollegeHangzhouChina
- Institute of Translational Medicine, School of MedicineZhejiang University City CollegeHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of MedicineZhejiang University City CollegeHangzhouChina
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Kim SM, Kim EH, Casel MAB, Kim YI, Sun R, Kwack MJ, Yoo JS, Yu MA, Yu KM, Jang SG, Rollon R, Choi JH, Gil J, Eun K, Kim H, Ensser A, Hwang J, Song MS, Kim MH, Jung JU, Choi YK. SARS-CoV-2 variants show temperature-dependent enhanced polymerase activity in the upper respiratory tract and high transmissibility. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.09.27.509689. [PMID: 36203545 PMCID: PMC9536035 DOI: 10.1101/2022.09.27.509689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
With the convergent global emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC), a precise comparison study of viral fitness and transmission characteristics is necessary for the prediction of dominant VOCs and the development of suitable countermeasures. While airway temperature plays important roles in the fitness and transmissibility of respiratory tract viruses, it has not been well studied with SARS-CoV-2. Here we demonstrate that natural temperature differences between the upper (33°C) and lower (37°C) respiratory tract have profound effects on SARS-CoV-2 replication and transmission. Specifically, SARS-COV-2 variants containing the P323L or P323L/G671S mutation in the NSP12 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) exhibited enhanced RdRp enzymatic activity at 33°C compared to 37°C and high transmissibility in ferrets. MicroScale Thermophoresis demonstrated that the NSP12 P323L or P323L/G671S mutation stabilized the NSP12-NSP7-NSP8 complex interaction. Furthermore, reverse genetics-derived SARS-CoV-2 variants containing the NSP12 P323L or P323L/G671S mutation displayed enhanced replication at 33°C, and high transmission in ferrets. This suggests that the evolutionarily forced NSP12 P323L and P323L/G671S mutations of recent SARS-CoV-2 VOC strains are associated with increases of the RdRp complex stability and enzymatic activity, promoting the high transmissibility.
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Kotov I, Saenko V, Borisova N, Kolesnikov A, Kondrasheva L, Tivanova E, Khafizov K, Akimkin V. Effective Approaches to Study the Genetic Variability of SARS-CoV-2. Viruses 2022; 14:v14091855. [PMID: 36146662 PMCID: PMC9504788 DOI: 10.3390/v14091855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Significant efforts are being made in many countries around the world to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by developing diagnostic reagent kits, identifying infected people, determining treatment methods, and finally producing effective vaccines. However, novel coronavirus variants may potentially reduce the effectiveness of all these efforts, demonstrating increased transmissibility and abated response to therapy or vaccines, as well as the possibility of false negative results in diagnostic procedures based on nucleic acid amplification methods. Since the end of 2020, several variants of concern have been discovered around the world. When information about a new, potentially more dangerous strain of pathogen appears, it is crucial to determine the moment of its emergence in a region. Eventually, that permits taking timely measures and minimizing new risks associated with the spreading of the virus. Therefore, numerous nations have made tremendous efforts to identify and trace these virus variants, which necessitates serious technological processes to sequence a large number of viral genomes. Here, we report on our experience as one of the primary laboratories involved in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 variants in Russia. We discuss the various approaches used, describe effective protocols, and outline a potential technique combining several methods to increase the ability to trace genetic variants while minimizing financial and labor costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Kotov
- FSBI Central Research Institute for Epidemiology of the Federal Service for Surveillance of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, 111123 Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, National Research University, 115184 Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Valeriia Saenko
- FSBI Central Research Institute for Epidemiology of the Federal Service for Surveillance of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, 111123 Moscow, Russia
| | - Nadezhda Borisova
- FSBI Central Research Institute for Epidemiology of the Federal Service for Surveillance of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, 111123 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anton Kolesnikov
- FSBI Central Research Institute for Epidemiology of the Federal Service for Surveillance of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, 111123 Moscow, Russia
| | - Larisa Kondrasheva
- FSBI Central Research Institute for Epidemiology of the Federal Service for Surveillance of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, 111123 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Tivanova
- FSBI Central Research Institute for Epidemiology of the Federal Service for Surveillance of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, 111123 Moscow, Russia
| | - Kamil Khafizov
- FSBI Central Research Institute for Epidemiology of the Federal Service for Surveillance of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, 111123 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence:
| | - Vasily Akimkin
- FSBI Central Research Institute for Epidemiology of the Federal Service for Surveillance of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, 111123 Moscow, Russia
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