1
|
Zarei O, Kleine-Weber H, Hoffmann M, Hamzeh-Mivehroud M. Development and evaluation of peptidomimetic compounds against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein: an in silico and in vitro study. Mol Inform 2022; 41:e2100231. [PMID: 35068079 PMCID: PMC9015386 DOI: 10.1002/minf.202100231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) as global pandemic disease has been adversely affecting public health and social life with considerable loss of human life worldwide. Therefore, there is an urgent need for developing novel therapeutics to combat COVID‐19. The causative agent of COVID‐19 is SARS‐CoV‐2 which targets human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as cellular receptor via its spike (S) protein. In this context, interfering with the binding of SARS‐CoV‐2 S protein to target molecules could provide a promising strategy to find novel therapeutic agents against SARS‐CoV‐2. The purpose of the current study was to identify potential peptidomimetics against S protein with a combination of structure‐based virtual screening methods and in vitro assays. Methods: The candidates were inspected in terms of ADME properties, drug‐likeness, as well as toxicity profiles. Additionally, molecular docking and dynamics simulations were performed to predict binding of the studied ligands to spike protein. Results: Biological evaluation of the compounds revealed that PM2 molecule exhibits some antiviral activity. Conclusion: In summary, this study highlights the importance of combining in silico and in vitro techniques in order to identify antiviral compound to tackle COVID‐19 and presents a new scaffold that may be structurally optimized for improved antiviral activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Omid Zarei
- Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, IRAN (THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF)
| | | | - Markus Hoffmann
- German Primate Centre Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, GERMANY
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Schroeder S, Mache C, Kleine-Weber H, Corman VM, Muth D, Richter A, Fatykhova D, Memish ZA, Stanifer ML, Boulant S, Gultom M, Dijkman R, Eggeling S, Hocke A, Hippenstiel S, Thiel V, Pöhlmann S, Wolff T, Müller MA, Drosten C. Functional comparison of MERS-coronavirus lineages reveals increased replicative fitness of the recombinant lineage 5. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5324. [PMID: 34493730 PMCID: PMC8423819 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25519-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is enzootic in dromedary camels across the Middle East and Africa. Virus-induced pneumonia in humans results from animal contact, with a potential for limited onward transmission. Phenotypic changes have been suspected after a novel recombinant clade (lineage 5) caused large nosocomial outbreaks in Saudi Arabia and South Korea in 2016. However, there has been no functional assessment. Here we perform a comprehensive in vitro and ex vivo comparison of viruses from parental and recombinant virus lineages (lineage 3, n = 7; lineage 4, n = 8; lineage 5, n = 9 viruses) from Saudi Arabia, isolated immediately before and after the shift toward lineage 5. Replication of lineage 5 viruses is significantly increased. Transcriptional profiling finds reduced induction of immune genes IFNB1, CCL5, and IFNL1 in lung cells infected with lineage 5 strains. Phenotypic differences may be determined by IFN antagonism based on experiments using IFN receptor knock out and signaling inhibition. Additionally, lineage 5 is more resilient against IFN pre-treatment of Calu-3 cells (ca. 10-fold difference in replication). This phenotypic change associated with lineage 5 has remained undiscovered by viral sequence surveillance, but may be a relevant indicator of pandemic potential. MERS-CoV is enzootic in dromedary camels, can spread to humans but undergoes limited onward transmission. Here, Schroeder et al. compare clinical isolates of MERS-CoV in vitro and show that the predominantly circulating recombinant lineage 5 possess a fitness advantage over parental lineage 3 and 4 due to reduced activation of innate immune signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Schroeder
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christin Mache
- Unit 17, Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses, Robert Koch Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hannah Kleine-Weber
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Victor M Corman
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany
| | - Doreen Muth
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja Richter
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Diana Fatykhova
- Dept. of Infectious and Respiratory Diseases, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ziad A Memish
- Research and Innovation Department, King Saud Medical City, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Megan L Stanifer
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Steeve Boulant
- Research Group "Cellular polarity and viral infection", German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mitra Gultom
- Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI), Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Biomedical Science, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ronald Dijkman
- Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI), Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Eggeling
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Vivantes Clinics Neukölln, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Hocke
- Dept. of Infectious and Respiratory Diseases, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Hippenstiel
- Dept. of Infectious and Respiratory Diseases, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Volker Thiel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI), Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Thorsten Wolff
- Unit 17, Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses, Robert Koch Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcel A Müller
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany.,Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hoffmann M, Zhang L, Krüger N, Graichen L, Kleine-Weber H, Hofmann-Winkler H, Kempf A, Nessler S, Riggert J, Winkler MS, Schulz S, Jäck HM, Pöhlmann S. SARS-CoV-2 mutations acquired in mink reduce antibody-mediated neutralization. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109017. [PMID: 33857422 PMCID: PMC8018833 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from humans to farmed mink has been observed in Europe and the US. In the infected animals, viral variants arose that harbored mutations in the spike (S) protein, the target of neutralizing antibodies, and these variants were transmitted back to humans. This raised concerns that mink might become a constant source of human infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants associated with an increased threat to human health and resulted in mass culling of mink. Here, we report that mutations frequently found in the S proteins of SARS-CoV-2 from mink are mostly compatible with efficient entry into human cells and its inhibition by soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). In contrast, mutation Y453F reduces neutralization by an antibody with emergency use authorization for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) therapy and sera/plasma from COVID-19 patients. These results suggest that antibody responses induced upon infection or certain antibodies used for treatment might offer insufficient protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants from mink.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Hoffmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Wilhelmsplatz 1, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Lu Zhang
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Wilhelmsplatz 1, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nadine Krüger
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Luise Graichen
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hannah Kleine-Weber
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Wilhelmsplatz 1, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Heike Hofmann-Winkler
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Amy Kempf
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Wilhelmsplatz 1, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Nessler
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Joachim Riggert
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Martin Sebastian Winkler
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Göttingen Medical Center, Göttingen, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Schulz
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Glückstraße 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hans-Martin Jäck
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Glückstraße 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Wilhelmsplatz 1, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hörnich BF, Großkopf AK, Schlagowski S, Tenbusch M, Kleine-Weber H, Neipel F, Stahl-Hennig C, Hahn AS. SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV Spike-Mediated Cell-Cell Fusion Differ in Their Requirements for Receptor Expression and Proteolytic Activation. J Virol 2021; 95:e00002-21. [PMID: 33608407 PMCID: PMC8104116 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00002-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects cells through interaction of its spike protein (SARS2-S) with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and activation by proteases, in particular transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). Viruses can also spread through fusion of infected with uninfected cells. We compared the requirements of ACE2 expression, proteolytic activation, and sensitivity to inhibitors for SARS2-S-mediated and SARS-CoV-S (SARS1-S)-mediated cell-cell fusion. SARS2-S-driven fusion was moderately increased by TMPRSS2 and strongly by ACE2, while SARS1-S-driven fusion was strongly increased by TMPRSS2 and less so by ACE2 expression. In contrast to that of SARS1-S, SARS2-S-mediated cell-cell fusion was efficiently activated by batimastat-sensitive metalloproteases. Mutation of the S1/S2 proteolytic cleavage site reduced effector cell-target cell fusion when ACE2 or TMPRSS2 was limiting and rendered SARS2-S-driven cell-cell fusion more dependent on TMPRSS2. When both ACE2 and TMPRSS2 were abundant, initial target cell-effector cell fusion was unaltered compared to that of wild-type (wt) SARS2-S, but syncytia remained smaller. Mutation of the S2 cleavage (S2') site specifically abrogated activation by TMPRSS2 for both cell-cell fusion and SARS2-S-driven pseudoparticle entry but still allowed for activation by metalloproteases for cell-cell fusion and by cathepsins for particle entry. Finally, we found that the TMPRSS2 inhibitor bromhexine, unlike the inhibitor camostat, was unable to reduce TMPRSS2-activated cell-cell fusion by SARS1-S and SARS2-S. Paradoxically, bromhexine enhanced cell-cell fusion in the presence of TMPRSS2, while its metabolite ambroxol exhibited inhibitory activity under some conditions. On Calu-3 lung cells, ambroxol weakly inhibited SARS2-S-driven lentiviral pseudoparticle entry, and both substances exhibited a dose-dependent trend toward weak inhibition of authentic SARS-CoV-2.IMPORTANCE Cell-cell fusion allows viruses to infect neighboring cells without the need to produce free virus and contributes to tissue damage by creating virus-infected syncytia. Our results demonstrate that the S2' cleavage site is essential for activation by TMPRSS2 and unravel important differences between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, among those, greater dependence of SARS-CoV-2 on ACE2 expression and activation by metalloproteases for cell-cell fusion. Bromhexine, reportedly an inhibitor of TMPRSS2, is currently being tested in clinical trials against coronavirus disease 2019. Our results indicate that bromhexine enhances fusion under some conditions. We therefore caution against the use of bromhexine in high dosages until its effects on SARS-CoV-2 spike activation are better understood. The related compound ambroxol, which similarly to bromhexine is clinically used as an expectorant, did not exhibit activating effects on cell-cell fusion. Both compounds exhibited weak inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection at high concentrations, which might be clinically attainable for ambroxol.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bojan F Hörnich
- Nachwuchsgruppe Herpesviren, Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anna K Großkopf
- Nachwuchsgruppe Herpesviren, Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sarah Schlagowski
- Nachwuchsgruppe Herpesviren, Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Tenbusch
- Virologisches Institut, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hannah Kleine-Weber
- Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frank Neipel
- Virologisches Institut, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christiane Stahl-Hennig
- Abteilung Infektionsmodelle, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexander S Hahn
- Nachwuchsgruppe Herpesviren, Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bošnjak B, Stein SC, Willenzon S, Cordes AK, Puppe W, Bernhardt G, Ravens I, Ritter C, Schultze-Florey CR, Gödecke N, Martens J, Kleine-Weber H, Hoffmann M, Cossmann A, Yilmaz M, Pink I, Hoeper MM, Behrens GMN, Pöhlmann S, Blasczyk R, Schulz TF, Förster R. Low serum neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibody levels in mildly affected COVID-19 convalescent patients revealed by two different detection methods. Cell Mol Immunol 2020; 18:936-944. [PMID: 33139905 PMCID: PMC7604543 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-020-00573-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutralizing antibodies targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) block severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) entry into cells via surface-expressed angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). We used a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) and SARS-CoV-2 S protein-pseudotyped vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vector-based neutralization assay (pVNT) to assess the degree to which serum antibodies from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescent patients interfere with the binding of SARS-CoV-2 S to ACE2. Both tests revealed neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibodies in the sera of ~90% of mildly and 100% of severely affected COVID-19 convalescent patients. Importantly, sVNT and pVNT results correlated strongly with each other and to the levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG and IgA antibodies. Moreover, levels of neutralizing antibodies correlated with the duration and severity of clinical symptoms but not with patient age. Compared to pVNT, sVNT is less sophisticated and does not require any biosafety labs. Since this assay is also much faster and cheaper, sVNT will not only be important for evaluating the prevalence of neutralizing antibodies in a population but also for identifying promising plasma donors for successful passive antibody therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Berislav Bošnjak
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
| | | | | | | | - Wolfram Puppe
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Günter Bernhardt
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Inga Ravens
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Christian R Schultze-Florey
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nina Gödecke
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jörg Martens
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hannah Kleine-Weber
- German Primate Center-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany.,Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Hoffmann
- German Primate Center-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany.,Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anne Cossmann
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Isabelle Pink
- Department of Pneumology and German Centre of Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Marius M Hoeper
- Department of Pneumology and German Centre of Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Georg M N Behrens
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- German Primate Center-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany.,Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rainer Blasczyk
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas F Schulz
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Reinhold Förster
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. .,Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Pfaender S, Mar KB, Michailidis E, Kratzel A, Boys IN, V'kovski P, Fan W, Kelly JN, Hirt D, Ebert N, Stalder H, Kleine-Weber H, Hoffmann M, Hoffmann HH, Saeed M, Dijkman R, Steinmann E, Wight-Carter M, McDougal MB, Hanners NW, Pöhlmann S, Gallagher T, Todt D, Zimmer G, Rice CM, Schoggins JW, Thiel V. LY6E impairs coronavirus fusion and confers immune control of viral disease. Nat Microbiol 2020; 5:1330-1339. [PMID: 32704094 PMCID: PMC7916999 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-020-0769-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs) are substantial threats to global health, as exemplified by the emergence of two severe acute respiratory syndrome CoVs (SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) and Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV (MERS-CoV) within two decades1-3. Host immune responses to CoVs are complex and regulated in part through antiviral interferons. However, interferon-stimulated gene products that inhibit CoVs are not well characterized4. Here, we show that lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, locus E (LY6E) potently restricts infection by multiple CoVs, including SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV. Mechanistic studies revealed that LY6E inhibits CoV entry into cells by interfering with spike protein-mediated membrane fusion. Importantly, mice lacking Ly6e in immune cells were highly susceptible to a murine CoV-mouse hepatitis virus. Exacerbated viral pathogenesis in Ly6e knockout mice was accompanied by loss of hepatic immune cells, higher splenic viral burden and reduction in global antiviral gene pathways. Accordingly, we found that constitutive Ly6e directly protects primary B cells from murine CoV infection. Our results show that LY6E is a critical antiviral immune effector that controls CoV infection and pathogenesis. These findings advance our understanding of immune-mediated control of CoV in vitro and in vivo-knowledge that could help inform strategies to combat infection by emerging CoVs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Pfaender
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Katrina B Mar
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Eleftherios Michailidis
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Annika Kratzel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ian N Boys
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Philip V'kovski
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Wenchun Fan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jenna N Kelly
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Dagny Hirt
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nadine Ebert
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Hanspeter Stalder
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Hannah Kleine-Weber
- Deutsches Primatenzentrum, Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Hoffmann
- Deutsches Primatenzentrum, Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hans-Heinrich Hoffmann
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mohsan Saeed
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ronald Dijkman
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department for Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Mary Wight-Carter
- Animal Resource Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Matthew B McDougal
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Natasha W Hanners
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Deutsches Primatenzentrum, Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tom Gallagher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Daniel Todt
- Department for Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany
| | - Gert Zimmer
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Charles M Rice
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - John W Schoggins
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Volker Thiel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hoffmann M, Mösbauer K, Hofmann-Winkler H, Kaul A, Kleine-Weber H, Krüger N, Gassen NC, Müller MA, Drosten C, Pöhlmann S. Chloroquine does not inhibit infection of human lung cells with SARS-CoV-2. Nature 2020; 585:588-590. [PMID: 32698190 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2575-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 292] [Impact Index Per Article: 73.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been associated with more than 780,000 deaths worldwide (as of 20 August 2020). To develop antiviral interventions quickly, drugs used for the treatment of unrelated diseases are currently being repurposed to treat COVID-19. Chloroquine is an anti-malaria drug that is used for the treatment of COVID-19 as it inhibits the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the African green monkey kidney-derived cell line Vero1-3. Here we show that engineered expression of TMPRSS2, a cellular protease that activates SARS-CoV-2 for entry into lung cells4, renders SARS-CoV-2 infection of Vero cells insensitive to chloroquine. Moreover, we report that chloroquine does not block infection with SARS-CoV-2 in the TMPRSS2-expressing human lung cell line Calu-3. These results indicate that chloroquine targets a pathway for viral activation that is not active in lung cells and is unlikely to protect against the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in and between patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Hoffmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany. .,Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Kirstin Mösbauer
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research, associated partner Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heike Hofmann-Winkler
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Artur Kaul
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hannah Kleine-Weber
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany.,Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nadine Krüger
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nils C Gassen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marcel A Müller
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research, associated partner Charité, Berlin, Germany.,Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research, associated partner Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany. .,Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hoffmann M, Kleine-Weber H, Schroeder S, Krüger N, Herrler T, Erichsen S, Schiergens TS, Herrler G, Wu NH, Nitsche A, Müller MA, Drosten C, Pöhlmann S. SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry Depends on ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and Is Blocked by a Clinically Proven Protease Inhibitor. Cell 2020. [PMID: 32142651 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.052,] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The recent emergence of the novel, pathogenic SARS-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in China and its rapid national and international spread pose a global health emergency. Cell entry of coronaviruses depends on binding of the viral spike (S) proteins to cellular receptors and on S protein priming by host cell proteases. Unravelling which cellular factors are used by SARS-CoV-2 for entry might provide insights into viral transmission and reveal therapeutic targets. Here, we demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 uses the SARS-CoV receptor ACE2 for entry and the serine protease TMPRSS2 for S protein priming. A TMPRSS2 inhibitor approved for clinical use blocked entry and might constitute a treatment option. Finally, we show that the sera from convalescent SARS patients cross-neutralized SARS-2-S-driven entry. Our results reveal important commonalities between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV infection and identify a potential target for antiviral intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Hoffmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Hannah Kleine-Weber
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany; Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Simon Schroeder
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research, associated partner Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nadine Krüger
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany; Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Sandra Erichsen
- Institute for Biomechanics, BG Unfallklinik Murnau, Murnau, Germany; Institute for Biomechanics, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Tobias S Schiergens
- Biobank of the Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Georg Herrler
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nai-Huei Wu
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andreas Nitsche
- Robert Koch Institute, ZBS 1 Highly Pathogenic Viruses, WHO Collaborating Centre for Emerging Infections and Biological Threats, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcel A Müller
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research, associated partner Charité, Berlin, Germany; Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Christian Drosten
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research, associated partner Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany; Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Hoffmann M, Kleine-Weber H, Schroeder S, Krüger N, Herrler T, Erichsen S, Schiergens TS, Herrler G, Wu NH, Nitsche A, Müller MA, Drosten C, Pöhlmann S. SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry Depends on ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and Is Blocked by a Clinically Proven Protease Inhibitor. Cell 2020. [DOI: '10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
|
10
|
Pfaender S, Mar KB, Michailidis E, Kratzel A, Hirt D, V'kovski P, Fan W, Ebert N, Stalder H, Kleine-Weber H, Hoffmann M, Hoffmann HH, Saeed M, Dijkman R, Steinmann E, Wight-Carter M, Hanners NW, Pöhlmann S, Gallagher T, Todt D, Zimmer G, Rice CM, Schoggins JW, Thiel V. LY6E impairs coronavirus fusion and confers immune control of viral disease. bioRxiv 2020:2020.03.05.979260. [PMID: 32511345 PMCID: PMC7255780 DOI: 10.1101/2020.03.05.979260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs) are significant threats to global health, as exemplified by the recent emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 1 . Host immune responses to CoV are complex and regulated in part through antiviral interferons. However, the interferon-stimulated gene products that inhibit CoV are not well characterized 2 . Here, we show that interferon-inducible lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, locus E (LY6E) potently restricts cellular infection by multiple CoVs, including SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Mechanistic studies revealed that LY6E inhibits CoV entry into cells by interfering with spike protein-mediated membrane fusion. Importantly, mice lacking Ly6e in hematopoietic cells were highly susceptible to murine CoV infection. Exacerbated viral pathogenesis in Ly6e knockout mice was accompanied by loss of hepatic and splenic immune cells and reduction in global antiviral gene pathways. Accordingly, we found that Ly6e directly protects primary B cells and dendritic cells from murine CoV infection. Our results demonstrate that LY6E is a critical antiviral immune effector that controls CoV infection and pathogenesis. These findings advance our understanding of immune-mediated control of CoV in vitro and in vivo , knowledge that could help inform strategies to combat infection by emerging CoV.
Collapse
|
11
|
Kleine-Weber H, Schroeder S, Krüger N, Prokscha A, Naim HY, Müller MA, Drosten C, Pöhlmann S, Hoffmann M. Polymorphisms in dipeptidyl peptidase 4 reduce host cell entry of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Emerg Microbes Infect 2020; 9:155-168. [PMID: 31964246 PMCID: PMC7006675 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1713705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes a severe respiratory disease in humans. The MERS-CoV spike (S) glycoprotein mediates viral entry into target cells. For this, MERS-CoV S engages the host cell protein dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4, CD26) and the interface between MERS-CoV S and DPP4 has been resolved on the atomic level. Here, we asked whether naturally-occurring polymorphisms in DPP4, that alter amino acid residues required for MERS-CoV S binding, influence cellular entry of MERS-CoV. By screening of public databases, we identified fourteen such polymorphisms. Introduction of the respective mutations into DPP4 revealed that all except one (Δ346-348) were compatible with robust DPP4 expression. Four polymorphisms (K267E, K267N, A291P and Δ346-348) strongly reduced binding of MERS-CoV S to DPP4 and S protein-driven host cell entry, as determined using soluble S protein and S protein bearing rhabdoviral vectors, respectively. Two polymorphisms (K267E and A291P) were analyzed in the context of authentic MERS-CoV and were found to attenuate viral replication. Collectively, we identified naturally-occurring polymorphisms in DPP4 that negatively impact cellular entry of MERS-CoV and might thus modulate MERS development in infected patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Kleine-Weber
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany.,Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Simon Schroeder
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nadine Krüger
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.,Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexander Prokscha
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hassan Y Naim
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Marcel A Müller
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research, associated partner Charité, Berlin, Germany.,Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Christian Drosten
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research, associated partner Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany.,Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Hoffmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|