Science Advances,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
9(14)
Published: April 5, 2023
The
nucleocapsid
(N-)protein
of
severe
acute
respiratory
syndrome
coronavirus
2
(SARS-CoV-2)
has
a
key
role
in
viral
assembly
and
scaffolding
the
RNA.
It
promotes
liquid-liquid
phase
separation
(LLPS),
forming
dense
droplets
that
support
ribonucleoprotein
particles
with
as-of-yet
unknown
macromolecular
architecture.
Combining
biophysical
experiments,
molecular
dynamics
simulations,
analysis
mutational
landscape,
we
describe
heretofore
oligomerization
site
contributes
to
LLPS,
is
required
for
higher-order
protein-nucleic
acid
complexes,
coupled
large-scale
conformational
changes
N-protein
upon
nucleic
binding.
self-association
interface
located
leucine-rich
sequence
intrinsically
disordered
linker
between
folded
domains
formed
by
transient
helices
assembling
into
trimeric
coiled-coils.
Critical
residues
stabilizing
hydrophobic
electrostatic
interactions
adjacent
are
highly
protected
against
mutations
viable
SARS-CoV-2
genomes,
motif
conserved
across
related
coronaviruses,
thus
presenting
target
antiviral
therapeutics.
Nature Reviews Microbiology,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Jan. 18, 2023
In
late
2020,
after
circulating
for
almost
a
year
in
the
human
population,
severe
acute
respiratory
syndrome
coronavirus
2
(SARS-CoV-2)
exhibited
major
step
change
its
adaptation
to
humans.
These
highly
mutated
forms
of
SARS-CoV-2
had
enhanced
rates
transmission
relative
previous
variants
and
were
termed
'variants
concern'
(VOCs).
Designated
Alpha,
Beta,
Gamma,
Delta
Omicron,
VOCs
emerged
independently
from
one
another,
turn
each
rapidly
became
dominant,
regionally
or
globally,
outcompeting
variants.
The
success
VOC
previously
dominant
variant
was
enabled
by
altered
intrinsic
functional
properties
virus
and,
various
degrees,
changes
antigenicity
conferring
ability
evade
primed
immune
response.
increased
fitness
associated
with
is
result
complex
interplay
biology
context
changing
immunity
due
both
vaccination
prior
infection.
this
Review,
we
summarize
literature
on
transmissibility
variants,
role
mutations
at
furin
spike
cleavage
site
non-spike
proteins,
potential
importance
recombination
success,
evolution
T
cells,
innate
population
immunity.
shows
complicated
relationship
among
antigenicity,
virulence,
which
has
unpredictable
implications
future
trajectory
disease
burden
COVID-19.
Science,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
376(6599), P. 1327 - 1332
Published: May 24, 2022
Repeated
emergence
of
severe
acute
respiratory
syndrome
coronavirus
2
(SARS-CoV-2)
variants
with
increased
fitness
underscores
the
value
rapid
detection
and
characterization
new
lineages.
We
have
developed
PyR
0
,
a
hierarchical
Bayesian
multinomial
logistic
regression
model
that
infers
relative
prevalence
all
viral
lineages
across
geographic
regions,
detects
increasing
in
prevalence,
identifies
mutations
relevant
to
fitness.
Applying
publicly
available
SARS-CoV-2
genomes,
we
identify
numerous
substitutions
increase
fitness,
including
previously
identified
spike
many
nonspike
within
nucleocapsid
nonstructural
proteins.
forecasts
growth
from
their
mutational
profile,
ranks
as
sequences
become
available,
prioritizes
biological
public
health
concern
for
functional
characterization.
Cell,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
185(5), P. 872 - 880.e3
Published: Jan. 20, 2022
Although
infections
among
vaccinated
individuals
lead
to
milder
COVID-19
symptoms
relative
those
in
unvaccinated
subjects,
the
specificity
and
durability
of
antibody
responses
elicited
by
breakthrough
cases
remain
unknown.
Here,
we
demonstrate
that
induce
serum-binding
-neutralizing
are
markedly
more
potent,
durable,
resilient
spike
mutations
observed
variants
than
subjects
who
received
only
2
doses
vaccine.
However,
show
cases,
were
after
infection,
three
times
have
serum-neutralizing
activity
comparable
magnitude
breadth,
indicating
an
increased
number
exposures
SARS-CoV-2
antigen(s)
enhance
quality
responses.
Neutralization
SARS-CoV
was
moderate,
however,
underscoring
importance
developing
vaccines
eliciting
broad
sarbecovirus
immunity
for
pandemic
preparedness.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
119(31)
Published: July 19, 2022
The
severe
acute
respiratory
syndrome
coronavirus
2
(SARS-CoV-2)
Omicron
variant
contains
extensive
sequence
changes
relative
to
the
earlier-arising
B.1,
B.1.1,
and
Delta
SARS-CoV-2
variants
that
have
unknown
effects
on
viral
infectivity
response
existing
vaccines.
Using
virus-like
particles
(VLPs),
we
examined
mutations
in
all
four
structural
proteins
found
showed
4.6-fold
higher
luciferase
delivery
overall
ancestral
B.1
lineage,
a
property
conferred
mostly
by
enhancements
S
N
proteins,
while
M
E
were
detrimental
assembly.
Thirty-eight
antisera
samples
from
individuals
vaccinated
with
Pfizer/BioNTech,
Moderna,
or
Johnson
&
vaccines
convalescent
sera
unvaccinated
COVID-19
survivors
had
15-fold
lower
efficacy
prevent
cell
transduction
VLPs
containing
spike
protein.
A
third
dose
of
Pfizer
vaccine
elicited
substantially
neutralization
titers
against
Omicron,
resulting
detectable
neutralizing
antibodies
eight
out
subjects
compared
one
preboosting.
Furthermore,
monoclonal
antibody
therapeutics
casirivimab
imdevimab
robust
activity
but
no
VLPs,
newly
authorized
bebtelovimab
maintained
across
variants.
Our
results
suggest
has
similar
assembly
efficiency
entry
its
rapid
spread
is
due
reduced
previously
subjects.
In
addition,
most
currently
available
will
not
be
useful
treating
Omicron-infected
patients
exception
bebtelovimab.
Virology Journal,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
20(1)
Published: Jan. 10, 2023
Coronavirus
disease
2019
(COVID-19)
continues
to
take
a
heavy
toll
on
personal
health,
healthcare
systems,
and
economies
around
the
globe.
Scientists
are
expending
tremendous
effort
develop
diagnostic
technologies
for
detecting
positive
infections
within
shortest
possible
time,
vaccines
drugs
specifically
prevention
treatment
of
COVID-19
disease.
At
same
emerging
novel
variants
have
raised
serious
concerns
about
vaccine
efficacy.
The
SARS-CoV-2
nucleocapsid
(N)
protein
plays
an
important
role
in
coronavirus
life
cycle,
participates
various
vital
activities
after
virus
invasion.
It
has
attracted
large
amount
attention
drug
development.
Here,
we
summarize
latest
research
N
protein,
including
its
structure
function,
post-translational
modifications
addition
involvement
liquid-liquid
phase
separation
(LLPS)
use
as
basis
development
techniques.
EBioMedicine,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
84, P. 104270 - 104270
Published: Sept. 18, 2022
BackgroundGenetically
distinct
viral
variants
of
severe
acute
respiratory
syndrome
coronavirus
2
(SARS-CoV-2)
have
been
recorded
since
January
2020.
The
introduction
global
vaccine
programs
has
contributed
to
lower
COVID-19
hospitalisation
and
mortality
rates,
particularly
in
developed
countries.
In
late
2021,
Omicron
BA.1
emerged,
with
substantially
altered
genetic
differences
clinical
effects
from
other
concern.
Shortly
after
dominating
spread
early
2022,
was
supplanted
by
the
genetically
lineage
BA.2.
A
sub-lineage
BA.2,
designated
BA.5,
presently
an
outgrowth
advantage
over
BA.2
sub-lineages.
Here
we
study
neutralisation
BA.1,
BA.5
pre-Omicron
using
a
range
convalescent
sera
therapeutic
monoclonal
antibodies
live
virus
assay.
Using
primary
nasopharyngeal
swabs,
also
tested
relative
fitness
compared
lineages
their
ability
use
ACE2-TMPRSS2
pathway.MethodsUsing
low
passage
isolates
Clade
A.2.2,
Beta,
Delta,
determined
humoral
vitro
vaccinated
cohorts,
concentrated
human
IgG
pooled
thousands
plasma
donors,
licensed
antibody
therapies.
We
then
infectivity
particle
ratios
samples
expanded
engineered
ACE2/TMPRSS2
cell
line
presence
absence
TMPRSS2
inhibitor
Nafamostat.FindingsPeak
responses
3
doses
BNT162b2
were
associated
9-fold
reduction
for
BA.5.
Concentrated
donors
vaccination
breakthrough
infections
greater
breadth
neutralisation,
although
potency
still
reduced
7-fold
across
all
lineages.
Testing
grade
revealed
14.3-fold
Evusheld
16.8-fold
Sotrovimab
Whilst
attenuated
entry,
observed
be
equivalent
that
2020
circulating
clade
had
sensitivity
Nafamostat.InterpretationObservations
support
significantly
escape
neutralising
and/or
responses.
Potency
is
differs
key
difference
sub-variants
reversion
tropism
back
well-known
pathway,
utilised
efficiently
Monitoring
if
these
changes
influence
transmission
disease
severity
will
ongoing
tracking
management
waves
globally.FundingThis
work
primarily
supported
Australian
Medical
Foundation
research
grants
MRF2005760
(ST,
GM
&
WDR),
MRF2001684
(ADK
ST)
Research
Future
Fund
Antiviral
Development
Call
grant
(WDR),
(MRFF2001684,
ADK
SGT)
New
South
Wales
Health
Grants
Round
(SGT).
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
7(1)
Published: June 28, 2022
Abstract
The
persistent
COVID-19
pandemic
since
2020
has
brought
an
enormous
public
health
burden
to
the
global
society
and
is
accompanied
by
various
evolution
of
virus
genome.
consistently
emerging
SARS-CoV-2
variants
harboring
critical
mutations
impact
molecular
characteristics
viral
proteins
display
heterogeneous
behaviors
in
immune
evasion,
transmissibility,
clinical
manifestation
during
infection,
which
differ
each
strain
endow
them
with
distinguished
features
populational
spread.
Several
variants,
identified
as
Variants
Concern
(VOC)
World
Health
Organization,
challenged
efforts
on
control
due
rapid
worldwide
spread
enhanced
evasion
from
current
antibodies
vaccines.
Moreover,
recent
Omicron
variant
even
exacerbated
anxiety
continuous
pandemic.
Its
significant
medical
treatment
disease
highlights
necessity
combinatory
investigation
mutational
pattern
influence
dynamics
against
immunity,
would
greatly
facilitate
drug
vaccine
development
benefit
policymaking.
Hence
this
review,
we
summarized
characteristics,
impacts
focused
parallel
comparison
different
profile,
transmissibility
tropism
alteration,
effectiveness,
manifestations,
order
provide
a
comprehensive
landscape
for
research.
Nature,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
610(7930), P. 154 - 160
Published: Aug. 11, 2022
The
SARS-CoV-2
Delta
(Pango
lineage
B.1.617.2)
variant
of
concern
spread
globally,
causing
resurgences
COVID-19
worldwide1,2.
emergence
the
in
UK
occurred
on
background
a
heterogeneous
landscape
immunity
and
relaxation
non-pharmaceutical
interventions.
Here
we
analyse
52,992
genomes
from
England
together
with
93,649
rest
world
to
reconstruct
quantify
its
introduction
regional
dissemination
across
context
changing
travel
social
restrictions.
Using
analysis
human
movement,
contact
tracing
virus
genomic
data,
find
that
geographic
focus
expansion
shifted
India
more
global
pattern
early
May
2021.
In
England,
lineages
were
introduced
than
1,000
times
nationally
as
interventions
relaxed.
We
hotel
quarantine
for
travellers
reduced
onward
transmission
importations;
however,
chains
later
dominated
wave
seeded
before
restrictions
introduced.
Increasing
inter-regional
within
drove
nationwide
Delta,
some
cities
receiving
2,000
observable
introductions
elsewhere.
Subsequently,
increased
levels
local
population
mixing-and
not
number
importations-were
associated
faster
relative
Delta.
invasion
dynamics
depended
spatial
heterogeneity
patterns,
our
findings
will
inform
optimal
reduce
current
future
variants
concern,
such
Omicron
B.1.1.529).
Coronavirus
disease
2019
(COVID-19)
is
frequently
associated
with
neurological
deficits,
but
how
severe
acute
respiratory
syndrome
coronavirus
2
(SARS-CoV-2)
induces
these
effects
remains
unclear.
Here,
we
show
that
astrocytes
are
readily
infected
by
SARS-CoV-2,
surprisingly,
neuropilin-1,
not
angiotensin-converting
enzyme
(ACE2),
serves
as
the
principal
receptor
mediating
cell
entry.
Infection
further
positively
modulated
two-pore
segment
channel
(TPC2)
protein
regulates
membrane
trafficking
and
endocytosis.
Astrocyte
infection
produces
a
pathological
response
closely
resembling
reactive
astrogliosis
characterized
elevated
type
I
interferon
(IFN)
production,
increased
inflammation,
decreased
expression
of
transporters
water,
ions,
choline,
neurotransmitters.
These
combined
events
initiated
within
produce
hostile
microenvironment
promotes
dysfunction
death
uninfected
bystander
neurons.