A substitution at the cytoplasmic tail of the spike protein enhances SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and immunogenicity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Global dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages has provided a sufficient opportunity for natural selection, thus enabling beneficial mutations to emerge. Characterisation of these mutations uncovers the underlying machinery responsible for the fast transmission of Omicron variants and guides vaccine development for combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Through systematic bioinformatics analysis of 496,606 sequences of Omicron variants, we obtained 40 amino acid substitutions that occurred with high frequency in the S protein. Utilising pseudoviruses and a trans-complementation system of SARS-CoV-2, we identified the effect of high-frequency mutations on viral infectivity and elucidated the molecular mechanisms. Finally, we evaluated the impact of a key

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11603013 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature