Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Mutations during Prolonged Infection in Immunocompromised Hosts.

ABSTRACT: Immunocompromised hosts with prolonged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections have been implicated in the emergence of highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 variants. Spike mutations are of particular concern because the spike protein is a key target for vaccines and therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2. Here, we report the emergence of spike mutations in two immunocompromised patients with persistent SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription (RT)-PCR positivity (>90 days). Whole-genome sequence analysis of samples obtained before and after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment demonstrated the development of partial therapeutic escape mutations and increased intrahost SARS-CoV-2 genome diversity over time. This case series thus adds to the accumulating evidence that immunocompr

SUBMITTER: Ko KKK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9241677 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature