Evaluation of immune evasion in SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants.

ABSTRACT: Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants with higher transmissibility and immune escape remain a persistent threat across the globe. This is evident from the recent outbreaks of the Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron variants. These variants have originated from different continents and spread across the globe. In this study, we explored the genomic and structural basis of these variants for their lineage defining mutations of the spike protein through computational analysis, protein modeling, and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. We further experimentally validated the importance of these deletion mutants for their immune escape using a pseudovirus-based neutralization assay, and an antibody (4A8) that binds directly to the spike protein's NTD. Delta variant with the deletion and mutations in the NTD re

SUBMITTER: Chaudhari AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9359593 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature