Predictive Analysis of Susceptibility of Different Species to SARS-CoV-2 based on ACE2 Receptors.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Xu XG
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7832369 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:A novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, emerged in China in December 2019 and spread worldwide, causing more than 1.3 million deaths in 11 months. Similar to the human SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 shares strong sequence homologies with a sarbecovirus circulating in Rhinolophus affinis bats. Because bats are expected to be able to transmit their coronaviruses to intermediate animal hosts that in turn are a source of viruses able to cross species barriers and infect humans (so-called spillover model), the identification of an intermediate animal reservoir was the subject of intense researches. It was claimed that a reptile (Ophiophagus hannah) was the intermediate host. This hypothesis was quickly ruled out and replaced by the pangolin (Manis javanica) hypothesis. Yet, pangolin was also recently exonerated from SARS-CoV-2 transmission to humans, leaving other animal species as presumed guilty. Guided by the spillover model, several laboratories investigated in silico the species polymorphism of the angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to find the best fits with the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding site. Following the same strategy, we used multi-sequence alignment, 3-D structure analysis, and electrostatic potential surface generation of ACE2 variants to predict their binding capacity to SARS-CoV-2. We report evidence that such simple in silico investigation is a powerful tool to quickly screen which species are potentially susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. However, possible receptor binding does not necessarily lead to successful replication in host. Therefore, we also discuss here the limitations of these in silico approaches in our quest on the origins of COVID-19 pandemic.
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Project description:Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of the global pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 is a zoonotic disease, but little is known about variations in species susceptibility that could identify potential reservoir species, animal models, and the risk to pets, wildlife, and livestock. Certain species, such as domestic cats and tigers, are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, while other species such as mice and chickens are not. Most animal species, including those in close contact with humans, have unknown susceptibility. Hence, methods to predict the infection risk of animal species are urgently needed. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is critical for viral cell entry and infection. Here we integrate species differences in susceptibility with multiple in-depth structural analyses to identify key ACE2 amino acid positions including 30, 83, 90, 322, and 354 that distinguish susceptible from resistant species. Using differences in these residues across species, we developed a susceptibility score that predicts an elevated risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection for multiple species including horses and camels. We also demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 is nearly optimal for binding ACE2 of humans compared to other animals, which may underlie the highly contagious transmissibility of this virus among humans. Taken together, our findings define potential ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 residues for therapeutic targeting and identification of animal species on which to focus research and protection measures for environmental and public health.
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Project description:Aim: This study aimed to analyze the phylogenetic relationships between the ACE2 of humans and other animals and investigate the potential interaction between SARS-CoV-2 RBD and ACE2 of different species. Materials & methods: The phylogenetic construction and molecular interactions were assessed using computational models. Results & conclusion: Despite the evolutionary distance, 11 species had a perfect fit for the interaction between their ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 RBD (Chinchilla lanigera, Neovison vison, Rhinolophus sinicus, Emballonura alecto, Saccopteryx bilineata, Numida meleagris). Among them, the avian N. meleagris was reported for the first time in this study as a probable SARS-CoV-2 host due to the strong molecular interactions. Therefore, predicting potential hosts for SARS-CoV-2 for understanding the epidemiological cycle and proposal of surveillance strategies.
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Project description:Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants continue to emerge during the global pandemic and may facilitate escape from current antibody therapies and vaccine protection. Here we showed that the South African variant B.1.351 was the most resistant to current monoclonal antibodies and convalescent plasma from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-infected individuals, followed by the Brazilian variant P.1 and the United Kingdom variant B.1.1.7. This resistance hierarchy corresponded with Y144del and 242-244del mutations in the N-terminal domain and K417N/T, E484K, and N501Y mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2. Crystal structure analysis of the B.1.351 triple mutant (417N-484K-501Y) RBD complexed with the monoclonal antibody P2C-1F11 revealed the molecular basis for antibody neutralization and escape. B.1.351 and P.1 also acquired the ability to use mouse and mink ACE2 receptors for entry. Our results demonstrate major antigenic shifts and potential broadening of the host range for B.1.351 and P.1 variants, which poses serious challenges to current antibody therapies and vaccine protection.
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