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Identification of Common Deletions in the Spike Protein of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2.
- Source :
-
Journal of Virology . Aug2020, Vol. 94 Issue 17, p1-9. 9p. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus first identified in December 2019. Notable features that make SARS-CoV-2 distinct from most other previously identified betacoronaviruses include a receptor binding domain and a unique insertion of 12 nucleotides or 4 amino acids (PRRA) at the S1/S2 boundary. In this study, we identified two deletion variants of SARS-CoV-2 that either directly affect the polybasic cleavage site itself (NSPRRAR) or a flanking sequence (QTQTN). These deletions were verified by multiple sequencing methods. In vitro results showed that the deletion of NSPRRAR likely does not affect virus replication in Vero and Vero-E6 cells; however, the deletion of QTQTN may restrict late-phase viral replication. The deletion of QTQTN was detected in 3 of 68 clinical samples and 12 of 24 in vitro-isolated viruses, while the deletion of NSPRRAR was identified in 3 in vitro-isolated viruses. Our data indicate that (i) there may be distinct selection pressures on SARS-CoV-2 replication or infection in vitro and in vivo; (ii) an efficient mechanism for deleting this region from the viral genome may exist, given that the deletion variant is commonly detected after two rounds of cell passage; and (iii) the PRRA insertion, which is unique to SARS-CoV-2, is not fixed during virus replication in vitro. These findings provide information to aid further investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection mechanisms and a better understanding of the NSPRRAR deletion variant observed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *COVID-19
*SARS-CoV-2
*VIRAL genomes
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0022538X
- Volume :
- 94
- Issue :
- 17
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Virology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 148545274
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00790-20