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Article Dans Une Revue EMBO Journal Année : 2021

SARS‐CoV‐2 Alpha, Beta, and Delta variants display enhanced Spike‐mediated syncytia formation

Nell Saunders
Hugo Mouquet

Résumé

Severe COVID-19 is characterized by lung abnormalities, including the presence of syncytial pneumocytes. Syncytia form when SARS-CoV-2 spike protein expressed on the surface of infected cells interacts with the ACE2 receptor on neighboring cells. The syncytia forming potential of spike variant proteins remain poorly characterized. Here, we first assessed Alpha (B.1.1.7) and Beta (B.1.351) spread and fusion in cell cultures, compared with the ancestral D614G strain. Alpha and Beta replicated similarly to D614G strain in Vero, Caco-2, Calu-3, and primary airway cells. However, Alpha and Beta formed larger and more numerous syncytia. Variant spike proteins displayed higher ACE2 affinity compared with D614G. Alpha, Beta, and D614G fusion was similarly inhibited by interferon-induced transmembrane proteins (IFITMs). Individual mutations present in Alpha and Beta spikes modified fusogenicity, binding to ACE2 or recognition by monoclonal antibodies. We further show that Delta spike also triggers faster fusion relative to D614G. Thus, SARS-CoV-2 emerging variants display enhanced syncytia formation.

Domaines

Virologie

Dates et versions

pasteur-03654276 , version 1 (28-04-2022)

Identifiants

Citer

Maaran Michael Rajah, Mathieu Hubert, Elodie Bishop, Nell Saunders, Remy Robinot, et al.. SARS‐CoV‐2 Alpha, Beta, and Delta variants display enhanced Spike‐mediated syncytia formation. EMBO Journal, 2021, 40 (24), pp.e108944. ⟨10.15252/embj.2021108944⟩. ⟨pasteur-03654276⟩
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