Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Adaptation to Available Cellular Proteases

• DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02186-21
• Publication Date: 2022-01-12T16:42:10Z
• Authors: M. Zeeshan Chaudhry; Kathrin Eschke; Markus Hoffmann; Martina Grashoff; Leila Abassi; Yeonsu Kim; Linda Brunotte; Stephan Ludwig; Andrea Kröger; Frank Klawonn; Stefan H. Pöhlmann; Luka Cicin-Sain
• Keywords: Furin; 0301 basic medicine; 0303 health sciences; SARS-CoV-2; Serine Endopeptidases; COVID-19; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Virus Replication; Adaptation, Physiological; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; HEK293 Cells; Genetic Diversity and Evolution; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; Chlorocebus aethiops; Mutation; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; Animals; Humans; Vero Cells

Recently emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 (alpha variant), B.1.617.2 (delta variant), and B.1.1.529 (omicron variant) harbor spike mutations and have been linked to increased virus pathogenesis. The emergence of these novel variants highlights coronavirus adaptation and evolution potential, despite the stable consensus genotype of clinical isolates.