scholarly journals Distinct evolution of infection-enhancing and neutralizing epitopes in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 variants (from alpha to omicron) : a structural and molecular epidemiology study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick GUERIN ◽  
Nouara YAHI ◽  
Fodil AZZAZ ◽  
Henri CHAHINIAN ◽  
Jean-Marc SABATIER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Epidemiology ◽  
Structural Dynamics ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Mass Vaccination ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Epidemiology Study ◽  
Gamma Delta ◽  
Los Alamos ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Neutralizing Epitopes

Abstract Infection-enhancing antibodies may limit the efficiency of Covid-19 vaccines. We analyzed the evolution ofneutralizing and facilitating epitopes in 1,860,489 SARS-CoV-2 genomes stored in the Los Alamos databasefrom June to November 2021. The structural dynamics of these epitopes was determined by molecular modelingof the spike protein on a representative panel of SARS-CoV-2 variants. D614, which belongs to an antibody-dependent-enhancement (ADE) epitope common to SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, has mutated to D614G in2020, which could explain why ADE has not been detected following mass vaccination. A second epitopelocated in the N-terminal domain (NTD), specific of SARS-CoV-2, is highly conserved among most variants. Incontrast, the neutralizing epitope of the NTD showed extensive variations in SARS-CoV-2 variants. The balancebetween facilitating and neutralizing antibodies is in favor of neutralization for the Wuhan strain, alpha and betavariants, but not for gamma, delta, lambda, and mu. The recently emerging omicron variant is atypic as itsmutational profiles affects both neutralization and ADE epitopes. Overall, our data reveal that the evolution ofSARS-CoV-2 has dramatically affected the ADE/neutralization balance. Future vaccines should consider thesefindings to design new formulations adapted to SARS-CoV-2 variants and lacking ADE epitopes in the spikeprotein.

scholarly journals Distinct evolution of infection-enhancing and neutralizing epitopes in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 variants (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, lambda and mu) : a structural and molecular epidemiology study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick GUERIN ◽  
Nouara YAHI ◽  
Fodil AZZAZ ◽  
Henri CHAHINIAN ◽  
Jean-Marc SABATIER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Molecular Epidemiology ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Epidemiology Study ◽  
Gamma Delta ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Humoral Immune Responses ◽  
Spike Sequences ◽  
Molecular Modeling Studies

Abstract Objectives. The efficiency of Covid-19 vaccination is determined by cellular and humoral immune responses, and for the latter, by the balance between neutralizing and infection-enhancing antibodies. Here we analyzed the evolution of neutralizing and facilitating epitopes in the spike protein among SARS-CoV-2 variants. Methods. Amino acid alignments were performed on 929,203 spike sequences over the 4 last months. Molecular modeling studies of the N-terminal domain (NTD) and rod-like regions of the spike protein were performed on a representative panel of SARS-CoV-2 variants that were structurally compared with the original Wuhan strain. Results. D614, which belongs to an antibody-dependent-enhancement (ADE) epitope common to SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, has rapidly mutated to D614G in the first months of 2020, explaining why ADE has not been detected following mass vaccination. We show that this epitope is conformationally linked to the main ADE epitope of the SARS-CoV-2 NTD which is highly conserved among most variants. In contrast, the neutralizing epitope of the NTD showed extensive variations in SARS-CoV-2 variants. Conclusions. This molecular epidemiology study coupled with structural analysis of the spike protein indicates that the balance between facilitating and neutralizing antibodies in vaccinated people is in favor of neutralization for the Wuhan strain,alpha and beta variants, but not for gamma, delta, lambda and mu. The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has dramatically affected the ADE/neutralization balance which is nowadays in favor of ADE. Future vaccines should consider these data to design new formulations adapted to SARS-CoV-2 variants and lacking ADE epitopes in the spike protein.

scholarly journals Distinct evolution of infection-enhancing and neutralizing epitopes in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 variants (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, lambda and µ) : a structural and molecular epidemiology study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Guérin ◽  
Nouara Yahi ◽  
Fodil Azzaz ◽  
Henri Chahinian ◽  
Jean-Marc Sabatier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Molecular Epidemiology ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Epidemiology Study ◽  
Gamma Delta ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Humoral Immune Responses ◽  
Spike Sequences ◽  
Molecular Modeling Studies

Objectives. The efficiency of Covid-19 vaccination is determined by cellular and humoral immune responses, and for the latter, by the balance between neutralizing and infection-enhancing antibodies. Here we analyzed the evolution of neutralizing and facilitating epitopes in the spike protein among SARS-CoV-2 variants. Methods. Amino acid alignments were performed on 929,203 spike sequences over the 4 last months. Molecular modeling studies of the N-terminal domain (NTD) and rod-like regions of the spike protein were performed on a representative panel of SARS-CoV-2 variants that were structurally compared with the original Wuhan strain. Results. D614, which belongs to an antibody-dependent-enhancement (ADE) epitope common to SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, has rapidly mutated to D614G in the first months of 2020, explaining why ADE has not been detected following mass vaccination. We show that this epitope is conformationally linked to the main ADE epitope of the SARS-CoV-2 NTD which is highly conserved among most variants. In contrast, the neutralizing epitope of the NTD showed extensive variations in SARS-CoV-2 variants. Conclusions. This molecular epidemiology study coupled with structural analysis of the spike protein indicates that the balance between facilitating and neutralizing antibodies in vaccinated people is in favor of neutralization for the Wuhan strain, alpha and beta variants, but not for gamma, delta, lambda and mu. The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has dramatically affected the ADE/neutralization balance which is nowadays in favor of ADE. Future vaccines should consider these data to design new formulations adapted to SARS-CoV-2 variants and lacking ADE epitopes in the spike protein.

Identification of a novel neutralizing epitope on the N-terminal domain of the HCoV-229E spike protein

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiale Shi ◽  
Yuejun Shi ◽  
Ruixue Xiu ◽  
Gang Wang ◽  
Rui Liang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epitope Mapping ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Selective Pressure ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Neutralizing Epitope ◽  
Change Over Time ◽  
S Protein ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Neutralizing Epitopes ◽  
Over Time

The receptor binding domain (RBD) of the coronavirus spike protein (S) has been verified to be the main target for potent neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) in most coronaviruses, and the N-terminal domain (NTD) of some betacoronaviruses has also been indicated to induce nAbs. For alphacoronavirus HCoV-229E, its RBD has been shown to have neutralizing epitopes, and these epitopes could change over time. However, whether neutralizing epitopes exist on the NTD and whether these epitopes change like those of the RBD are still unknown. Here, we verified that neutralizing epitopes exist on the NTD of HCoV-229E. Furthermore, we characterized an NTD targeting nAb 5H10, which could neutralize both pseudotyped and authentic HCoV-229E VR740 in vitro. Epitope mapping indicated that 5H10 targeted motif E1 (147-167 aa) and identified F159 as critical for 5H10 binding. More importantly, our results revealed that motif E1 was highly conserved among clinical isolates except for F159. Further data proved that mutations at position 159 gradually appeared over time and could completely abolish the neutralizing ability of 5H10, supporting the notion that position 159 may be under selective pressure during the human epidemic. In addition, we also found that contemporary clinical serum has a stronger binding capacity for the NTD of contemporary strains than historic strains, proving that the epitope on the NTD could change over time. In summary, these findings define a novel neutralizing epitope on the NTD of HCoV-229E S and provide a theoretical basis for the design of vaccines against HCoV-229E or related coronaviruses. Importance Characterization of the neutralizing epitope of the spike (S) protein, the major invasion protein of coronaviruses, can help us better understand the evolutionary characteristics of these viruses and promote vaccine development. To date, the neutralizing epitope distribution of alphacoronaviruses is not well known. Here, we identified a neutralizing antibody that targeted the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the alphacoronavirus HCoV-229E S protein. Epitope mapping revealed a novel epitope that was not previously discovered in HCoV-229E. Further studies identified an important residue, F159. Mutations that gradually appeared over time at this site abolished the neutralizing ability of 5H10, indicating that selective pressure occurred at this position in the spread of HCoV-229E. Furthermore, we found that the epitopes within the NTD also changed over time. Taken together, our findings defined a novel neutralizing epitope and highlighted the role of the NTD in the future prevention and control of HCoV-229E or related coronaviruses.

scholarly journals Escape from neutralizing antibodies by SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variants

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiska Weisblum ◽  
Fabian Schmidt ◽  
Fengwen Zhang ◽  
Justin DaSilva ◽  
Daniel Poston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Reporter Virus ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Protein Variants ◽  
Prior Infection ◽  
Neutralizing Epitopes

AbstractNeutralizing antibodies elicited by prior infection or vaccination are likely to be key for future protection of individuals and populations against SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, passively administered antibodies are among the most promising therapeutic and prophylactic anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents. However, the degree to which SARS-CoV-2 will adapt to evade neutralizing antibodies is unclear. Using a recombinant chimeric VSV/SARS-CoV-2 reporter virus, we show that functional SARS-CoV-2 S protein variants with mutations in the receptor binding domain (RBD) and N-terminal domain that confer resistance to monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma can be readily selected. Notably, SARS-CoV-2 S variants that resist commonly elicited neutralizing antibodies are now present at low frequencies in circulating SARS-CoV-2 populations. Finally, the emergence of antibody-resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants that might limit the therapeutic usefulness of monoclonal antibodies can be mitigated by the use of antibody combinations that target distinct neutralizing epitopes.

scholarly journals Structural and Biochemical Rationale for Enhanced Spike Protein Fitness in Delta and Kappa SARS-CoV-2 Variants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W. Saville ◽  
Dhiraj Mannar ◽  
Xing Zhu ◽  
Shanti S. Srivastava ◽  
Alison M. Berezuk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Viral Fitness ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Antibody Neutralization ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Modest Increase ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Neutralizing Epitopes

The Delta and Kappa variants of SARS-CoV-2 co-emerged in India in late 2020, with the Delta variant underlying the resurgence of COVID-19, even in countries with high vaccination rates. In this study, we assess structural and biochemical aspects of viral fitness for these two variants using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), ACE2-binding and antibody neutralization analyses. Both variants demonstrate escape of antibodies targeting the N-terminal domain, an important immune hotspot for neutralizing epitopes. Compared to wild-type and Kappa lineages, Delta variant spike proteins show modest increase in ACE2 affinity, likely due to enhanced electrostatic complementarity at the RBD-ACE2 interface, which we characterize by cryo-EM. Unexpectedly, Kappa variant spike trimers form a novel head-to-head dimer-of-trimers assembly, which we demonstrate is a result of the E484Q mutation. The combination of increased antibody escape and enhanced ACE2 binding provides an explanation, in part, for the rapid global dominance of the Delta variant.

scholarly journals Escape from neutralizing antibodies by SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variants

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiska Weisblum ◽  
Fabian Schmidt ◽  
Fengwen Zhang ◽  
Justin DaSilva ◽  
Daniel Poston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Reporter Virus ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Protein Variants ◽  
Prior Infection ◽  
Neutralizing Epitopes

Neutralizing antibodies elicited by prior infection or vaccination are likely to be key for future protection of individuals and populations against SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, passively administered antibodies are among the most promising therapeutic and prophylactic anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents. However, the degree to which SARS-CoV-2 will adapt to evade neutralizing antibodies is unclear. Using a recombinant chimeric VSV/SARS-CoV-2 reporter virus, we show that functional SARS-CoV-2 S protein variants with mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) and N-terminal domain that confer resistance to monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma can be readily selected. Notably, SARS-CoV-2 S variants that resist commonly elicited neutralizing antibodies are now present at low frequencies in circulating SARS-CoV-2 populations. Finally, the emergence of antibody-resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants that might limit the therapeutic usefulness of monoclonal antibodies can be mitigated by the use of antibody combinations that target distinct neutralizing epitopes.

scholarly journals Distinct shifts in site-specific glycosylation pattern of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins associated with arising mutations in the D614G and Alpha variants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chu-Wei Kuo ◽  
Tzu-Jing Yang ◽  
Yu-Chun Chien ◽  
Pei-Yu Yu ◽  
Shang-Te Danny Hsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Spatial Accessibility ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Glycosylation Pattern ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Host Immune Responses ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Alpha Variant ◽  
Spike Proteins

Extensive glycosylation of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 virus not only shields the major part of it from host immune responses, but glycans at specific sites also act on its conformation dynamics and contribute to efficient host receptor binding, and hence infectivity. As variants of concern arise during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unclear if mutations accumulated within the spike protein would affect its site-specific glycosylation pattern. The Alpha variant derived from the D614G lineage is distinguished from others by having deletion mutations located right within an immunogenic supersite of the spike N-terminal domain that make it refractory to most neutralizing antibodies directed against this domain. Despite maintaining an overall similar structural conformation, our mass spectrometry-based site-specific glycosylation analyses of similarly produced spike proteins with and without the D614G and Alpha variant mutations reveal a significant shift in the processing state of N-glycans on one specific N-terminal domain site. Its conversion to a higher proportion of complex type structures is indicative of altered spatial accessibility attributable to mutations specific to the Alpha variant that may impact its transmissibility. This and other more subtle changes in glycosylation features detected at other sites provide crucial missing information otherwise not apparent in the available cryogenic electron microscopy-derived structures of the spike protein variants.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 Lambda variant exhibits higher infectivity and immune resistance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izumi Kimura ◽  
Yusuke Kosugi ◽  
Jiaqi Wu ◽  
Daichi Yamasoba ◽  
Erika P Butlertanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
South America ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Deletion Mutation ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
South American ◽  
Amino Acid Deletion ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Immune Resistance ◽  
New Variant

SARS-CoV-2 Lambda, a new variant of interest, is now spreading in some South American countries; however, its virological features and evolutionary trait remain unknown. Here we reveal that the spike protein of the Lambda variant is more infectious and it is attributed to the T76I and L452Q mutations. The RSYLTPGD246-253N mutation, a unique 7-amino-acid deletion mutation in the N-terminal domain of the Lambda spike protein, is responsible for evasion from neutralizing antibodies. Since the Lambda variant has dominantly spread according to the increasing frequency of the isolates harboring the RSYLTPGD246-253N mutation, our data suggest that the insertion of the RSYLTPGD246-253N mutation is closely associated with the massive infection spread of the Lambda variant in South America.

scholarly journals Mutational hotspot in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein N-terminal domain conferring immune escape potential

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Slawomir Kubik ◽  
Nils Arrigo ◽  
Jaume Bonet ◽  
Zhenyu Xu
Keyword(s):  
Early Identification ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Striking Increase ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Critical Residue ◽  
Optimal Efficiency ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTGlobal efforts are being taken to monitor the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, aiming at early identification of mutations with the potential of increasing viral infectivity or virulence. We report a striking increase in the frequency of recruitment of diverse substitutions at a critical residue (W152), positioned in the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the Spike protein, observed repeatedly across independent phylogenetic and geographical contexts. We investigate the impact these mutations might have on the evasion of neutralizing antibodies. Finally, we uncover that NTD is a region exhibiting particularly high frequency of mutation recruitments, suggesting an evolutionary path on which the virus maintains optimal efficiency of ACE2 binding combined with the flexibility facilitating the immune escape.

scholarly journals The N-terminal domain of spike glycoprotein mediates SARS-CoV-2 infection by associating with L-SIGN and DC-SIGN

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wai Tuck Soh ◽  
Yafei Liu ◽  
Emi E. Nakayama ◽  
Chikako Ono ◽  
Shiho Torii ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Primary Host ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Lectin Receptor ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Host Cell Receptor ◽  
Protein Serum

The widespread occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 has had a profound effect on society and a vaccine is currently being developed. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the primary host cell receptor that interacts with the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Although pneumonia is the main symptom in severe cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the expression levels of ACE2 in the lung is low, suggesting the presence of another receptor for the spike protein. In order to identify the additional receptors for the spike protein, we screened a receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein from the lung cDNA library. We cloned L-SIGN as a specific receptor for the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The RBD of the spike protein did not bind to L-SIGN. In addition, not only L-SIGN but also DC-SIGN, a closely related C-type lectin receptor to L-SIGN, bound to the NTD of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Importantly, cells expressing L-SIGN and DC-SIGN were both infected by SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, L-SIGN and DC-SIGN induced membrane fusion by associating with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Serum antibodies from infected patients and a patient-derived monoclonal antibody against NTD inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection of L-SIGN or DC-SIGN expressing cells. Our results highlight the important role of NTD in SARS-CoV-2 dissemination through L-SIGN and DC-SIGN and the significance of having anti-NTD neutralizing antibodies in antibody-based therapeutics.

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