High fusion and cytopathy of SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.640.1.
William BollandVincent MichelDelphine PlanasMathieu HubertIsabelle StaropoliFlorence Guivel-BenhassineFrançoise PorrotMélissa N'DebiChristophe RodriguezSlim FouratiMatthieu ProtCyril PlanchaisLaurent HocquelouxEtienne Simon-LorièreHugo MouquetThierry PrazuckJean Michel PawlotskyTimothée BruelOlivier SchwartzJulian BuchrieserPublished in: Journal of virology (2023)
Our results highlight the plasticity of SARS-CoV-2 Spike to generate highly fusogenic and cytopathic strains with the causative mutations being uncharacterized in previous variants. We describe mechanisms regulating the formation of syncytia and the subsequent consequences in a primary culture model, which are poorly understood.