A Comparative Analysis of Innate Immune Responses and the Structural Characterization of Spike from SARS-CoV-2 Gamma Variants and Subvariants.
Aline Miranda ScovinoElizabeth Chen DahabIsrael Diniz-LimaEtiele S SilveiraShana Priscila Coutinho BarrosoKarina Martins CardosoDirlei NicoGustavo José MakhoulElias Barbosa da Silva-JuniorCelio Geraldo Freire-de-LimaLeonardo Freire-de-LimaLeonardo Marques da FonsecaNatalia ValenteValeria NacifeAna MachadoMia AraújoGustavo Fioravanti VieiraAlex Pauvolid-CorrêaMarilda SiqueiraAlexandre MorrotPublished in: Microorganisms (2024)
The SARS-CoV-2 P.1 variant, responsible for an outbreak in Manaus, Brazil, is distinguished by 12 amino acid differences in the S protein, potentially increasing its ACE-2 affinity and immune evasion capability. We investigated the innate immune response of this variant compared to the original B.1 strain, particularly concerning cytokine production. Blood samples from three severe COVID-19 patients were analyzed post-infection with both strains. Results showed no significant difference in cytokine production of mononuclear cells and neutrophils for either variant. While B.1 had higher cytopathogenicity, neither showed viral replication in mononuclear cells. Structural analyses of the S protein highlighted physicochemical variations, which might be linked to the differences in infectivity between the strains. Our studies point to the increased infectivity of P.1 could stem from altered immunogenicity and receptor-binding affinity.
Keyphrases
- sars cov
- immune response
- amino acid
- induced apoptosis
- cell cycle arrest
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- escherichia coli
- innate immune
- peripheral blood
- cell death
- signaling pathway
- oxidative stress
- gene expression
- endoplasmic reticulum stress
- early onset
- toll like receptor
- cell proliferation
- mass spectrometry
- transcription factor
- angiotensin ii
- dna binding
- atomic force microscopy
- pi k akt
- coronavirus disease