Insights into Molecular Evolution and Increased Transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2

Verma, Rohit; Surjit, Milan; Kaur, Ramandeep; Lal, Sunil K.

doi:10.1142/9789811254338_0002

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“…Several variants of SARS‐CoV‐2 have emerged, which differ in their infectivity, transmissibility, and/or virulence (Verma et al , 2023). To evaluate whether HERV‐R‐Env inhibition is unique to the Wuhan variant of SARS‐Cov‐2 and if there is a difference in the degree of inhibition depending on the variant, we measured the level of HERV‐R‐Env RNA in Huh7 and Calu 3 cells infected with the Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (BA.5) variants of SARS‐CoV‐2.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antiviral activity of the human endogenous retrovirus‐R envelope protein against SARS‐CoV‐2

et al. 2023

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Coronavirus‐induced disease‐19 (COVID‐19), caused by SARS‐CoV‐2, is still a major global health challenge. Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) represent retroviral elements that were integrated into the ancestral human genome. HERVs are important in embryonic development as well as in the manifestation of diseases, including cancer, inflammation, and viral infections. Here, we analyze the expression of several HERVs in SARS‐CoV‐2‐infected cells and observe increased activity of HERV‐E, HERV‐V, HERV‐FRD, HERV‐MER34, HERV‐W, and HERV‐K‐HML2. In contrast, the HERV‐R envelope is downregulated in cell‐based models and PBMCs of COVID‐19 patients. Overexpression of HERV‐R inhibits SARS‐CoV‐2 replication, suggesting its antiviral activity. Further analyses demonstrate the role of the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) in regulating HERV‐R antiviral activity. Lastly, our data indicate that the crosstalk between ERK and p38 MAPK controls the synthesis of the HERV‐R envelope protein, which in turn modulates SARS‐CoV‐2 replication. These findings suggest the role of the HERV‐R envelope as a prosurvival host factor against SARS‐CoV‐2 and illustrate a possible advantage of integration and evolutionary maintenance of retroviral elements in the human genome.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%