2021
DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021108944
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SARS‐CoV‐2 Alpha, Beta, and Delta variants display enhanced Spike‐mediated syncytia formation

Abstract: Severe COVID‐19 is characterized by lung abnormalities, including the presence of syncytial pneumocytes. Syncytia form when SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein expressed on the surface of infected cells interacts with the ACE2 receptor on neighboring cells. The syncytia forming potential of spike variant proteins remain poorly characterized. Here, we first assessed Alpha (B.1.1.7) and Beta (B.1.351) spread and fusion in cell cultures, compared with the ancestral D614G strain. Alpha and Beta replicated similarly to D614G … Show more

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Cited by 169 publications
(167 citation statements)
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References 90 publications
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“…A similar pattern was seen in the NLR, which was higher in wave two relative to wave 1 in PLWH with active SARS-CoV-2 infection, but then decreased to similar levels upon convalescence. The role of the Beta variant is supported by data showing extensive evolution, increasing the ability of Beta to escape the interferon response and result in more efficient viral cell-to-cell transmission ( Guo et al, 2021 ; Thorne et al, 2021 ; Rajah et al, 2021 ). Beta variant hospitalizations also led to more deaths in South Africa ( Jassat et al, 2021b ).…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 97%
See 1 more Smart Citation
“…A similar pattern was seen in the NLR, which was higher in wave two relative to wave 1 in PLWH with active SARS-CoV-2 infection, but then decreased to similar levels upon convalescence. The role of the Beta variant is supported by data showing extensive evolution, increasing the ability of Beta to escape the interferon response and result in more efficient viral cell-to-cell transmission ( Guo et al, 2021 ; Thorne et al, 2021 ; Rajah et al, 2021 ). Beta variant hospitalizations also led to more deaths in South Africa ( Jassat et al, 2021b ).…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 97%
“…There is also evidence that variants evolved other adaptations to the host in addition to those in the spike glycoprotein which lead to antibody escape and enhanced transmission. These include evolution of resistance to the host interferon response ( Guo et al, 2021 ; Thorne et al, 2021 ), as well as enhanced cell-to-cell transmission ( Rajah et al, 2021 ). Changes in the virus may make infection with some variants substantially different in disease course, transmission dynamics, and effect on PLWH relative to ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strains or other variants.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…To characterize the function of the AY.4.2 spike, we introduced the T95I, Y145H and A222V signature mutations in an expression plasmid coding for the Delta protein 30 . We first examined the ability of the Delta and AY.4.2 spikes to bind to a panel of 14 anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies targeting either the RBD or the NTD.…”
Section: Antibody Recognition Of the Ay42 Variant Spikementioning
confidence: 99%
“…We previously assessed the ability of most of these antibodies to recognize the spikes of the Alpha, Beta and Delta variants 3,30 . To study their activity against AY.4.2, we first transfected the plasmids expressing Delta and AY.4.2 into 293T cells and analyzed antibody binding by flow cytometry (Fig.…”
Section: Antibody Recognition Of the Ay42 Variant Spikementioning
confidence: 99%
“…Based on these experiments, spike mutations appear to confer an advantage to SARS‐CoV‐2 not only for cell‐free infection and spread in cell monolayers but also for syncytia formation. During natural infection, syncytia may contribute to virus persistence, viral spread, and immune evasion (Rajah et al , 2021b ).…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%