A Crowned Killer’s Résumé: Genome,Structure, Receptors,and Origin of SARS-CoV-2

Virologica Sinica - The recent emergence and rapid global spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pose an unprecedented medical and socioeconomic crisis, and the...     

新型冠状病毒Wuhan-Hu-1株Np空间结构及其B细胞抗原表位的预测

新型冠状病毒(Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2)是最新发现的一种可侵染人体的β属冠状病毒,该病毒入侵机体可引发新型冠状病毒肺炎(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19),该疫情的暴发在国内甚至国际上造成了严重...     

COVID-19确诊病例居住环境病毒检测结果分析及防控探讨

新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)传播速度快、感染范围广,其感染方式主要是聚集性感染,感染途径主要是呼吸道飞沫和接触传播。了解环境中,特别是COVID-19确诊病人生活环境中的病毒存在情况,是做好环境消毒,阻断新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)传播的重要步骤,对COVID-19防控具有重要意义。本研究旨在探讨COVID-19患者生活环境中SARS-CoV-2的存在情况,从SARS-CoV-2存在的空间部位、病毒核酸含量、消毒效果等方面对SARS-CoV-2的相关特点做出初步研究,为制定有效的SARS-CoV-2防控措施提供科学依据。本研究以COVID-19病例治疗前的3个家庭居住环境和治疗出院后隔离期间的2个宾馆居住环境中采集的样本为研究材料,采用RT-PCR方法检测样本中的SARS-CoV-2核酸并进行比较分析。结果显示,首次从3个家庭环境中采样48份,RTPCR检测SARS-CoV-2核酸阳性5份(10.42%),3个家庭的环境样本中均有阳性样本检出。首次采样48h后在家庭3进行第二次采样16份,SARS-CoV-2核酸检测阳性2份(12.5%),检测Ct值比首次升高。家庭3消毒后24h采集的16份样本SARS-CoV-2核酸检测均为阴性,并且两处宾馆环境采集的24份样本SARS-CoV-2核酸检测也均为阴性。本研究提示,COVID-19病例的生活环境中可以检出SARS-CoV-2,病毒存在区域、存在物品、病毒核酸含量均有差异;对外环境进行消毒可以达到消毒目的,能够起到阻断SARS-CoV-2传播的防控效果。     

新型冠状病毒的相关研究进展

2019年12月出现于湖北武汉的一种新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)感染所致肺炎疫情,给人类生命安全造成威胁。迄今为止,对2019年出现的SARS-CoV-2的研究仍处于起步阶段,本文就其相关研究进展进行综述,重点阐述了目前关于SARS-CoV-2的病原学与致病机制方面的研究成果,同时对其流行病学以及该病毒引发的肺炎临床特点加以总结,有助于读者及时了解SARS-CoV-2最新的研究动态,并为今后开展治疗药物及疫苗研发提供方向。     

Predicting the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) utilizing capability as the receptor of SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2, the newly identified human coronavirus causing severe pneumonia pandemic, was probably originated from Chinese horseshoe bats. However, direct transmission of the virus from bats to humans is unlikely due to lack of direct contact, implying the existence of unknown intermediate hosts. Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the receptor of SARS-CoV-2, but only ACE2s of certain species can be utilized by SARS-CoV-2. Here, we evaluated and ranked the receptor-utilizing capability of ACE2s from various species by phylogenetic clustering and sequence alignment with the currently known ACE2s utilized by SARS-CoV-2. As a result, we predicted that SARS-CoV-2 tends to utilize ACE2s of various mammals, except murines, and some birds, such as pigeon. This prediction may help to screen the intermediate hosts of SARS-CoV-2.     

Nasal delivery of broadly neutralizing antibodies protects mice from lethal challenge with SARS-CoV-2 delta and omicron variants

Multiple new variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have constantly emerged, as the delta and omicron variants, which have developed resistance to currently gained neutralizing antibodies. This highlights a critical need to discover new therapeutic agents to overcome the variants mutations. Despite the availability of vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the use of broadly neutralizing antibodies has been considered as an alternative way for the prevention or treatment of SARS-CoV-2 variants infection. Here, we show that the nasal delivery of two previously characterized broadly neutralizing antibodies (F61 and H121) protected K18-hACE2 mice against lethal challenge with SARS-CoV-2 variants. The broadly protective efficacy of the F61 or F61/F121 cocktail antibodies was evaluated by lethal challenge with the wild strain (WIV04) and multiple variants, including beta (B.1.351), delta (B.1.617.2), and omicron (B.1.1.529) at 200 or 1000 TCID50, and the minimum antibody administration doses (5-1.25 mg/kg body weight) were also evaluated with delta and omicron challenge. Fully prophylactic protections were found in all challenged groups with both F61 and F61/H121 combination at the administration dose of 20 mg/kg body weight, and corresponding mice lung viral RNA showed negative, with almost all alveolar septa and cavities remaining normal. Furthermore, low-dose antibody treatment induced significant prophylactic protection against lethal challenge with delta and omicron variants, whereas the F61/H121 combination showed excellent results against omicron infection. Our findings indicated the potential use of broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies as prophylactic and therapeutic agent for protection of current emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants infection.     

A Prognostic Model to Predict Recovery of COVID-19 Patients Based on Longitudinal Laboratory Findings

Virologica Sinica - The temporal change patterns of laboratory data may provide insightful clues into the whole course of COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate longitudinal change patterns of key...     

新冠病毒抗体药物研发进展及展望分析

抗体药物以其独特的作用机制和靶向性强、特异性好等优点,在恶性肿瘤、自身免疫性疾病、感染类疾病的诊断和治疗中发挥着越来越重要的作用,成为国际创新药物研发的热点。新冠肺炎(COVID-19)疫情发生以来,国内外多家研究机构和企业正在加快推进新冠病毒(SARS-CoV-2)抗体药物的开发。在此情势下,认真分析抗体药物现状和趋势,梳理国内外新冠病毒抗体药物研究进展,明确我国当前抗体药物创新的机遇、挑战和建议,对加快我国药物自主创新研发具有重要意义。     

Viral and Antibody Kinetics of COVID-19 Patients with Different Disease Severities in Acute and Convalescent Phases: A 6-Month Follow-Up Study

Virologica Sinica - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread rapidly around the world, posing a major threat to human...     

Protective Efficacy of Inactivated Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Mice and Non-Human Primates

Virologica Sinica - The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused more than 96 million infections and over 2 million deaths worldwide so far. However, there is no approved vaccine...     

Patients with Prolonged Positivity of SARS-CoV-2 RNA Benefit from Convalescent Plasma Therapy: A Retrospective Study

Virologica Sinica - Convalescent plasma therapy has been implemented in a few cases of severe coronavirus disease 2019. No report about convalescent plasma therapy in treating patients with...     

浙江省新型冠状病毒疫情空间扩散特征及影响因子探究

2020年新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)在全球200多个国家蔓延,对世界公共卫生环境、民众生命健康安全与社会经济带来了巨大影响。为了解病毒传播的时空特征及驱动因子对新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)防控的重要意义,本研究基于2020年1月21日~2020年3月10日浙江省各县、市(区)的COVID-19疫情数据,按照病例数的变化情况将疫情时期分为迅速增长期、高位回落期、控制减少期和稳定期,发现省外输入病例主要确诊于迅速增长期和高位回落期,省内扩散病例主要确诊于控制减少期和稳定期。利用ArcGIS软件进行数据可视化,总结了两种病例类型在浙江省各县、市(区)分布的时空变化特征,发现浙江省新冠肺炎疫情在温州最为严重,其次是杭州、宁波和台州;并利用地理探测器方法探究了各因子的作用,发现社会经济因子和城市建设因子影响较大,自然环境因子影响较小。     

用于新型冠状病毒检测的核酸等温扩增技术研究进展

核酸检测作为新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)筛查诊断和病情监测的主要手段,在疫情防控中发挥了重要作用。虽然实时荧光定量PCR被认为是新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)核酸检测的金标准,但其依赖荧光定量PCR仪且扩增检测时间较长,难以实现现场快速检测。因此许多基于核酸等温扩增的SARS-CoV-2检测方法相继诞生。等温扩增对仪器温控要求不高,通过与微流控芯片和可视化检测技术结合,可进一步简化操作、降低成本,为SARS-CoV-2现场快速筛查提供有力的技术支撑。本文围绕已报道的SARS-CoV-2等温扩增检测方法原理、检测性能及优缺点进行探讨,为进一步发展SARS-CoV-2现场快速检测平台提供参考。     

p53 Degradation by a Coronavirus Papain-like Protease Suppresses Type I Interferon Signaling

Infection by human coronaviruses is usually characterized by rampant viral replication and severe immunopathology in host cells. Recently, the coronavirus papain-like proteases (PLPs) have been identified as suppressors of the innate immune response. However, the molecular mechanism of this inhibition remains unclear. Here, we provide evidence that PLP2, a catalytic domain of the nonstructural protein 3 of human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63), deubiquitinates and stabilizes the cellular oncoprotein MDM2 and induces the proteasomal degradation of p53. Meanwhile, we identify IRF7 (interferon regulatory factor 7) as a bona fide target gene of p53 to mediate the p53-directed production of type I interferon and the innate immune response. By promoting p53 degradation, PLP2 inhibits the p53-mediated antiviral response and apoptosis to ensure viral growth in infected cells. Thus, our study reveals that coronavirus engages PLPs to escape from the innate antiviral response of the host by inhibiting p53-IRF7-IFNβ signaling.     

SARS病毒与其他冠状病毒的基因组比较

本文利用生物信息学方法比较SARS病毒和其他冠状病毒基因组。通过数据库搜索,找出与SARS病毒基因组相似的核酸或蛋白质序列,并对相似序列进行比对,分析它们的共性和差异。结果表明,SARS病毒在基因组的组织上及结构蛋白质方面与现有冠状病毒有比较大的相似性,SARS病毒基因组与冠状病毒基因组相关。但是,SARS病毒基因组还存在一些特异性序列,ORF1a和S蛋白(特别是S1)的变化以及SARS—CoV特异性的非结构蛋白可能是SARS发病机理与传染特性区别于其他冠状病毒的分子基础。在全基因组水平上进行核酸单词出现频率分析,结果表明,SARS病毒远离已知的其他冠状病毒,单独成为一类。     

PIKA provides an adjuvant effect to induce strong mucosal and systemic humoral immunity against SARS-CoV

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a deadly infectious disease caused by SARS Coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Inactivated SARS-CoV has been explored as a vaccine against SARS-CoV. However, safe and potent adjuvants, especially with more efficient and economical needle-free vaccination are always needed more urgently in a pandemic. The development of a safe and effective mucosal adjuvant and vaccine for prevention of emergent infectious diseases such as SARS will be an important advancement. PIKA, a stabilized derivative of Poly (I:C), was previously reported to be safe and potent as adjuvant in mouse models. In the present study, we demonstrated that the intraperitoneal and intranasal co-administration of inactivated SARS-CoV vaccine together with this improved Poly (I:C) derivative induced strong anti-SARS-CoV mucosal and systemic humoral immune responses with neutralizing activity against pseudotyped virus. Although intraperitoneal immunization of inactivated SARS-CoV vaccine alone could induce a certain level of neutralizing activity in serum as well as in mucosal sites, co-administration of inactivated SARS-CoV vaccine with PIKA as adjuvant could induce a much higher neutralizing activity. When intranasal immunization was used, PIKA was obligatorily for inducing neutralizing activity in serum as well as in mucosal sites and was correlated with both mucosal IgA and mucosal IgG response. Overall, PIKA could be a good mucosal adjuvant candidate for inactivated SARS-CoV vaccine for use in possible future pandemic.     

Following the rule: formation of the 6-helix bundle of the fusion core from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus spike protein and identification of potent peptide inhibitors

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is a newly identified member of Family Coronaviridae. Coronavirus envelope spike protein S is a class I viral fusion protein which is characterized by the existence of two heptad repeat regions (HR1 and HR2) (forming a complex called fusion core). Here we report that by using in vitro bio-engineering techniques, SARS-CoV HR1 and HR2 bind to each other and form a typical 6-helix bundle. The HR2, either as a synthetic peptide or as a GST-fusion polypeptide, is a potent inhibitor of virus entry. The results do show that SARS-CoV follows the general fusion mechanism of class I viruses and this lays the ground for identification of virus fusion/entry inhibitors for this devastating emerging virus.     

新型冠状病毒肺炎感染病例中鼻咽拭子与咽拭子标本的病毒核酸检验结果分析

新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)主要通过飞沫和密切接触传播,传染性强,目前在全球蔓延,给人的身体健康及世界公共卫生安全造成了严重的损害。病毒核酸检验是新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)病例确诊的金标准。本研究分别采集武汉江夏方舱医院67例确诊为COVID-19病例的鼻咽拭子与咽拭子标本送检,进行SARS-CoV-2核酸检验。其中28例患者鼻咽拭子病毒核酸呈阳性,13例患者咽拭子病毒核酸呈阳性,26例患者鼻咽拭子与咽拭子病毒核酸均为阴性。本研究结果提示,鼻咽拭子送检标本病毒核酸检验结果优于咽拭子标本(P<0.05)。     

冠状病毒研究态势分析

2019年底,一种新型冠状病毒在武汉引起发热性呼吸道疾病(COVID-19),并在我国境内及周边国家持续蔓延,对人类流行病的防控提出了新的要求。基于文献计量学方法梳理了冠状病毒的研究进展,从全球视角对主要研发国家/地区、核心研究机构和热点研究方向进行了分析,旨在揭示冠状病毒的诊断、预防和治疗的研究态势,以期为当前科研联合攻关提供参考。