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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
general
Enhanced fitness of SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern Alpha but not Beta
Nature, Volume 602, No. 7896, Year 2022
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Description
Emerging variants of concern (VOCs) are driving the COVID-19 pandemic1,2. Experimental assessments of replication and transmission of major VOCs and progenitors are needed to understand the mechanisms of replication and transmission of VOCs3. Here we show that the spike protein (S) from Alpha (also known as B.1.1.7) and Beta (B.1.351) VOCs had a greater affinity towards the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor than that of the progenitor variant S(D614G) in vitro. Progenitor variant virus expressing S(D614G) (wt-S614G) and the Alpha variant showed similar replication kinetics in human nasal airway epithelial cultures, whereas the Beta variant was outcompeted by both. In vivo, competition experiments showed a clear fitness advantage of Alpha over wt-S614G in ferrets and two mouse models—the substitutions in S were major drivers of the fitness advantage. In hamsters, which support high viral replication levels, Alpha and wt-S614G showed similar fitness. By contrast, Beta was outcompeted by Alpha and wt-S614G in hamsters and in mice expressing human ACE2. Our study highlights the importance of using multiple models to characterize fitness of VOCs and demonstrates that Alpha is adapted for replication in the upper respiratory tract and shows enhanced transmission in vivo in restrictive models, whereas Beta does not overcome Alpha or wt-S614G in naive animals. © 2021, The Author(s).
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Authors & Co-Authors
Halwe, Nico Joel
Germany, Tubingen
Friedrich-loeffler-institute
Taddeo, Adriano
Switzerland, Mittelhausen
Institut Für Viruskrankheiten Und Immunprophylaxe
Switzerland, Zurich
Vetsuisse-fakultät
Hoffmann, Bernd
Germany, Tubingen
Friedrich-loeffler-institute
Bekliz, Meriem
Switzerland, Geneva
Université de Genève
Niemeyer, Daniela
Germany, Berlin
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Germany, Berlin
German Centre for Infection Research Dzif
Corman, Victor Max
Germany, Berlin
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Germany, Berlin
German Centre for Infection Research Dzif
Breithaupt, A.
Germany, Tubingen
Friedrich-loeffler-institute
Wylezich, Claudia
Germany, Tubingen
Friedrich-loeffler-institute
Gultom, Mitra L.
Switzerland, Bern
University of Bern
Zhou, Bin
United States, Atlanta
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Meyer, Benjamin J.
Switzerland, Geneva
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
Labroussaa, Fabien
Switzerland, Zurich
Vetsuisse-fakultät
Jores, Joerg
Switzerland, Zurich
Vetsuisse-fakultät
Summerfield, Artur
Switzerland, Mittelhausen
Institut Für Viruskrankheiten Und Immunprophylaxe
Switzerland, Zurich
Vetsuisse-fakultät
Drosten, C.
Germany, Berlin
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Germany, Berlin
German Centre for Infection Research Dzif
Eckerle, Isabella Anne
Switzerland, Geneva
Université de Genève
Switzerland, Geneva
Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève
Wentworth, David E.
United States, Atlanta
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Dijkman, Ronald
Switzerland, Bern
University of Bern
Hoffmann, Donata
Germany, Tubingen
Friedrich-loeffler-institute
Thiel, Volker
Switzerland, Mittelhausen
Institut Für Viruskrankheiten Und Immunprophylaxe
Switzerland, Zurich
Vetsuisse-fakultät
Beer, Martin
Germany, Tubingen
Friedrich-loeffler-institute
Statistics
Citations: 53
Authors: 21
Affiliations: 10
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1038/s41586-021-04342-0
ISSN:
00280836
Research Areas
Covid