TY - JOUR
AU - Cotten, Matthew
AU - Phan, My V.T.
PY - 2023
DA - March
TI - Evolution of increased positive charge on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein may be adaptation to human transmission
JO - iScience
VL - 26
IS - 3
DO - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.106230
AB - The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to evolve and infect individuals. The exterior surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virion is dominated by the spike protein, and the current work examined spike protein biochemical features that have changed during the 3 years in which SARS-CoV-2 has infected humans. Our analysis identified a striking change in spike protein charge, from −8.3 in the original Lineage A and B viruses to −1.26 in most of the current Omicron viruses. We conclude that in addition to immune selection pressure, the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has also altered viral spike protein biochemical properties, which may influence virion survival and promote transmission. Future vaccine and therapeutic development should also exploit and target these biochemical properties.
PB - Elsevier
UR - https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/294209/
KW - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
ER