In SARS-CoV-2 delta variants, Spike-P681R and D950N promote membrane fusion, Spike-P681R enhances spike cleavage, but neither substitution affects pathogenicity in hamsters

• Published in: EBioMedicine Vol. 91; p. 104561
• Main Authors: Furusawa, Yuri, Kiso, Maki, Iida, Shun, Uraki, Ryuta, Hirata, Yuichiro, Imai, Masaki, Suzuki, Tadaki, Yamayoshi, Seiya, Kawaoka, Yoshihiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.05.2023; The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Animals; COVID-19; Cricetinae; Hamster; Internal Medicine; Membrane Fusion; Reverse genetics; SARS-CoV-2; Virulence - genetics; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Hamster; Reverse genetics

The SARS-CoV-2 delta (B.1.617.2 lineage) variant was first identified at the end of 2020 and possessed two unique amino acid substitutions in its spike protein: S-P681R, at the S1/S2 cleavage site, and S-D950N, in the HR1 of the S2 subunit. However, the roles of these substitutions in virus phenotyp...