Mutations and Evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein

The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein mediates target recognition, cellular entry, and ultimately the viral infection that leads to various levels of COVID-19 severities. Positive evolutionary selection of mutations within the spike protein has led to the genesis of new SARS-CoV-2 variants with greatly enhan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inViruses Vol. 14; no. 3; p. 640
Main Authors Magazine, Nicholas, Zhang, Tianyi, Wu, Yingying, McGee, Michael C., Veggiani, Gianluca, Huang, Weishan
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland MDPI AG 19.03.2022
MDPI
Subjects
Antibodies
COVID-19
COVID-19 infection
Endoplasmic reticulum
Evolution
Gene mutations
Humans
Infections
infectivity
Membrane Glycoproteins
Mutation
neutralization tests
Protein research
Protein structure
Proteins
Reproductive fitness
Review
SARS-CoV-2
SARS-CoV-2 - genetics
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
spike
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - genetics
Spike protein
Strains (organisms)
Target recognition
Viral Envelope Proteins - genetics
Viruses
World Health Organization
United States
COVID-19
mutation
SARS-CoV-2
immune escape
evolution
infectivity
spike
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Summary:The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein mediates target recognition, cellular entry, and ultimately the viral infection that leads to various levels of COVID-19 severities. Positive evolutionary selection of mutations within the spike protein has led to the genesis of new SARS-CoV-2 variants with greatly enhanced overall fitness. Given the trend of variants with increased fitness arising from spike protein alterations, it is critical that the scientific community understand the mechanisms by which these mutations alter viral functions. As of March 2022, five SARS-CoV-2 strains were labeled “variants of concern” by the World Health Organization: the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron variants. This review summarizes the potential mechanisms by which the common mutations on the spike protein that occur within these strains enhance the overall fitness of their respective variants. In addressing these mutations within the context of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein structure, spike/receptor binding interface, spike/antibody binding, and virus neutralization, we summarize the general paradigms that can be used to estimate the effects of future mutations along SARS-CoV-2 evolution.
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ISSN:1999-4915
1999-4915
DOI:10.3390/v14030640