Proteases and variants: context matters for SARS-CoV-2 entry assays

Christian S. Stevens, Kasopefoluwa Y. Oguntuyo, Benhur Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), like other coronaviruses, relies on a flexible array of entry mechanisms, driven by the spike (S) protein. Entry is dependent on proteolytic priming, activation, and receptor binding; all of which can be variable, dependent on context. Here we review the implications of the complexity of SARS-CoV-2 entry pathways on entry assays that then drive our understanding of humoral immunity, therapeutic efficacy, and tissue restriction. We focus especially on the proteolytic activation of SARS-CoV-2 spike and how this constellation of proteases lends deeper insight to our understanding of arising variants and their putative role transmission or variable pathogenicity in vivo. In this review, we argue for better universal standards to assay virus entry as well as suggest best practices for reporting viral passage number, the cell line used, and proteases present, among other important considerations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)49-58
Number of pages10
JournalCurrent Opinion in Virology
Volume50
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2021

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Proteases and variants: context matters for SARS-CoV-2 entry assays'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this