Emerging of a SARS-CoV-2 viral strain with a deletion in nsp1

Abstract

Background: The new Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was first detected in Wuhan (China) in December of 2019 is responsible for the current global pandemic. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that it is similar to other betacoronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV and Middle-Eastern Respiratory Syndrome, MERS-CoV. Its genome is ∼ 30 kb in length and contains two large overlapping polyproteins, ORF1a and ORF1ab that encode for several structural and non-structural proteins. The non-structural protein 1 (nsp1) is arguably the most important pathogenic determinant, and previous studies on SARS-CoV indicate that it is both involved in viral replication and hampering the innate immune system response. Detailed experiments of site-specific mutagenesis and in vitro reconstitution studies determined that the mechanisms of action are mediated by (a) the presence of specific amino acid residues of nsp1 and (b) the interaction between the protein and the host's small ribosomal unit. In fact, substitution of certain amino acids resulted in reduction of its negative effects. Methods: A total of 17,928 genome sequences were obtained from the GISAID database (December 2019 to July 2020) from patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 from different areas around the world. Genomes alignment was performed using MAFFT (REFF) and the nsp1 genomic regions were identified using BioEdit and verified using BLAST. Nsp1 protein of SARS-CoV-2 with and without deletion have been subsequently modelled using I-TASSER. Results: We identified SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences, from several Countries, carrying a previously unknown deletion of 9 nucleotides in position 686-694, corresponding to the AA position 241-243 (KSF). This deletion was found in different geographical areas. Structural prediction modelling suggests an effect on the C-terminal tail structure. Conclusions: Modelling analysis of a newly identified deletion of 3 amino acids (KSF) of SARS-CoV-2 nsp1 suggests that this deletion could affect the structure of the C-terminal region of the protein, important for regulation of viral replication and negative effect on host's gene expression. In addition, substitution of the two amino acids (KS) from nsp1 of SARS-CoV was previously reported to revert loss of interferon-alpha expression. The deletion that we describe indicates that SARS-CoV-2 is undergoing profound genomic changes. It is important to: (i) confirm the spreading of this particular viral strain, and potentially of strains with other deletions in the nsp1 protein, both in the population of asymptomatic and pauci-symptomatic subjects, and (ii) correlate these changes in nsp1 with potential decreased viral pathogenicity.

Molecular diagnostic assays for COVID-19: an overview

“…Although the high cost of microarray assays has generally been the most significant impediment to their widespread use, nonfluorescent low-density microarray assays, which are less expensive and have been shown to have a sensitivity equal to that of RT-PCR in detecting multiple coronavirus strains, offer a glimmer of hope [ 72 ]. Considering the diversity and evolving nature of SARS-CoV-2 and emerging viral strains, microarray-based methods could be a useful tool in surveillance and timely identification of emerging strains [ 73 , 74 ].…”

Comprehensive analysis of the host-virus interactome of SARS-CoV-2

“…NSP1 is arguably the most important pathogenic determinant of human coronaviruses, because it induces a near-complete suppression of host gene expression 66 . NSP1 uses a two-pronged strategy for this host gene suppression, i.e., stalling canonical mRNA translation and triggering the degradation of host mRNAs 67 .…”

Decoding Covid-19 with the SARS-CoV-2 Genome

“…Additionally, it is likely that S deletion mutants might make useful attenuated vaccine candidates. Further deletion mutants have been described in nsp1 [70], ORF7b [71] and ORF8 [72], but overall, these are much rarer events than single point mutations.…”