Paired SARS-CoV-2 spike protein mutations observed during ongoing SARS-CoV-2 viral transfer from humans to minks and back to humans

Burkholz, Scott; Pokhrel, Suman; Kraemer, Benjamin R.; Mochly‐Rosen, Daria; Carback, Richard T.; Hodge, Tom; Harris, Paul E.; Ciotlos, Serban; Wang, Lu; Herst, C.v.; Rubsamen, Reid M.

doi:10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104897

Cited by 18 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…A troubling feature of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks on mink farms is that the number of mutations found in mink SARS-CoV-2 isolates is higher than what is typically found in humans, suggesting a selective pressure for viral adaptation in mink [ 94 , 95 , 96 , 184 ]. Mostly notably, the spike protein (S) accrued Y453F, F486L, and N501T substitutions in the receptor binding domain (RBD) and a G261D mutation in the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the S protein in samples from The Netherlands [ 95 , 98 ].…”

Section: Main Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural and Experimental SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Domestic and Wild Animals

Meekins

Gaudreault

Richt

2021

Viruses

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SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to spread with devastating effects on global health and socioeconomics. The susceptibility of domestic and wild animal species to infection is a critical facet of SARS-CoV-2 ecology, since reverse zoonotic spillover events resulting in SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in animal populations could result in the establishment of new virus reservoirs. Adaptive mutations in the virus to new animal species could also complicate ongoing mitigation strategies to combat SARS-CoV-2. In addition, animal species susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection are essential as standardized preclinical models for the development and efficacy testing of vaccines and therapeutics. In this review, we summarize the current findings regarding the susceptibility of different domestic and wild animal species to experimental SARS-CoV-2 infection and provide detailed descriptions of the clinical disease and transmissibility in these animals. In addition, we outline the documented natural infections in animals that have occurred at the human–animal interface. A comprehensive understanding of animal susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 is crucial to inform public health, veterinary, and agricultural systems, and to guide environmental policies.

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Section: Main Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural and Experimental SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Domestic and Wild Animals

Meekins

Gaudreault

Richt

2021

Viruses

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“…Mink-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was initially documented in Denmark, where mink infected two workers on a farm, and the virus was subsequently spread in the community [ 18 ]. Genetic studies of the virus suggest the infection of mink from humans, the subsequent adaptation of the virus to the new host and the last spill over to humans [ 22 , 23 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Wild Mink (Mustela lutreola and Neogale vison) from Northern Spain during the First Two Years of Pandemic

Villanueva‐Saz

Giner

Palomar

et al. 2022

Animals

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The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on wildlife is largely unevaluated, and extended surveillance of animal species is needed to reach a consensus on the role of animals in the emergence and maintenance of SARS-CoV-2. This infection has been detected in farmed and domestic animals and wild animals, mainly in captivity. The interactions or shared resources with wildlife could represent a potential transmission pathway for the SARS-CoV-2 spill over to other wild species and could lead to health consequences or the establishment of new reservoirs in susceptible hosts. This study evaluated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in European mink (Mustela lutreola) and American mink (Neogale vison) in Spain by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the receptor binding domain (RBD) of Spike antigen in serum samples and/or by RT-qPCR assays in oropharyngeal and rectal swabs. From January 2020 to February 2022, a total of 162 animals (127 European mink and 35 American mink) with no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection were included in the study. Antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 were not found in the serum samples analysed (n = 126), nor was the virus amplified by RT-qPCR (n = 160 swabs). Our results suggest that the potential role of wild mink and the European mink bred in captivity and released to the wild as dispersers of SARS-CoV-2 is so far low. However, wildlife surveillance for early detection of human and animal risks should be continued. In this sense, epidemiological monitoring measures, including serology and molecular analysis, are necessary.

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“…Careful tracing of the S protein amino acid sequences of the strains identified in mink showed that only mutations specific to individual SARS-CoV-2 variants were observed. A low number of mutations were found in some strains, and they were mutations which had previously been detected in other mink samples and were indicated to be possibly related to adaptation from the human to the mink ACE2 receptor (1,14,17,26). The Y453F mutation was identified in only three strains, while the F486L and F452M mutations were not found.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

SARS-CoV-2 monitoring on mink farms in Poland

Domańska-Blicharz

Orłowska²,

Smreczak³

et al. 2022

Journal of Veterinary Research

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Introduction Many countries have reported severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in mink, and transmission back to humans has raised the concern of novel variants emerging in these animals. The monitoring system on Polish mink farms detected SARS-CoV-2 infection first in January 2021 and has been kept in place since then. Material and Methods Oral swab samples collected between February 2021 and March 2022 from 11,853 mink from 594 farms in different regions of Poland were screened molecularly for SARS-CoV-2. Isolates from those with the highest loads of viral genetic material from positive farms were sequenced and phylogenetically analysed. Serological studies were also carried out for one positive farm in order to follow the antibody response after infection. Results SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in mink on 11 farms in 8 out of 16 Polish administrative regions. Whole genome sequences were obtained for 19 SARS-CoV-2 strains from 10 out of 11 positive farms. These genomes belonged to four different variants of concern (VOC) – VOC-Gamma (20B), VOC-Delta (21J), VOC-Alpha (20I) and VOC-Omicron (21L) – and seven different Pango lineages – B.1.1.464, B.1.1.7, AY.43, AY.122, AY.126, B.1.617.2 and BA.2. One of the nucleotide and amino acid mutations specific for persistent strains found in the analysed samples was the Y453F host adaptation mutation. Serological testing of blood samples revealed a high rate of seroprevalence on the single mink farm studied. Conclusion Farmed mink are highly susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2 of different lineages, including Omicron BA.2 VOC. As these infections were asymptomatic, mink may become an unnoticeable virus reservoir generating new variants potentially threatening human health. Therefore, real-time monitoring of mink is extremely important in the context of the One Health approach.

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Paired SARS-CoV-2 spike protein mutations observed during ongoing SARS-CoV-2 viral transfer from humans to minks and back to humans

Cited by 18 publications

References 38 publications

Natural and Experimental SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Domestic and Wild Animals

Natural and Experimental SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Domestic and Wild Animals

No Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Wild Mink (Mustela lutreola and Neogale vison) from Northern Spain during the First Two Years of Pandemic

SARS-CoV-2 monitoring on mink farms in Poland

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