Scientists warn emerging mutations in swine coronavirus could increase human transmission risk
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Aug 13, 2024 1 month, 4 days, 16 hours, 15 minutes ago
Medical News: Researchers from the Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), part of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universitat de València in Spain, have uncovered concerning findings about a swine coronavirus that could potentially adapt to infect humans more efficiently. This
Medical News report explores how the swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV), initially found in pigs, could mutate to increase its risk to humans.
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Scientists warn emerging mutations in swine coronavirus could
increase human transmission risk
Understanding the Virus
Swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV) was first identified in 2016 in Guangdong, China, where it caused significant mortality among piglets. The virus is part of a broader family of coronaviruses known to cause various diseases in animals and humans. In this particular case, the virus is highly lethal in piglets, with mortality rates as high as 90% in those under five days old. However, what makes SADS-CoV particularly alarming is its potential to cross species barriers, including its ability to infect human cells in laboratory conditions.
The Experiment: How the Virus Could Adapt to Humans
To understand how SADS-CoV might evolve to become more infectious to humans, the research team conducted an experiment using a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) engineered to express the SADS-CoV spike protein. The spike protein is crucial because it determines how the virus attaches to and enters cells - a key factor in its ability to infect different species.
The researchers passaged this rVSV-SADS virus in three different human cell lines over several generations. This process, known as experimental evolution, allowed them to observe how the virus's spike protein might adapt over time to improve its ability to infect human cells. After ten passages, the team identified several mutations in the spike protein that appeared to enhance the virus's replication and spread in human cells.
Key Findings: The Mutations That Matter
The study revealed eight key mutations in the SADS-CoV spike protein, some of which significantly increased the virus's ability to infect human cells. These mutations were found in various parts of the spike protein, including regions responsible for binding to host receptors and enabling the fusion of viral and cellular membranes - a critical step in the infection process.
One particularly concerning mutation, S1037G, was found in all three human cell lines tested. This mutation increased the virus's replication rate by up to 15,000-fold in some cases, indicating a dramatic increase in its ability to spread within human cells. Another mutation, V754M, was also found to significantly enhance viral spread, particularly in lung and ovary cell lines.
Implications: The Risk of Cross-Species Transmission
The mutations identified in this study suggest th
at SADS-CoV could potentially evolve to become more infectious to humans, raising concerns about its zoonotic potential—its ability to jump from animals to humans. While the virus is currently classified as a biosafety level 3 pathogen due to its high risk of cross-species transmission, these findings highlight the importance of monitoring such viruses for mutations that could increase their threat to human health.
The study also underscores the broader risk posed by coronaviruses, which have a history of crossing species barriers and causing significant outbreaks in humans, as seen with SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. Understanding how these viruses adapt and evolve in different hosts is crucial for preventing future pandemics.
Further Research: What's Next?
While this study has provided valuable insights into the potential human adaptation of SADS-CoV, more research is needed to fully understand the implications of these findings. For instance, the exact receptor used by SADS-CoV to enter human cells remains unknown. Identifying this receptor could provide further insights into how the virus might adapt to humans and help in developing strategies to prevent its spread.
Additionally, while the recombinant VSV system used in this study is a useful tool for studying viral evolution, it does not fully replicate the natural conditions in which these viruses might evolve. Future studies using the actual SADS-CoV virus in different animal models could provide a more accurate picture of its zoonotic potential.
Conclusion
The study conducted by researchers at I2SysBio has highlighted the potential risks posed by the swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV) as it evolves. The identification of mutations that could enhance the virus's ability to infect human cells is a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in monitoring zoonotic viruses. These findings could be crucial in preventing a future spillover event, where the virus could jump from animals to humans with potentially devastating consequences.
The study findings were published on a preprint server and is currently being reviewed.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.07.29.605615v1
For the latest on swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV), keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
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