Cited by 246SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesAnimal Virus Infections Studies

SARS-CoV-2 spreads through cell-to-cell transmission

Open access
Zeng, Cong, Evans, John P., King, Tiffany, Zheng, Yi-Min, Oltz, Eugene M., Whelan, Sean P. J., Saif, Linda J., Peeples, Mark E. +1 more·2022·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

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Abstract

Significance: It is currently unknown if SARS-CoV-2 can spread through cell–cell contacts, and if so, the underlying mechanisms and implications. In this work, we show, by using lentiviral pseudotyped virus, that the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 mediates the viral cell-to-cell transmission, with an efficiency higher than that of SARS-CoV. We also find that cell–cell fusion contributes to cell-to-cell transmission, yet ACE2 is not absolutely required. While the authentic variants of concern (VOCs) B.1.1.7 (alpha) and B.1.351 (beta) differ in cell-free infectivity from wild type and from each other, these VOCs have similar cell-to-cell transmission capability and exhibit differential sensitivity to neutralization by vaccinee sera. Results from our study will contribute to a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 spread and pathogenesis.

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Crossref · 10.1073/pnas.2111400119

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  • Cell contact-mediated infection is resistant to neutralizing antibodies, demonstrated for HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2.

    “The importance of the cell-to-cell transmission mechanism for viral dissemination is evidenced by the resistance of cell contact-mediated infection to neutralizing antibodies, which has been demonstrated for HIV-1 [140] and SARS-CoV-2 [33,141].”

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Authors
Zeng, C., Evans, J. P., King, T., Zheng, Y.-M., Oltz, E. M., Whelan, S. P. J., Saif, L. J., Peeples, M. E., & Liu, S.-L.
Affiliations
  • The Ohio State University (US)
  • Nationwide Children's Hospital (US)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (US)
Corresponding author
Liu, Shan-Lu
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2021-12-22
Volume
119
Issue
1
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
OpenAlex
W4206481051
Cited by
246
References
87
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 57 · 2023: 70 · 2022: 62 · 2021: 11
FWCI
15.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Digital Commons@Becker (Washington University School of Medicine) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • ImmPort
Funders
  • HHS | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (AI112381, AI150473)
  • HHS | NIH | National Cancer Institute (U54CA260582)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Virus Infections Studies
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2, cell-to-cell transmission, spike protein, SARS-CoV, cell-cell fusion, endosomal membrane fusion, ACE2, neutralizing antibodies, variants of concern, Alpha variant, Beta variant, virus transmission

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