RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 SARS-CoV-2 virus−host interaction: currently available structures and Implications of Variant Emergence on Infectivity and Immune Response A1 Queirós Reis, Luís A1 Gomes da Silva, Priscilla A1 Carita Gonçalves, José Manuel A1 Brancale, Andrea A1 Bassetto, Marcella A1 Mesquita, João K1 COVID-19 (Disease) K1 Immunology K1 Virology K1 SARS-CoV-2 K1 Spike protein K1 hACE2 K1 Protein structures K1 Proteína de pico K1 Estructuras proteicas K1 2420 Virología K1 2412 Inmunología K1 2412.10 Vacunas AB Coronavirus disease 19, or COVID-19, is an infection associated with an unprecedented worldwide pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has led to more than 215 million infected people and more than 4.5 million deaths worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 cell infection is initiated by a densely glycosylated spike (S) protein, a fusion protein, binding human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (hACE2), that acts as the functional receptor through the receptor binding domain (RBD). In this article, the interaction of hACE2 with the RBD and how fusion is initiated after recognition are explored, as well as how mutations influence infectivity and immune response. Thus, we focused on all structures available in the Protein Data Bank for the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 S protein and hACE2. Specifically, the Delta variant carries particular mutations associated with increased viral fitness through decreased antibody binding, increased RBD affinity and altered protein dynamics. Combining both existing mutations and mutagenesis studies, new potential SARS-CoV-2 variants, harboring advantageous S protein mutations, may be predicted. These include mutations S13I and W152C, decreasing antibody binding, N460K, increasing RDB affinity, or Q498R, positively affecting both properties. PB MDPI YR 2021 FD 2021 LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/59335 UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/59335 LA eng NO International Journal of Molecular Science, 2021, vol. 22, n. 19, 10836 NO Producción Científica DS UVaDOC RD 27-dic-2024