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Literature detail

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

Scott Burkholz1 Suman Pokhrel2 Benjamin R Kraemer2 Daria Mochly-Rosen2 Richard T Carback1 Tom Hodge1 Paul Harris3 Serban Ciotlos1 Lu Wang1 C V Herst1 Reid Rubsamen4,5,6
Affiliations 6 institutions
  1. Flow Pharma, Inc., 4829 Galaxy Parkway, Suite K, Warrensville Heights, OH 44128, United States of America.
  2. Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, United States of America.
  3. Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 630 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032, United States of America.
  4. Flow Pharma, Inc., 4829 Galaxy Parkway, Suite K, Warrensville Heights, OH 44128, United States of America
  5. Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University Hospitals, Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States of America
  6. Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114, United States of America. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID 33971305 2021 Infect Genet Evol eng ppublish
PubMed DOI Browse context

Article

Publication summary

A mutation analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genomes collected around the world sorted by sequence, date, geographic location, and species has revealed a large number of variants from the initial reference sequence in Wuhan. This analysis also reveals that humans infected with SARS-CoV-2 have infected mink populations in the Netherlands, Denmark, United States, and Canada. In these animals, a small set of mutations in the spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD), often occurring in specific combinations, has transferred back into humans. The viral genomic mutations in minks observed in the Netherlands and Denmark show the potential for new mutations on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein RBD to be introduced into humans by zoonotic transfer. Our data suggests that close attention to viral transfer from humans to farm animals and pets will be required to prevent build-up of a viral reservoir for potential future zoonotic transfer.

Bioinformatics Mink Mutation Next-generation sequencing SARS-CoV-2 Zoonotic Mutation Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Animals Binding Sites Canada COVID-19 Denmark Humans Mink Netherlands Phylogeny SARS-CoV-2

Structured evidence records

Evidence records

4 total
Spillover Event 2 records
Spillover Event Extraction confidence 0.98
Key finding

Humans transmitted SARS-CoV-2 to mink populations in several countries.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
United States Netherlands Denmark Canada
Supporting text

This analysis also reveals that humans infected with SARS-CoV-2 have infected mink populations in the Netherlands, Denmark, United States, and Canada.

Method
mutation analysis; sequencing
Study design
genomic surveillance
Transmission direction
human-to-animal
Geographic raw
Netherlands, Denmark, United States, and Canada
Spillover Event Extraction confidence 0.98
Key finding

Mink-adapted SARS-CoV-2 variants were transmitted back into humans, demonstrating animal-to-human spillback events.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
Netherlands Denmark
Supporting text

In these animals, a small set of mutations in the spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD), often occurring in specific combinations, has transferred back into humans.

Method
mutation analysis; sequencing
Study design
genomic surveillance
Transmission direction
animal-to-human
Geographic raw
Netherlands and Denmark
Genomic Evolution 1 records
Genomic Evolution Extraction confidence 0.85
Key finding

Phylogenetic and mutation analyses of SARS-CoV-2 genomes showed paired spike RBD mutations acquired in minks in the Netherlands and Denmark that subsequently reappeared in human infections, indicating bidirectional viral evolution across hosts.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Host
Mustela
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

A mutation analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genomes collected around the world sorted by sequence, date, geographic location, and species has revealed that humans infected with SARS-CoV-2 have infected mink populations in the Netherlands and Denmark, where specific mutations in the spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) were observed and later transferred back into humans.

Genes or proteins
spike protein; receptor binding domain (RBD)
Analysis methods
mutation analysis; phylogenetic analysis
Molecular Adaptation 1 records
Molecular Adaptation Extraction confidence 0.90
Key finding

Mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain arose in minks and subsequently spread back into humans, suggesting host-specific molecular adaptation.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Host
Not specified
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

In these animals, a small set of mutations in the spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD), often occurring in specific combinations, has transferred back into humans.

Genes or proteins
spike protein; receptor binding domain (RBD)
Mechanism types
receptor_binding; host_adaptation