Biology subjects

Speranskaya, A. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Speranskaya, A. S..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Identification and genetic characterization of MERS-related coronavirus isolated from Nathusius' pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii) near Zvenigorod (Moscow region, Russia)

The majority of emerging infectious diseases are caused by pathogens with zoonotic origin, and most of these emerged from wildlife reservoirs. Bats are diverse, and widely distributed globally, and are the known or hypothesized reservoir of a series of emerging zoonotic viruses. Analyses of bat viromes have been used to identify novel viruses with potential to cause human infection. We characterized the fecal virome of 26 samples collected from six bat species captured during 2015 in Moscow Region. Of these 13/26 (50%) samples were found to be coronavirus positive. We sequenced and assembled the complete genome of a novel MERS-related Betacoronavirus from Pipistrellus nathusii, named MOW-BatCoV strain 15-22. Of P. nathusii 3/6 samples were found to carriers of MOW-BatCoVs. The genome organization of MOW-BatCoV/15-22 was identical to other known MERS-related coronaviruses. Phylogenetic analysis of whole genomes suggests that MOW-BatCoV/15-22 falls into a distinct subclade closely related to human and camel MERS-CoV, and MERS-related CoVs from the bat species Hypsugo savii and Pipistrellus kuhlii (from Italy) and Neoromicia capensis (from South Africa). Unexpectedly, phylogenetic analysis of the novel MOW-BatCoV 15-22 spike genes showed the closest similarity to a bat CoV Neoromicia/5038 and CoVs from Erinaceus europaeus (the European hedgehog), thus MOW-BatCoV could arise as result of recombination between ancestral viruses of bats and hedgehogs. Computer molecular docking analysis of MOW-BatCoV 15-22 Spike glycoprotein binding to DPP4 receptors of different mammal species predicted highest binding interaction with DPP4 of the bat M. brandtii (docking score -320.15) and the European hedgehog, E. europaeus (docking score -294.51). Hedgehogs are widely kept as pets, and are commonly found in areas of human habitation. Our finding of a novel bat-CoV likely able to infect hedgehogs suggests the potential for hedgehogs to act as intermediate hosts for bat-CoVs between bats and humans.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2021

Monitoring the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Moscow and the Moscow region using targeted high-throughput sequencing

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the international community has been concerned about the emergence of mutations that alter the biological properties of the pathogen, for example, increasing its infectivity or virulence. In particular, since the end of 2020, several variants of concern have been identified around the world, including variants "alpha" (B.1.1.7, "British"), "beta" (B.1.351, "South African"), "gamma" (P.1, "Brazilian") and "delta" (B.1.617.2, "Indian"). However, the existing mechanism for searching for important mutations and identifying strains may not be effective enough, since only a relatively small fraction of all identified pathogen samples can be examined for genetic changes by whole genome sequencing due to its high cost. In this study, we used the method of targeted high-throughput sequencing of the most significant regions of the gene encoding the S-glycoprotein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for which a primer panel was developed. Using this technique, we examined 579 random samples obtained from patients in Moscow and the Moscow region with coronavirus infection from February to June 2021. The study demonstrated the dynamics of the representation in the Moscow region of a number of SARS-CoV-2 strains and its most significant individual mutations in the period from February to June 2021. It was found that the strain B.1.617.2 began to spread rapidly in Moscow and the Moscow region in May, and in June it became dominant, partially displacing other varieties of the virus. The results obtained make it possible to accurately determine the belonging of the samples to the abovementioned and some other strains. The approach can be used to standardize the procedure for searching for new and existing epidemiologically significant mutations in certain regions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome, which allows studying a large number of samples in a short time and to get a more detailed picture of the epidemiological situation in the region.

molecular biology↗