Biology subjects

Tolentino, J. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Tolentino, J. E..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Genetic diversity in horseshoe bat ACE2 and sarbecovirus spike proteins mutually shape one another

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) serves as the entry receptor for a wide diversity of sarbecoviruses naturally harboured by horseshoe bats (genus Rhinolophus). Despite the extensive circulation of these viruses in many horseshoe bat species, the potential interactions between virus and receptor evolution remain poorly understood. We sampled individuals of the intermediate horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus affinis) across Vietnam and identified 15 genotypes of ACE2 proteins, 10 of which are previously unreported. Phylogenetic analysis and infectivity assays with a panel of 36 sarbecovirus spike proteins indicated that the R. affinis ACE2 phylogeny has geographic structuring and genotypes originating from different geographic regions exhibit distinct infectivity phenotypes. We detected site-specific positive selection on ACE2 site 24 with the associated substitutions largely affecting the receptors sarbecovirus infectivity profile. Together, our findings suggest that the R. affinis within-species ACE2 diversity has likely been shaped through selection by past sarbecovirus infection. Similarly on the virus end, we use mutagenesis assays and structural analysis through cryo-EM, to delineate the proximal evolution of the Ra22QT77 spike defined by specialization to the ACE2 genotypes of horseshoe bats found in and near southern Vietnam, where the virus was sampled. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of host-sarbecovirus co-evolution dynamics and provide valuable insights into the receptor usage determinants of these viruses. HighlightsO_LIWe identify a total of 15 ACE2 genotypes in R. affinis bats from Vietnam. C_LIO_LIACE2 intraspecific polymorphism is geographically separated and associated with distinct sarbecovirus infectivity. C_LIO_LISite 24 of R. affinis ACE2 experiences positive selection and controls susceptibility to sarbecoviruses. C_LIO_LIBat ACE2s and sarbecovirus spikes are bidirectionally shaped by each others evolution. C_LI

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Structural and phenotypic plasticity of the RBD loop2 region is a key determinant for HKU5r-CoVs' emergence in mink

The emergence of novel coronaviruses from animal reservoirs continues to pose a significant zoonotic threat. Here, we investigate the evolutionary origins and virological properties of a recently reported mink-derived HKU5-related coronavirus (nvHKU5r-CoV). Phylogenetic and recombination analyses reveal that nvHKU5r-CoV originated from bat HKU5-like viruses circulating in southeastern China. We characterize the spike loop2 region as a critical determinant of ACE2 receptor specificity, directly interacting with the receptor, and show that the bat HKU5r-CoV with the closest loop2 sequence to nvHKU5r-CoV could already utilize mink ACE2. Using AlphaFold3, we predicted spike-ACE2 binding interfaces consistent with our experimental infectivity results. Targeted mutagenesis demonstrates that a single amino acid substitution (R548S) enables robust entry of nvHKU5r-CoV via human ACE2. We further show that this substitution can arise in vitro during hACE2-expressing cell infection with a replication-competent VSV system. Molecular dating suggests that nvHKU5r-CoV transmitted from bats to mink within the last decade, consistent with an expansion of mink fur farming in China. Overall, our findings highlight the zoonotic potential of these viruses and the molecular and structural determinants underlying it, while emphasizing fur farming as a major risk factor for how bat HKU5r-CoVs can transmit to farmed animals and ultimately humans.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Genetic diversity of pangolin coronaviruses reveals a key immuno-evasive substitution at spike residue 519

Malayan pangolins are unprecedented hosts for several SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses, which have previously been known to only infect Rhinolophus bats. Much debate has hence surrounded their possible role as intermediate hosts in the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, but the virological phenotypes of most pangolin coronaviruses (pCoVs) remain unclear. Here, we comprehensively analyze all pCoVs to date identified from trafficked pangolins seized in the Guangdong province of China, which are remarkably similar to SARS-CoV-2 in the spike protein. We explore an unknown genetic diversity within these viruses and uncover how this diversity translates to different virological phenotypes. Strikingly, several Guangdong pCoVs harbor a lysine substitution at residue 519 of spike protein, which contributes to marked immune evasion potentially by modulating the conformational state of spike protein. Furthermore, we highlight that a similar immuno-evasive mutation at residue 519 of the spike protein was acquired by SARS-CoV-2. These findings support that pangolin- and human-infecting coronaviruses represent independent spillover events from natural bat reservoirs, and that immuno-evasive mutations at residue 519 may be a common vector of viral evolution in coronaviruses that infect non-bat hosts.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Molecular basis of sarbecovirus evolution and receptor tropism in natural hosts, potential intermediate hosts, and humans

The spike protein of many sarbecoviruses binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor and facilitates viral entry. The diversification of the sarbecovirus spike gene and the mammalian ACE2 gene suggests that sarbecoviruses and their hosts have co-evolved, and the genetic diversity in these genes affects the host tropism of sarbecoviruses. Better comprehending the evolutionary potential of sarbecoviruses can lead to preparedness for the next pandemic. However, the host tropism of sarbecoviruses is not fully understood. Here, we performed round-robin pseudovirus infection assays using 53 sarbecoviruses and ACE2s from 17 mammals to elucidate the ACE2 tropism of sarbecoviruses in natural hosts, potential intermediate hosts and humans. We determined the factors responsible for the ACE2 tropism of sarbecoviruses through structural, phylogenetic analyses, and infection experiments, revealing which substitutions can expand the host range of sarbecoviruses. These results highlight the mechanisms modulating host tropism throughout sarbecovirus evolution.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2024

Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 KP.3, LB.1 and KP.2.3 variants

The SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 variant, arising from BA.2.86.1 with a substitution in the spike (S) protein, S:L455S, exhibited increased fitness and outcompeted the previously predominant XBB lineages by the beginning of 2024. Subsequently, JN.1 subvariants including KP.2 and KP.3, which convergently acquired S protein substitutions such as S:R346T, S:F456L, and S:Q493E, have emerged concurrently. Furthermore, JN.1 subvariants such as LB.1 and KP.2.3, which convergently acquired S:S31del in addition to the above substitutions, have emerged and spread as of June 2024. Here we investigated the virological properties of KP.3, LB.1 and KP.2.3. We estimated the relative effective reproduction number (Re) of KP.3, LB.1, and KP.2.3 using a Bayesian multinomial logistic model based on the genome surveillance data from Canada, the UK, and the USA, where these variants have spread from March to April 2024. The Re of KP.3 is more than 1.2-fold higher than that of JN.1 and higher than or comparable to that of KP.2 in these countries. Importantly, the Re values of LB.1 and KP.2.3 are even higher than those of KP.2 and KP.3. These results suggest that the three variants we investigated herein, particularly LB.1, and KP.2.3, will become major circulating variants worldwide in addition to KP.2 and KP.3. The pseudovirus infectivity of KP.2 and KP.3 was significantly lower than that of JN.1. On the other hand, the pseudovirus infectivity of LB.1 and KP.2.3 was comparable to that of JN.1. Neutralization assay was conducted by using four types of breakthrough infection (BTI) sera with XBB.1.5, EG.5, HK.3 and JN.1 infections as well as monovalent XBB.1.5 vaccine sera. In all four groups of BTI sera tested, the 50% neutralization titers (NT50) against LB.1 and KP.2.3 were significantly lower than those against JN.1 (2.2-3.3-fold and 2.0-2.9-fold) and even lower than those against KP.2 (1.6-1.9-fold and 1.4-1.7 fold). Although KP.3 exhibited neutralization resistance against all BTI sera tested than JN.1 (1.6-2.2-fold) with statistical significance, there were no significant differences between KP.3 and KP.2. In the case of infection-naive XBB.1.5 vaccine sera, the NT50 values of JN.1 subvariants were very low. In the case of XBB.1.5 vaccine sera after natural XBB infection, the NT50 values against KP.3, LB.1 and KP.2.3 were significantly lower than those of JN.1 (2.1-2.8-fold) and even lower than KP.2 after infection (1.4-2.0-fold). Overall, our results suggest that the S substitutions convergently acquired in the JN.1 subvariants contribute to immune evasion, and therefore, increase their Re when compared to parental JN.1. More importantly, LB.1 and KP.2.3 exhibited higher pseudovirus infectivity and more robust immune resistance than KP.2. These data suggest that S:S31del is critical to exhibit increased infectivity, increased immune evasion, and therefore, potentially contributes to increased Re.

microbiology↗