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Estimation of virus-mediated cell fusion rate of SARS-CoV-2.
Amidei, Ava; Dobrovolny, Hana M.
  • Amidei A; Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
  • Dobrovolny HM; Department of Physics & Astronomy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, USA. Electronic address: h.dobrovolny@tcu.edu.
Virology ; 575: 91-100, 2022 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2008177
ABSTRACT
Several viruses have the ability to form large multinucleated cells known as syncytia. Many properties of syncytia and the role they play in the evolution of a viral infection are not well understood. One basic question that has not yet been answered is how quickly syncytia form. We use a novel mathematical model of cell-cell fusion assays and apply it to experimental data from SARS-CoV-2 fusion assays to provide the first estimates of virus-mediated cell fusion rate. We find that for SARS-CoV2, the fusion rate is in the range of 6 × 10-4-12×10-4/h. We also use our model to compare fusion rates when the protease TMPRSS2 is overexpressed (2-4 times larger fusion rate), when the protease furin is removed (one third the original fusion rate), and when the spike protein is altered (1/10th the original fusion rate). The use of mathematical models allows us to provide additional quantitative information about syncytia formation.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Virology Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.virol.2022.08.016

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Virology Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.virol.2022.08.016