Mutations that adapt SARS-CoV-2 to mustelid hosts do not increase fitness in the human airway

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Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 has a broad mammalian species tropism infecting humans, cats, dogs and farmed mink. Since the start of the 2019 pandemic several reverse zoonotic outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 have occurred in mink, one of which reinfected humans and caused a cluster of infections in Denmark. Here we investigate the molecular basis of mink and ferret adaptation and demonstrate the spike mutations Y453F, F486L, and N501T all specifically adapt SARS-CoV-2 to use mustelid ACE2. Furthermore, we risk assess these mutations and conclude mink-adapted viruses are unlikely to pose an increased threat to humans, as Y453F attenuates the virus replication in human cells and all 3 mink-adaptations have minimal antigenic impact. Finally, we show that certain SARS-CoV-2 variants emerging from circulation in humans may naturally have a greater propensity to infect mustelid hosts and therefore these species should continue to be surveyed for reverse zoonotic infections.

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  1. SciScore for 10.1101/2021.08.20.456972: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    EthicsField Sample Permit: Animal research was carried out under a United Kingdom Home Office License, P48DAD9B4.
    IRB: Ethical approval was approved by the South Central-Berkshire B Research Ethic Committee (REC ref: 20/SC/0206; IRAS 283805).
    Sex as a biological variableOutbred female ferrets (16–20 weeks old) weighing 750–1,000 g were used.
    RandomizationThe experiments were not randomized, and the investigators were not blinded to allocation during experiments and outcome assessment.
    BlindingThe experiments were not randomized, and the investigators were not blinded to allocation during experiments and outcome assessment.
    Power AnalysisNo statistical method was used to predetermine sample size.
    Cell …