Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Adaptation to Available Cellular Proteases
M. Zeeshan Chaudhry, Kathrin Eschke, Markus Hoffmann, Martina Grashoff, Leila Abassi, Yeonsu Kim, Linda Brunotte, Stephan Ludwig, Andrea Kröger, Frank Klawonn, Stefan Pöhlmann, Luka Čičin‐Šain
Abstract
Recently emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 (alpha variant), B.1.617.2 (delta variant), and B.1.1.529 (omicron variant) harbor spike mutations and have been linked to increased virus pathogenesis. The emergence of these novel variants highlights coronavirus adaptation and evolution potential, despite the stable consensus genotype of clinical isolates. We show that subdominant variants maintained in the virus population enable the virus to rapidly adapt to selection pressure. Although these adaptations lead to genotype change, the change is not absolute and genomes with original genotype are maintained in the virus swarm. Thus, our results imply that the relative stability of SARS-CoV-2 in numerous independent clinical isolates belies its potential for rapid adaptation to new conditions.