R. Vassell

Characterization of spike processing and entry mechanisms of seasonal human coronaviruses NL63, 229E and HKU1

This study investigates the entry mechanisms of seasonal human coronaviruses NL63, 229E, and HKU1 using pseudoviruses and cell lines expressing ACE2, APN, or TMPRSS2, revealing endocytosis as the entry route and specific protease and receptor requirements.

Antigenic cartography using hamster sera identifies SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 evasion seen in human XBB.1.5 booster sera

The paper uses hamster sera to map antigenic differences among SARS-CoV-2 variants, showing JN.1 has significant antigenic divergence from XBB.1.5.

D614G and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant spike proteins differ in the effects of N-glycan modifications on spike expression, virus infectivity, and neutralization by some therapeutic antibodies

This study compares how N-glycan modifications affect spike expression, infectivity, and antibody neutralization in SARS-CoV-2 D614G and Omicron variants.

Post-vaccination Omicron infections induce broader immunity across antigenic space than prototype mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccination or primary infection

The paper compares antibody responses to different SARS-CoV-2 variants after vaccination and infection, finding that post-vaccination Omicron infection induces broader immunity than triple vaccination alone.

Characterization of entry pathways, species-specific ACE2 residues determining entry, and antibody neutralization evasion of Omicron BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, and BA.3 variants

This study characterizes the entry mechanisms and antibody neutralization resistance of Omicron variants BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, and BA.3 compared to the D614G strain.

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron neutralization by therapeutic antibodies, convalescent sera, and post-mRNA vaccine booster

A third dose of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine significantly boosts Omicron neutralizing antibodies, while convalescent sera and therapeutic antibodies show variable and often low neutralization.

SARS-COV-2 Delta variant displays moderate resistance to neutralizing antibodies and spike protein properties of higher soluble ACE2 sensitivity, enhanced cleavage and fusogenic activity

This study evaluates the neutralization resistance and spike protein properties of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617 variants, finding modest resistance to sera and therapeutic antibodies, but enhanced cleavage and fusogenic activity in Delta variants.

Key substitutions in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 variants can predict resistance to monoclonal antibodies, but other substitutions can modify the effects

The paper evaluates resistance of 25 therapeutic antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 variants with multiple spike substitutions, finding key substitutions predict resistance but other substitutions can modify it unpredictably.

Establishment of a well-characterized SARS-CoV-2 lentiviral pseudovirus neutralization assay using 293T cells with stable expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2

The paper establishes a SARS-CoV-2 lentiviral pseudovirus neutralization assay using 293T cells expressing ACE2 and TMPRSS2, showing good correlation with other assays.