Recherche COVID dans l'équipe EVIR

COVID-19 research at EVIR team

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, the EVIR team has launched several research programs on SARS-CoV-2 from basic research to human and animal clinical aspects.

Based on our previous experience acquired during the SARS-CoV-1 outbreak, we rapidly developed pseudoparticles harboring SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein that allowed us to set up a neutralization assay.

This assay led us to study a cohort of 144 SARS-CoV-2 infected patients in collaboration with the GIMAP team (CIRI, Lyon, France) and to show a high correlation between neutralizing antibodies and COVID-19 severity. We also showed a high seroprevalence of SARS-COV-2 antibodies in pets from COVID-19 positive households in collaboration with the MIVEGEC team (University of Montpellier, France).

Finally, by combining biochemical and imaging assays in infected vs. transfected cells, we showed that E and M proteins regulate intracellular trafficking and maturation of Spike protein, allowing the assembly of virus-like particles (VLPs).

Papers published:

• Boson B, Legros V, Zhou B, Siret E, Mathieu C, Cosset F-L, Lavillette D, Denolly S. 2020. The SARS-CoV-2 Envelope and Membrane proteins modulate maturation and retention of the Spike protein, allowing assembly of virus-like particles. J Biol Chem jbc.RA120.016175.
• Broer R*, Boson B*, Spaan W, Cosset FL, Corver J. 2006. Important role for the transmembrane domain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus spike protein during entry. J Virol 80:1302–1310.
• Fritz M*, Rosolen B*, Krafft E, Becquart P, Elguero E, Vratskikh O, Denolly S, Boson B, Vanhomwegen J, Gouilh MA, Kodjo A, Chirouze C, Rosolen SG, Legros V*, Leroy EM*. 2021. High prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in pets from COVID-19+ households. One Health 11:100192.
• Lavillette D*, Barbouche R*, Yao Y, Boson B, Cosset F-L, Jones IM, Fenouillet E. 2006. Significant Redox Insensitivity of the Functions of the SARS-CoV Spike Glycoprotein. J Biol Chem 281:9200–9204.
• Legros V*, Denolly S*, Vogrig M, Boson B, Siret E, Rigaill J, Pillet S, Grattard F, Gonzalo S, Verhoeven P, Allatif O, Berthelot P, Pélissier C, Thiery G, Botelho-Nevers E, Millet G, Morel J, Paul S, Walzer T, Cosset FL*, Bourlet T*, Pozzetto B*. 2021. A longitudinal study of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients reveals a high correlation between neutralizing antibodies and COVID-19 severity. Cell Mol Immunol 18:318–327.

* These authors contributed equally to the work