Isolation, Sequence, Infectivity, and Replication Kinetics of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Sep;26(9):2054-2063. doi: 10.3201/eid2609.201495. Epub 2020 Jun 19.

Abstract

Since its emergence in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected ≈6 million persons worldwide. As SARS-CoV-2 spreads across the planet, we explored the range of human cells that can be infected by this virus. We isolated SARS-CoV-2 from 2 infected patients in Toronto, Canada; determined the genomic sequences; and identified single-nucleotide changes in representative populations of our virus stocks. We also tested a wide range of human immune cells for productive infection with SARS-CoV-2. We confirm that human primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells are not permissive for SARS-CoV-2. As SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread globally, it is essential to monitor single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the virus and to continue to isolate circulating viruses to determine viral genotype and phenotype by using in vitro and in vivo infection models.

Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus disease; immune cells; isolation; phylogenetics; replication; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus* / genetics
  • Betacoronavirus* / isolation & purification
  • Betacoronavirus* / physiology
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology*
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • DNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology*
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Virus Replication / genetics*
  • Whole Genome Sequencing

Substances

  • DNA, Viral

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