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Mucins Inhibit Coronavirus Infection in a Glycan-Dependent Manner
Casia L Wardzala1, Amanda M Wood1, David M Belnap2,3
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, 36 South Wasatch Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States.
Abstract:
Mucins are a diverse and heterogeneous family of glycoproteins that comprise the bulk of mucus and the epithelial glycocalyx. Mucins are intimately involved in viral transmission. Mucin and virus laden particles can be expelled from the mouth and nose to later infect others. Viruses must also penetrate the mucus layer before cell entry and replication. The role of mucins and their molecular structure have not been well-characterized in coronavirus transmission studies. Laboratory studies predicting high rates of fomite transmission have not translated to real-world infections, and mucins may be one culprit. Here, we probed both surface and direct contact transmission scenarios for their dependence on mucins and their structure. We utilized disease-causing, bovine-derived, human coronavirus OC43. We found that bovine mucins could inhibit the infection of live cells in a concentration- and glycan-dependent manner. The effects were observed in both mock fomite and direct contact transmission experiments and were not dependent upon surface material or time-on-surface. However, the effects were abrogated by removal of the glycans or in a cross-species infection scenario where bovine mucin could not inhibit the infection of a murine coronavirus. Together, our data indicate that the mucin molecular structure plays a complex and important role in host defense.
Insights
Mucins, key components of mucus, can inhibit coronavirus OC43 infection. This mucin-mediated host defense is concentration- and glycan-dependent, impacting viral transmission.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Glycobiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Mucins are glycoproteins forming mucus and the epithelial glycocalyx.
- Mucins play a role in viral transmission, including coronaviruses.
- The specific role of mucin structure in coronavirus transmission is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of mucin molecular structure in coronavirus transmission.
- To determine if mucins can inhibit viral infection in fomite and direct contact scenarios.
- To examine the dependence of mucin's inhibitory effects on concentration, glycans, and species.
Main Methods:
- Utilized bovine-derived human coronavirus OC43.
- Assessed mucin's effect on live cell infection in mock fomite and direct contact models.
- Investigated the impact of glycan removal and cross-species infection on mucin's inhibitory activity.
Main Results:
- Bovine mucins inhibited coronavirus OC43 infection in a concentration- and glycan-dependent manner.
- Inhibitory effects were observed in both fomite and direct contact transmission experiments.
- Mucin's inhibitory effects were lost upon glycan removal or in a cross-species infection model.
Conclusions:
- Mucin molecular structure is crucial for host defense against coronavirus transmission.
- Mucins can act as a barrier to viral infection, with effects dependent on their glycan structures.
- Understanding mucin-virus interactions is vital for developing strategies against viral spread.
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