Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

48.0K
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
48.0K
Convergent Evolution01:54

Convergent Evolution

32.8K
Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
32.8K
Nuclear Fusion02:45

Nuclear Fusion

33.8K
The process of converting very light nuclei into heavier nuclei is also accompanied by the conversion of mass into large amounts of energy, a process called fusion. The principal source of energy in the sun is a net fusion reaction in which four hydrogen nuclei fuse and ultimately produce one helium nucleus and two positrons.
A helium nucleus has a mass that is 0.7% less than that of four hydrogen nuclei; this lost mass is converted into energy during the fusion. This reaction produces about...
33.8K
Eukaryotic Evolution01:24

Eukaryotic Evolution

40.8K
The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
40.8K
Synteny and Evolution02:31

Synteny and Evolution

3.8K
John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral...
3.8K
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification03:00

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

5.8K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
5.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Prospective economic evaluation ancillary to a trial of higher versus lower hemoglobin transfusion thresholds for preterm infants.

Neonatology·2026
Same author

EU-wide external quality assessment study on the sensitivity and specificity of different DNA amplification protocols for the detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.

Ticks and tick-borne diseases·2026
Same author

Hypnotic safety suggestions reduce cortisol awakening response and morning heart rate in daily life.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Protocol for potent activation of T cells using BPI-stimulated murine bone marrow-derived cells.

STAR protocols·2026
Same author

Prediction of anxiety in children aged 7-12 during preoperative anaesthesia evaluation - a prospective observational study.

Perioperative medicine (London, England)·2026
Same author

A water-based probiotic supplement shows antipathogenic activity against Clostridium perfringens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Listeria monocytogenes.

International journal of pharmaceutics·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Author Spotlight: A Pseudotype Virus System for Assessing Omicron Subvariants and Neutralizing Antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 Research
06:08

Author Spotlight: A Pseudotype Virus System for Assessing Omicron Subvariants and Neutralizing Antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 Research

Published on: September 8, 2023

1.7K

SARS-CoV-2 evolution enhances endocytic uptake while preserving TMPRSS2-dependent fusion.

Clara L Magnus1, Zeliha Hamed Jaber1, Andreas Hiergeist2

  • 1Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.

Frontiers in Immunology
|January 28, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 utilize endocytosis more than direct fusion for cell entry, enhancing upper airway replication and transmissibility. However, they retain fusion activity, preserving lower respiratory tract infection potential, posing risks for some individuals.

Keywords:
SARS-CoV-2coronavirusendocytosisevolutionfusiontropismvariants-of-concernviral entry

More Related Videos

Production of a SARS-CoV-2 Virus-Like-Particle System to Investigate Viral Life Cycles In Vitro
09:26

Production of a SARS-CoV-2 Virus-Like-Particle System to Investigate Viral Life Cycles In Vitro

Published on: June 6, 2025

1.1K
Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses
03:53

Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses

Published on: November 10, 2023

1.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Author Spotlight: A Pseudotype Virus System for Assessing Omicron Subvariants and Neutralizing Antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 Research
06:08

Author Spotlight: A Pseudotype Virus System for Assessing Omicron Subvariants and Neutralizing Antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 Research

Published on: September 8, 2023

1.7K
Production of a SARS-CoV-2 Virus-Like-Particle System to Investigate Viral Life Cycles In Vitro
09:26

Production of a SARS-CoV-2 Virus-Like-Particle System to Investigate Viral Life Cycles In Vitro

Published on: June 6, 2025

1.1K
Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses
03:53

Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses

Published on: November 10, 2023

1.8K

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Omicron, a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern, exhibits increased transmissibility and infectivity but reduced pathogenicity.
  • This shift in virulence is linked to altered viral entry mechanisms, favoring endocytosis over direct fusion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the entry mechanisms (endocytosis vs. direct fusion) of various SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron.
  • To investigate the role of specific mutations in determining viral entry pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Analyzed nine clinical SARS-CoV-2 isolates (wild-type, Alpha, Delta, Omicron) in four human cell lines.
  • Used TMPRSS2 inhibitors (camostat) and cathepsin inhibitors (aloxistatin) to differentiate entry pathways.
  • Determined full-length viral genomes via next-generation sequencing.

Main Results:

  • Alpha and Delta variants primarily used TMPRSS2-dependent fusion.
  • Omicron variants showed a significant shift towards endocytosis, especially in specific cell types.
  • Certain mutations (Δ69/Δ70, L452R, F486V) were associated with increased reliance on endocytic uptake.

Conclusions:

  • Omicron variants broadened their cell tropism by retaining fusion activity while enhancing endocytosis.
  • Increased upper airway replication and transmissibility are observed, but lower respiratory tract infection capacity is maintained.
  • Specific mutation combinations may confer a selective advantage, contributing to their prevalence.