Loss-of-function mutation in Omicron variants reduces spike protein expression and attenuates SARS-CoV-2 infection

Author notes

1. Haitao Hu

   Present address: Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China

Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

   Michelle N. Vu, R. Elias Alvarado, Dorothea R. Morris, Kumari G. Lokugamage, Yiyang Zhou, Angelica L. Morgan, Yani P. Ahearn, Nicholas C. Hazell, Leah K. Estes, Alyssa M. McLeland, Craig Schindewolf, Jessica A. Plante, Jordan T. Murray, Scott C. Weaver, Haitao Hu, Kenneth S. Plante & Vineet D. Menachery

2. Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

   R. Elias Alvarado

3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

   Dorothea R. Morris

4. Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

   Kumari G. Lokugamage, Yiyang Zhou, Angelica L. Morgan, Mehul S. Suthar & Vineet D. Menachery

5. Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

   Kumari G. Lokugamage, Yiyang Zhou, Angelica L. Morgan, Mehul S. Suthar & Vineet D. Menachery

6. Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

   Nicholas C. Hazell, William M. Meyers, Patricia A. Crocquet-Valdes, David H. Walker, Haitao Hu & Kenneth S. Plante

7. Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

   Jessica A. Plante, Scott C. Weaver, Kenneth S. Plante & Vineet D. Menachery

8. World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

   Jessica A. Plante & Scott C. Weaver

9. Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

   David H. Walker & Haitao Hu

10. Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

    William K. Russell

11. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Andrew L. Routh

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vineet D. Menachery.

Competing interests

V.D.M. has filed a patent on the reverse genetic system and reporter SARS-CoV-2. M.N.V. and V.D.M. have filed a provisional patent on a stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Other authors declare no competing interests.

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