This work investigates the activation requirements for SARS-CoV-2 host-cell entry. SARS-CoV-2 entry is mediated by its spike (S) protein, and previous studies indicate that it has a novel S1/S2 site not before seen in SARS-like CoV that can be cleaved by furin-like proteases. Here, we show that S1/S2 cleavage expands SARS-CoV-2 entry into Calu-3 cells, a model lung cell line, but reduces SARS-CoV-2 entry into Vero E6, a model cell culture line. This S1/S2 cleavage was observed to be cleaved by proteases beyond furin and as a result of weak furin specificity, we offer thoughts on how it originated from ancestor bat viruses.
This is a highly competitive honor, awarded to only five graduate students at Cornell. And given to individuals that embody the five founding principles of character, leadership, advocacy, service... Read more about Jesus Lopez Baltazar, of the Yu Group, was elected to the Bouchet Honor Society
Empire AI, a $400 million effort to create a shared academic research computing facility, is set to advance dozens of ambitious, cross-disciplinary projects at Cornell. Read more about As Empire AI dawns, Cornell lays groundwork for public good
Assistant professor Rong Yang will research a novel approach to ear infection treatment as the recipient of a 2023 Hartwell Individual Biomedical Research Award. Read more about Yang receives Hartwell award to research ear infection treatment
