G. R. Whittaker

SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey of healthy, privately owned cats presenting to a New York City animal hospital in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021)

This study reports a serosurvey of cats in New York City during the early pandemic, finding 16% seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 with higher prevalence in fall 2020 and evidence of human-cat transmission.

Molecular detection using hybridization capture and next-generation sequencing reveals cross-species transmission of feline coronavirus type-1 between a domestic cat and a captive wild felid

The Omicron variant BA.1.1 presents a lower pathogenicity than B.1 D614G and Delta variants in a feline model of SARS-CoV-2 infection

This study shows that the Omicron BA.1.1 variant causes less severe disease, lower viral shedding, and reduced tissue replication compared to D614G and Delta variants in a feline model.

Recent zoonotic spillover and tropism shift of a Canine Coronavirus is associated with relaxed selection and putative loss of function in NTD subdomain of spike protein.

This paper analyzes the evolutionary changes in the spike protein of a Canine Coronavirus isolate, identifying relaxed selection and amino acid substitutions associated with a shift in tropism from enteric to respiratory.

A novel highly potent inhibitor of TMPRSS2-like proteases blocks SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and is broadly protective against infection and mortality in mice

This paper identifies N-0385 as a potent inhibitor of TMPRSS2 that blocks SARS-CoV-2 variants and protects mice from infection and mortality.

Coagulation factors directly cleave SARS-CoV-2 spike and enhance viral entry

This study shows coagulation factors like factor Xa and thrombin directly cleave SARS-CoV-2 spike, enhancing viral entry, and suggests anticoagulation could reduce infection.

Proteolytic activation of SARS-CoV-2 spike at the S1/S2 boundary: potential role of proteases beyond furin

This study investigates the role of S1/S2 cleavage in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein activation, showing its necessity for early pathway entry in Calu-3 cells and involvement of proteases beyond furin.

Identifying SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors through drug repurposing screens of SARS- S and MERS-S pseudotyped particles

This paper identifies six broad-spectrum inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV spike-mediated cell entry through drug repurposing screens using pseudotyped particles.

Ca2+ ions promote fusion of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus with host cells and increase infectivity

This study shows that Ca2+ ions enhance MERS-CoV fusion and infectivity by interacting with specific residues in the spike protein's fusion peptide.

SPINT2 inhibits proteases involved in activation of both influenza viruses and metapneumoviruses

This study shows SPINT2 inhibits proteases needed for activation of influenza and metapneumoviruses, reducing viral growth in cell culture.

Structural modeling of 2019-novel coronavirus (nCoV) spike protein reveals a proteolytically-sensitive activation loop as a distinguishing feature compared to SARS-CoV and related SARS-like coronaviruses

The paper models the structure of 2019-nCoV spike protein and identifies a proteolytically-sensitive loop that distinguishes it from SARS-CoV.