A non-spike nucleocapsid R204P mutation in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XEC enhances inflammation and pathogenicity
Shuhei Tsujino, Masumi Tsuda, Sayaka Deguchi, Jumpei Ito, Taha Y. Taha, Hesham Nasser, Lei Wang, Julia Rosecrans, Rigel Suzuki, Saori Suzuki, Kumiko Yoshimatsu, Mélanie Ott, Terumasa Ikeda, Kei Sato, Kazuo Takayama, , Miki Kawano
This study identifies the non-spike R204P mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XEC variant as a driver of increased inflammation and pathogenicity through NF-κB activation.
Nature Communications · Dec 14, 2025Peer-reviewedMicrobiology