ArticleCell host & microbe2021
Nucleocapsid mutations R203K/G204R increase the infectivity, fitness, and virulence of SARS-CoV-2.
Article in Cell host & microbe, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 143 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
143 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Time Series Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Genomes and Correlations among Highly Prevalent Mutations.Microbiology spectrum · 2022Pooled it
- SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid induces hyperinflammation and vascular leakage through the Toll-like receptor signaling axis in macrophages.Science advances · 2026Article
- Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Senegal (2020-2024): Variant Turnover, Omicron Introductions, and Interregional Spread.Influenza and other respiratory viruses · 2026Article
- Direct interaction between human DDX1 and SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein is regulated by phosphorylation.The Journal of biological chemistry · 2026Article
- Dysregulated host miRNAs with antiviral potential against SARS-CoV-2 identified from COVID-19 patients.Journal of translational medicine · 2026Article
- Evolution of a truncated nucleocapsid protein enhances SARS-CoV-2 fitness by suppressing antiviral responses.PLoS biology · 2026Article
- SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein-specific monoclonal antibodies as tools for studying its antigenic structure and interaction with host cells.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- 8,266 SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Assemblies from Asymptomatic Carriers in Japan.Scientific data · 2026Article
- Coronavirus genome packaging and nucleocapsid assembly.Journal of virology · 2026Review
- Mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein Phosphorylation-Induced Functional Switch.Viruses · 2026Article
- Severity of COVID-19 in hospitalised children in Espírito Santo, Brazil: a comparative analysis of pre- and post-Omicron periods.Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz · 2026Observational
- SARS-CoV-2 variants: biology, pathogenicity, immunity and control.Nature reviews. Microbiology · 2026Review
- A tale of SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance in Mali: Variants introductions and transmission dynamics.PloS one · 2026Article
- Article
- Genomic characterization and evolutionary analysis of Chikungunya virus strains in Guangzhou, China, 2025.Virology journal · 2025Article
- Beyond the Spike Glycoprotein: Mutational Signatures in SARS-CoV-2 Structural Proteins.Infectious disease reports · 2025Article
- A non-spike nucleocapsid R204P mutation in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XEC enhances inflammation and pathogenicity.Nature communications · 2025Article
- SARS-CoV-2 within-host population expansion, diversification and adaptation in zoo tigers, lions and hyenas.Nature communications · 2025Article
- Article
- Evolution of a fuzzy ribonucleoprotein complex in viral assembly.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2025Article
83 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
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Authors and funding
14 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Previous work found that the co-occurring mutations R203K/G204R on the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein are increasing in frequency among emerging variants of concern or interest. Through a combination of in silico analyses, this study demonstrates that R203K/G204R are adaptive, while large-scale phylogenetic analyses indicate that R203K/G204R associate with the emergence of the high-transmissibility SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7. Competition experiments suggest that the 203K/204R variants possess a replication advantage over the preceding R203/G204 variants, possibly related to ribonucleocapsid (RNP) assembly. Moreover, the 203K/204R virus shows increased infectivity in human lung cells and hamsters. Accordingly, we observe a positive association between increased COVID-19 severity and sample frequency of 203K/204R. Our work suggests that the 203K/204R mutations contribute to the increased transmission and virulence of select SARS-CoV-2 variants. In addition to mutations in the spike protein, mutations in the nucleocapsid protein are important for viral spreading during the pandemic.
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