Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42477325›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Viral syncytia evolve to resist interferon.

Tiansheng Li, Insung Kang, Juan Ye, Zhe Hu, James Gibbs, Chengjin Ye, Kazuyo Takeda, Ivan Kosik, Guoli Shi, Jaroslav Holly and 7 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Tiansheng LiCellular Biology Section, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA. tiansheng.li@nih.gov.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7972-7031
Insung KangLaboratory of Respiratory Viral Diseases, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
Juan YeNeuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Zhe HuCellular Biology Section, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
James GibbsCellular Biology Section, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Chengjin YeTexas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1934-9494
Kazuyo TakedaMicroscopy and Imaging Core Facility, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD, USA.
Ivan KosikCellular Biology Section, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5756-5182
Guoli ShiHIV Dynamics and Replication Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Frederick, MD, USA.
Jaroslav HollyCellular Biology Section, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1149-9324
Martina KosikovaLaboratory of Respiratory Viral Diseases, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
Zhiping YeLaboratory of Respiratory Viral Diseases, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
Alex A ComptonHIV Dynamics and Replication Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Frederick, MD, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7508-4953
Luis Martinez-SobridoTexas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7084-0804
Reed F JohnsonSARS-CoV-2 Virology Core Laboratory, Division of Intramural Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Hang XieLaboratory of Respiratory Viral Diseases, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8318-5554
Jonathan W YewdellCellular Biology Section, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA. jyewdell@niaid.nih.gov.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3826-1906

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2, like many viruses, generates syncytia but the role of syncytia formation in viral evolution remains unknown. Using SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) replacement vesicular stomatitis (VSV), we show that S-mediated syncytia impair the antiviral effects of interferons in cultured cells, human lung cell cultures, and hACE2 transgenic mice. Amino acid substitutions that modulate syncytia formation in Delta- and Omicron-encoded S have parallel effects on viral interferon resistance. S-mediated syncytia compromise antibody-mediated virus neutralization in cultured cells. We recapitulate interferon and neutralizing antibody resistance in syncytia generated by the orthoreovirus p14 fusion-associated small transmembrane (FAST) protein in VSV, influenza virus, and seasonal coronavirus OC43 infections. These findings explain selection of SARS-CoV-2 fusogenic variants in humans and, more generally, the evolution of fusogenic viruses driven by adaptive and innate immunity.

Indexed as

Giant CellsInterferonsSARS-CoV-2Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2AnimalsAntibodies, NeutralizingCOVID-19HumansMiceMice, TransgenicSpike Glycoprotein, CoronavirusACE2 protein, humanAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2Antibodies, NeutralizingInterferonsSpike Glycoprotein, Coronavirusspike protein, SARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID42477325
PMCPMC13500464

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.