The furin cleavage site in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is required for transmission in ferrets
Authors: Williamson, Jack A. Hassard, Ecco Staller, Brian Hanley, Michael Osborn, Mauro Giacca, Andrew D. Davidson, David A. Matthews & Wendy S. Barclay SARS-CoV-2 entry requires sequential cleavage of the spike glycoprotein at the S1/S2 and the S2ʹ cleavage sites to mediate membrane fusion. SARS-CoV-2 has a polybasic insertion (PRRAR) at the S1/S2 cleavage site that can be cleaved by furin. Using lentiviral pseudotypes […]