The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) protein mediates virus entry by binding to the host cell receptor, human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (hACE2), and catalyzing virus–host membrane fusion. The S protein also mediates cell–cell fusion, potentially allowing the virus to spread virion-independently. Here, we compared the fusogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 variant S proteins using a cell–cell fusion assay. In cells overexpressing hACE2, cell–cell fusion ability of all tested SARS-CoV-2 variants was similar to that of the Wuhan-Hu-1 strain. However, in cells with endogenous hACE2, SARS-CoV-2 variants, especially the Delta variant, stimulated significantly greater cell–cell fusion than the original strain. Our results showed that the Delta variant S protein is highly fusogenic and can spread rapidly by utilizing small amounts of hACE2.

Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019), the infection has spread worldwide due to the highly contagious nature of severe acute syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). To manage SARS-CoV-2, the development of diagnostic assays that can quickly and accurately identify the disease in patients is necessary. Currently, nucleic acid-based testing and serology-based testing are two widely used approaches. Of these, nucleic acid-based testing with quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-qPCR) using nasopharyngeal (NP) and/or oropharyngeal (OP) swabs is considered to be the gold standard. Recently, the use of saliva samples has been considered as an alternative method of sample collection. Compared to the NP and OP swab methods, saliva specimens have several advantages. Saliva specimens are easier to collect. Self-collection of saliva specimens can reduce the risk of infection to healthcare providers and reduce sample collection time and cost. Until recently, the sensitivity and accuracy of the data obtained using saliva specimens for SARS-CoV-2 detection was controversial. However, recent clinical research has found that sensitive and reliable data can be obtained from saliva specimens using RT-qPCR, with approximately 81% to 95% correspondence with the data obtained from NP and OP swabs. These data suggest that self-collected saliva is an alternative option for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

탄성계수와 함께 포아송비는 구조의 거동을 결정하는 중요 구조인수중의 하나이다. 따라서 구조응답의 불확실성에 미치는 포아송비의 독립적 영향에 대한 평가가 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 포아송비의 불확실성이 복합적층판의 거동 에 미치는 영향을 산정하기 위한 정식화를 제안한다. 포아송비의 영향은 동일 차수인 임의인수의 영향을 포함하는 부행렬을 통하여 얻을 수 있으며, 이는 대상 인수의 평균을 중심으로 한 Taylor전개를 통하여 구할 수 있다. 제안 방법의 검증을 위하여 예제 평판을 해석하였고, 그 결과를 몬테카를로 해석에 의한 결과와 비교하였다. 두 방법을 통하여 얻은 결과는 상화 잘 일치하는 결과를 나타내어, 제안한 방법이 적절함을 제시하였다.