Whole blood transcriptome analysis reveals SARS-CoV-2 ORF8 as a potential therapeutic and vaccine target

The open reading frame (ORF) 8 in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (SARS-CoVs), associated with host adaptation and viral replication, is a hotspot for mutation. However, mutation effects on host immune responses remain unknown. Here, whole blood transcriptomics performed on patients infected with mutant SARS-CoV-2 (?382; 382-nt deletion in ORF8) show differing profiles from wildtype SARS-CoV-2. Understanding the ?382 mechanism and effects would allow for a focused approach in vaccine and antiviral development. Overall design: RNA was extracted from whole blood collected from 27 COVID-19 patients from the Singapore cohort after retrospective matching and 6 healthy controls. Timepoints selected for extraction were during active infection (PCR-positive, median 8 days PIO) and recovered (PCR-negative; median 21 days PIO).