The ORF6 accessory protein contributes to SARS-CoV-2 virulence and pathogenicity in the naturally susceptible feline model of infection

Here the infection dynamics, replication, and pathogenicity of a recombinant virus containing a deletion of ORF6 (rWA1{Delta}ORF6) on the backbone of the highly virulent SARS-CoV-2 WA1 virus (rWA1) were investigated and compared to the parental rWA1 virus. While both rWA1 and rWA1{Delta}ORF6 viruses replicated efficiently in cultured cells, the rWA1{Delta}ORF6 virus produced smaller plaques, suggesting reduced cell-to-cell spread. Luciferase reporter assays revealed immune suppressing effects of ORF6 on interferon and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-{kappa}B) signaling pathways. Pathogenesis assessment in cats revealed that animals inoculated with rWA1 were lethargic and presented with fever on days 2 and 4 post-infection (pi), whereas rWA1{Delta}ORF6-inoculated animals developed subclinical infection. Additionally, animals inoculated with rWA1{Delta}ORF6 presented reduced infectious virus shedding in nasal and oral secretions and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid when compared with the rWA1-inoculated cats. Similarly, the rWA1{Delta}ORF6-inoculated cats presented reduced virus replication in the respiratory tract as evidenced by lower viral loads and reduced lung inflammation on day 3 and 5 pi when compared to rWA1-inoculated animals. Host gene transcriptomic analysis revealed marked differences in differentially expressed genes (DEG) in the nasal turbinate of animals infected with rWA1 when compared to rWA1{Delta}ORF6. Importantly, type I interferon signaling was significantly upregulated in rWA1{Delta}ORF6 infected cats when compared to rWA1-inoculated animals, which is correlated to the reduced replication of rWA1{Delta}ORF6 in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of infected animals. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the SARS-CoV-2 ORF6 is an important virulence determinant of the virus contributing to the modulation of host antiviral immune responses. IMPORTANCESARS-CoV-2 encodes several proteins that inhibit host interferon responses. The accessory protein ORF6 antagonizes interferon signaling by blocking the nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of key transcription factors. In this study, we showed that ORF6 plays an important role in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. While both rWA1 and rWA1{Delta}ORF6 viruses replicated efficiently in cell culture, the rWA1{Delta}ORF6 presented impaired cell-to-spread and reduced innate immune inhibition as compared to the parental rWA1. Pathogenicity study in the feline model revealed an attenuated phenotype of the rWA1{Delta}ORF6 indicating that the ORF6 is a major virulence determinant of SARS-CoV-2. These results also demonstrate that ORF6 contributed to the feline host range of SARS-CoV-2.