Mjokane, NozethuMaliehe, MaphoriFolorunso, Olufemi S.Ogundeji, Adepemi O.Gcilitshana, Onele M. N.Albertyn, JacobusPohl, Carolina H.Sebolai, Olihile M.2022-02-032022-02-032022Mjokane, N., Maliehe, M., Folorunso, O.S., Ogundeji, A.O., Gcilitshana, O.M.N., Albertyn, J., Pohl, C.H., & Sebolai, O.M. (2022). Cryptococcal protease(s) and the activation of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. Cells, 11, 437. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells110304372073-4409http://hdl.handle.net/11660/11394In this contribution, we report on the possibility that cryptococcal protease(s) could activate the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. The S protein is documented to have a unique four-amino-acid sequence (underlined, SPRRAR|S) at the interface between the S1 and S2 sites, that serves as a cleavage site for the human protease, furin. We compared the biochemical efficiency of cryptococcal protease(s) and furin to mediate the proteolytic cleavage of the S1/S2 site in a fluorogenic peptide. We show that cryptococcal protease(s) processes this site in a manner comparable to the efficiency of furin (p > 0.581). We conclude the paper by discussing the impact of these findings in the context of a SARS-CoV-2 disease manifesting while there is an underlying cryptococcal infection.enCryptococcal infectionCryptococcusCryptococcus neoformansFluorogenic peptideFurinProteaseProteolytic cleavageS1/S2 cleavage siteSARS-CoV-2Spike (S) proteinArticleAuthor(s)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/