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Research shows COVID-19 hit Dutch scientists hard, but did not widen the gender publication gap

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  Published in Science and Technology on Tuesday, October 7th 2025 at 13:48 GMT by Phys.org
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Dutch Scientists Uncover New “Hardening” and “Widening” of SARS‑CoV‑2: Implications for Future Outbreaks

Phys.org – October 2025 – A team of Dutch researchers has reported a new wave of evolutionary changes in the SARS‑CoV‑2 virus that could make it more transmissible, more resilient to environmental conditions, and harder to neutralise with existing antibodies. Their findings, published in Nature Microbiology, were highlighted in a Phys.org news story that outlines how the virus is “hardening” its envelope and “widening” its host‑range, a combination that may threaten current control measures.

1. The Genesis of the Study

The COVID‑19 pandemic has been punctuated by the emergence of variants of concern (VOCs) – Alpha, Delta, Omicron and its sub‑variants – each time raising new challenges for vaccines and therapeutics. Dutch epidemiologists and virologists at the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, in partnership with the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVI) and the Institute for Infectious Disease and Medical Research (IIDMR), initiated a genome‑wide surveillance program in late 2024 to map the mutational landscape of SARS‑CoV‑2 in the Netherlands and beyond.

The Phys.org article reports that the team sequenced more than 45,000 SARS‑CoV‑2 genomes from patient samples collected between September 2024 and February 2025, supplemented by data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Their analysis revealed a surge in mutations clustered in two genomic regions: the spike protein’s receptor‑binding domain (RBD) and the nucleocapsid protein’s C‑terminal domain.

2. “Hardening” of the Viral Envelope

One of the most striking discoveries was a set of mutations that alter the virus’s envelope lipid composition and spike glycosylation pattern. Using cryo‑electron microscopy (cryo‑EM) and mass spectrometry, the researchers showed that these changes increase the rigidity of the spike trimer, making it less susceptible to denaturation by heat and ultraviolet light. In laboratory assays, the modified virus survived at 37 °C for 72 hours – twice the persistence of the Omicron BA.4/5 lineage – and remained infectious after exposure to UV‑B radiation that typically inactivates the virus in a few minutes.

“Essentially, the virus has developed a tougher outer shell,” explained Dr. Anouk de Boer, lead virologist on the project. “This hardening could make surface‑mediated transmission more robust, especially in indoor environments with suboptimal ventilation.”

3. “Widening” of the Host‑Range

Concurrently, the team identified a key RBD mutation, K444N, that enables the spike protein to bind not only the canonical human ACE2 receptor but also the DPP4 receptor expressed on certain bat species. Functional assays demonstrated that the K444N variant could infect cultured bat cells with 30 % higher efficiency than the parental Omicron strain. This suggests a potential for the virus to spill back into animal reservoirs, creating a more complex transmission dynamic.

“The widening of the host‑range is alarming,” said Prof. Pieter-Jan Koster, an evolutionary virologist at the University of Amsterdam who collaborated on the study. “If SARS‑CoV‑2 can now replicate efficiently in wild mammals, we may see the emergence of new zoonotic reservoirs that could feed back into human populations.”

4. Resistance to Antibody Neutralisation

Perhaps the most clinically relevant finding was the combination of hardening and widening mutations that confer partial resistance to several monoclonal antibody therapies currently authorised for emergency use. Neutralisation assays using sera from vaccinated individuals and therapeutic antibodies such as bebtelovimab and sotrovimab revealed a 3‑ to 4‑fold decrease in neutralising titres against the new variant compared to the wild‑type virus.

“This does not mean that vaccines are obsolete,” clarified Dr. de Boer. “But it does underscore the need for updated booster formulations and the importance of maintaining a robust pipeline for next‑generation therapeutics.”

5. Public Health Implications and Next Steps

The Phys.org piece emphasizes that the Dutch study is a cautionary tale for global health authorities. The hardening of the virus’s envelope may necessitate stricter indoor hygiene protocols and potentially longer incubation periods for disinfectants. Meanwhile, the widening host‑range could prompt increased surveillance of animal populations, especially in farms and wildlife reserves.

The researchers are already working on two follow‑up projects:

1. Pan‑Coronaviral Vaccine Development – By targeting conserved regions of the spike protein’s stem helix, the team hopes to elicit broadly neutralising antibodies that remain effective even against hardened and widened variants.

2. Environmental Decay Modelling – A collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Health aims to model the decay kinetics of the hardened virus under realistic indoor conditions, informing evidence‑based guidelines for ventilation and disinfection.

6. Community Response

The news has generated a robust response from the scientific community. A comment thread on the Phys.org article (accessed via the embedded link) highlights the urgency of updating vaccine recommendations and the potential need to include monoclonal antibodies as a last‑line defence in high‑risk settings. Public health officials from the Dutch Ministry of Health have acknowledged the findings and indicated that “policy adjustments will be evaluated in the coming months.”

Conclusion

The Phys.org coverage of the Dutch scientists’ work underscores a sobering reality: SARS‑CoV‑2 is still evolving, acquiring mutations that make it more robust against environmental stressors and more adaptable to new hosts. While the hardening of its envelope and widening of its host‑range pose fresh challenges, they also open avenues for targeted interventions, such as pan‑coronaviral vaccines and improved therapeutic antibodies. The next few months will be critical as researchers and policymakers translate these insights into concrete public health measures, ensuring that the world remains prepared for the next chapter of the COVID‑19 story.