Evolving geographic diversity in SARS-CoV2 and in silico analysis of replicating enzyme 3CLpro targeting repurposed drug candidates
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has been initiating pandemics since the beginning of the century. In December 2019, the world was hit again by a devastating SARS episode that has so far infected almost four million individuals worldwide, with over 200,000 fatalities having already occurred by mid-April 2020, and the infection rate continues to grow exponentially. SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a single stranded RNA pathogen which is characterised by a high mutation rate. It is vital to explore the mutagenic capability of the viral genome that enables SARS-CoV-2 to rapidly jump from one host immunity to another and adapt to the genetic pool of local populations.
Methods: For this study, we analysed 2,301 complete viral sequences reported from SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. SARS-CoV-2 host genomes were collected from The Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) database containing 9 genomes from pangolin-CoV origin and 3 genomes from bat-CoV origin, Wuhan SARS-CoV2 reference genome was collected from GeneBank database. The Multiple sequence alignment tool, Clustal Omega was used for genomic sequence alignment. The viral replicating enzyme, 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease (3CLpro) that plays a key role in its pathogenicity was used to assess its affinity with pharmacological inhibitors and repurposed drugs such as anti-viral flavones, biflavanoids, anti-malarial drugs and vitamin supplements.
Results: Our results demonstrate that bat-CoV shares >96% similar identity, while pangolin-CoV shares 85.98% identity with Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 genome. This in-depth analysis has identified 12 novel recurrent mutations in South American and African viral genomes out of which 3 were unique in South America, 4 unique in Africa and 5 were present in-patient isolates from both populations. Using state of the art in silico approaches, this study further investigates the interaction of repurposed drugs with the SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro enzyme, which regulates viral replication machinery.
Conclusions: Overall, this study provides insights into the evolving mutations, with implications to understand viral pathogenicity and possible new strategies for repurposing compounds to combat the nCovid-19 pandemic.
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Posted 22 Jun, 2020
On 09 Jul, 2020
On 03 Jul, 2020
Received 27 Jun, 2020
On 18 Jun, 2020
Invitations sent on 18 Jun, 2020
On 18 Jun, 2020
On 17 Jun, 2020
On 17 Jun, 2020
Received 11 Jun, 2020
On 11 Jun, 2020
Received 03 Jun, 2020
On 19 May, 2020
Invitations sent on 19 May, 2020
On 19 May, 2020
On 18 May, 2020
On 17 May, 2020
On 09 May, 2020
On 08 May, 2020
Evolving geographic diversity in SARS-CoV2 and in silico analysis of replicating enzyme 3CLpro targeting repurposed drug candidates
Posted 22 Jun, 2020
On 09 Jul, 2020
On 03 Jul, 2020
Received 27 Jun, 2020
On 18 Jun, 2020
Invitations sent on 18 Jun, 2020
On 18 Jun, 2020
On 17 Jun, 2020
On 17 Jun, 2020
Received 11 Jun, 2020
On 11 Jun, 2020
Received 03 Jun, 2020
On 19 May, 2020
Invitations sent on 19 May, 2020
On 19 May, 2020
On 18 May, 2020
On 17 May, 2020
On 09 May, 2020
On 08 May, 2020
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has been initiating pandemics since the beginning of the century. In December 2019, the world was hit again by a devastating SARS episode that has so far infected almost four million individuals worldwide, with over 200,000 fatalities having already occurred by mid-April 2020, and the infection rate continues to grow exponentially. SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a single stranded RNA pathogen which is characterised by a high mutation rate. It is vital to explore the mutagenic capability of the viral genome that enables SARS-CoV-2 to rapidly jump from one host immunity to another and adapt to the genetic pool of local populations.
Methods: For this study, we analysed 2,301 complete viral sequences reported from SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. SARS-CoV-2 host genomes were collected from The Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) database containing 9 genomes from pangolin-CoV origin and 3 genomes from bat-CoV origin, Wuhan SARS-CoV2 reference genome was collected from GeneBank database. The Multiple sequence alignment tool, Clustal Omega was used for genomic sequence alignment. The viral replicating enzyme, 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease (3CLpro) that plays a key role in its pathogenicity was used to assess its affinity with pharmacological inhibitors and repurposed drugs such as anti-viral flavones, biflavanoids, anti-malarial drugs and vitamin supplements.
Results: Our results demonstrate that bat-CoV shares >96% similar identity, while pangolin-CoV shares 85.98% identity with Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 genome. This in-depth analysis has identified 12 novel recurrent mutations in South American and African viral genomes out of which 3 were unique in South America, 4 unique in Africa and 5 were present in-patient isolates from both populations. Using state of the art in silico approaches, this study further investigates the interaction of repurposed drugs with the SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro enzyme, which regulates viral replication machinery.
Conclusions: Overall, this study provides insights into the evolving mutations, with implications to understand viral pathogenicity and possible new strategies for repurposing compounds to combat the nCovid-19 pandemic.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7