Aim: Because the highly pathogenic SARS-CoV-2 is newly introduced to humans, we aimed to understand the unique features of its genome and proteins, crucial for high transmissibility and disease severity. Materials & methods: The available genome and protein sequences of SARS-CoV-2 with known human and nonhuman CoV were analyzed using multiple sequence alignment programs. Results: Our analysis revealed some unique mutations in SARS-CoV-2 spike, ORF1a/b, ORF3a/3b and ORF8. The most interesting ones were in the spike angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor binding-motif and generation of a furin-like cleavage site as well as deletions of ORF3a ‘diacidic motif’ and the entire ORF3b. Conclusion: Our data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 has diverged from SARS-CoV-1 but is most close to bat-SL-CoV. Unique mutations in spike and ORF3a/b proteins strongly endorse its adaptive evolution, enhanced infectivity and severe pathogenesis in humans.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Pathogenesis, SARS-CoV-1, Spike protein, bat-SL-CoV, 【초록키워드】 Evolution, Mutation, adaptive, disease severity, Genome, Proteins, Protein, Transmissibility, ORF3a, ORF8, humans, Deletion, CoV, SARS-CoV-2 spike, Multiple sequence alignment, Analysis, material, protein sequence, highly pathogenic, ORF3b, furin-like cleavage site, feature, analyzed, introduced, unique, ORF1a/b, 【제목키워드】 Transmissibility, Sequence analysis, pathogenicity, Comparative,