Contributions of adaptation and purifying selection to SARS-CoV-2 evolution.

ABSTRACT: Continued evolution and adaptation of SARS-CoV-2 has led to more transmissible and immune-evasive variants with profound impacts on the course of the pandemic. Here I analyze the evolution of the virus over 2.5 years since its emergence and estimate the rates of evolution for synonymous and non-synonymous changes separately for evolution within clades-well-defined monophyletic groups with gradual evolution-and for the pandemic overall. The rate of synonymous mutation is found to be around 6 changes per year. Synonymous rates within variants vary little from variant to variant and are compatible with the overall rate of 7 changes per year (or [Formula: see text] per year and codon). In contrast, the rate at which variants accumulate amino acid changes (non-synonymous mutations) was initiall

SUBMITTER: Neher RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10431346 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature