Novel Entropy-Based Phylogenetic Algorithm: A New Approach for Classifying SARS-CoV-2 Variants.

ABSTRACT: The SARS-CoV-2 virus, the causative agent of COVID-19, is known for its genetic diversity. Virus variants of concern (VOCs) as well as variants of interest (VOIs) are classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) according to their potential risk to global health. This study seeks to enhance the identification and classification of such variants by developing a novel bioinformatics criterion centered on the virus's spike protein (SP1), a key player in host cell entry, immune response, and a mutational hotspot. To achieve this, we pioneered a unique phylogenetic algorithm which calculates EIIP-entropy as a distance measure based on the distribution of the electron-ion interaction potential (EIIP) of amino acids in SP1. This method offers a comprehensive, scalable, and rapid approach to

SUBMITTER: Perovic V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10606860 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature