SARS-CoV-2 viral spike G614 mutation exhibits higher case fatality rate.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The major mutation detected to date in the SARS-CoV-2 viral envelope spike protein, which is responsible for virus attachment to the host and is also the main target for host antibodies, is a mutation of an aspartate (D) at position 614 found frequently in Chinese strains to a glycine (G). We sought to infer health impact of this mutation.

Result

Increased case fatality rate correlated strongly with the proportion of viruses bearing G614 on a country by country basis. The amino acid at position 614 occurs at an internal protein interface of the viral spike, and the presence of G at this position was calculated to destabilise a specific conformation of the viral spike, within which the key host recept

SUBMITTER: Becerra-Flores M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7267315 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature