Variable routes to genomic and host adaptation among coronaviruses.

ABSTRACT: Natural selection operating on the genomes of viral pathogens in different host species strongly contributes to adaptation facilitating host colonization. Here, we analyse, quantify and compare viral adaptation in genomic sequence data derived from seven zoonotic events in the Coronaviridae family among primary, intermediate and human hosts. Rates of nonsynonymous (d_N ) and synonymous (d_S ) changes on specific amino acid positions were quantified for each open reading frame (ORF). Purifying selection accounted for 77% of all sites under selection. Diversifying selection was most frequently observed in viruses infecting the primary hosts of each virus and predominantly occurred in the orf1ab genomic region. Within all four intermediate hosts, diversifying selection on

SUBMITTER: Montoya V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8242483 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature