Evolutionary shift from purifying selection towards divergent selection of SARS-CoV2 favors its invasion into multiple human organs.

ABSTRACT: SARS-CoV2 virus is believed to be originated from a closely related bat Coronavirus RaTG13 lineage and uses its key entry-point residues in S1 protein to attach with human ACE2 receptor. SARS-CoV2 could enter human from bat with its poorly developed entry-point residues much before its known appearance with slower mutation rate or recently with efficiently developed entry-point residues with higher mutation rate or through an intermediate host. Temporal analysis of SARS-CoV2 genome shows that its nucleotide substitution rate is as low as 27nt/year with an evolutionary rate of 9×10^-4/site/year, which is well within the range of other RNA virus (10^-4 to 10^-6/site/year). TMRCA of SARS-CoV2 from bat RaTG13 lineage appears to be in between 9 and 14 years. Evolut

SUBMITTER: Maiti AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8843322 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature