Comparative analysis of SARS-CoV-2 quasispecies in the upper and lower respiratory tract shows an ongoing evolution in the spike cleavage site.

ABSTRACT: Studies are needed to better understand the genomic evolution of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study aimed to describe viral quasispecies population of upper and lower respiratory tract by next-generation sequencing in patients admitted to intensive care unit. A deep sequencing of the S gene of SARS-CoV-2 from 109 clinical specimens, sampled from the upper respiratory tract (URT) and lower respiratory tract (LRT) of 77 patients was performed. A higher incidence of non-synonymous mutations and indels was observed in the LRT among minority variants. This might be explained by the ability of the virus to invade cells without interacting with ACE2 (e.g. exploiting macrophage phagocytosis). Minority variants are highly concentrated around the gene portio

SUBMITTER: Gaiarsa S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9008095 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature