COVID-19 Pathogen Viral Evolution Leading to Increased Infectivity.

ABSTRACT: Objective This study investigated changes in viral protein structures within the receptor-binding domains (RBDs) of the viral particles of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), that may explain the evolution of increased infectivity. Background The emergence of severely pathogenic Betacoronaviruses indicates increased infectivity and host range, possibly related to the evolution of the viral genome and subsequent proteins, specifically coronavirus spike proteins that are involved in host receptor binding and cell entry. Methods Amino acid sequences of the spike protein of each virus (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2) were obtained from the

SUBMITTER: Parag S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9357256 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature