SARS-CoV-2: The first outbreak of the virus is reported in clinical samples of viral pneumonia patients in Wuhan-China in December 2019. This deadly viral disease begins to expand its horizon across the world as alarmed as “PANDEMIC” by World Health Orgainization. The virus begins to change its shape by mutating the NTD, ORF1ab, E, M, N and S-protein raises variants of concern (VOC).
Recently, the new variant omicron gained the world’s attention due to a high number of mutations up to 50. However, 30 mutations were seen at the region of the S-protein located on the surface of the virus, which interactions directly with the human ACE2 receptor. Previously, delta variant’s spike protein possesses only nine changes had a devastating impact in India. Similarly, other variation also possesses mutation in spike regions tolled many lives across the world.
Interestingly, the American Society of microbiology report stated that the mutation rate of SARS-CoV-2 in a month is less of about change of 1-2 nucleotides, which is comparatively slower as compared with virus including influenza and HIV. Maybe, due to presence of integrated special machinery enzyme a novel exoribonuclease incorporated in its genome. This enzyme plays a significant role in exact proofreading mechanism unlike other RNA viruses. But, the inactivation or targeting of this enzyme may increase mutation rates by 15-20 folds in SARS-CoV-2.
Even though, the mutation occurs at a snail’s pace is not mitigating virulence property of this virus. Each strain of SAR-CoV-2 virulence is in elevated fold as compared with previously emerged strains. The first reported SARS-CoV-2 mutation, D614G, has now become common to nearly all sequenced SARS-CoV-2 genomes worldwide. Besides, consequently mutation in S-protein region E484Q, L452R and P681R leads to an emerging delta variant which is highly transmission, reinfection and resistant to antibodies. The mutation of S-protein changes the structural configuration and conformation has huge impact and enhancing the stronger complementary bonding interaction between host- pathogen escalates the rapid replication and colonization in specific organs.
Now, the deep investigation on “OMICRON” behaviour is alarming the world scientist and doctors to understand the significant characteristic of this variant. Nevertheless, pharmacists, medicinal chemist, biotechnologists are fishing the drug and natural products for repurposing through computational biology and chemistry with an integrated enhancement of AI and ML.
Sources:
1) https://ccforum.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13054-021-03662-x
2) https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/sars-cov-2-viral-mutations-impact-covid-19-tests
3) https://asm.org/Articles/2021/July/How-Dangerous-is-the-Delta-Variant-B-1-617-2
4) https://asm.org/Articles/2021/February/SARS-CoV-2-Variants-vs-Vaccines.
5) https://www.ft.com/content/42c5ff3d-e676-4076-9b9f-7243a00cba5e
6) https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/11/why-omicron-quickly-became-a-variant-of-concern/
