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The 2019‐new coronavirus epidemic: Evidence for virus evolution - Coggle…
The 2019‐new coronavirus epidemic: Evidence for virus evolution
Citation
Benvenuto D, Giovanetti M, Ciccozzi A, Spoto S, Angeletti S, Ciccozzi M. The 2019-new coronavirus epidemic: Evidence for virus evolution. Journal of medical virology. 2020;92(4):455–459
Introduction
Wuhan, China was the origin of 2019-nCov, a new and different virus from SARS or MERS.
Animal to human transmission is probable due to the patients attending a market with live and wild animals and food.
Material and Methods
The complete genomes of 15 corona virus's were downloaded from various websites to compare to this new corona virus. The new virus genome was also downloaded.
A "multiple sequence alignment online tool" and "BioEdit program v7.0.5" were used to to compare the data sets for analysis.
Best fit models in a specific program were used to determine the best phylogenetic trees to be made using their software.
Another server was used to find specific sites on the genomes that contained instances of positive or negative selection. Along with a "FUBAR" test, this helped the researchers find comparable criteria on the genomes.
Finally, a modeling system was used to form 3D structures to view and compare the new and old viruses under scrutiny. Specifically, "N, S, E, and M regions" were looked at on the viruses.
Results
The programs the researchers used allowed them to form a tree with distinct clades for each virus subspecies.
They found MERS to form a distinct clade from the Bat SARS-like virus, which clustered in another clade with SARS and the new Corona virus.
Though they were all related closely in the second clade, the Bat SARS-like virus was most closely related to the new corona virus according to the research in this article, confirming its origin coming from animal to human transmission (bat to human).
Confirmation of a new virus, though similar to the Bat SARS-like virus, was determined by comparing the aforementioned lettered important sites in the virus's genome. Positive and negative selection pressures were found on many similar genomic sites that had changed base residues. This was found on a couple of the lettered sites, but the other two had little to none.
Figures included in the paper showed the 3D models of the viruses that were most similar and their distinctions. It also included comparison models of the genomes in a figure.
Discussion
Researchers confirmed the transmission from bat to human for this new corona virus.
Confirmation was given that the origin was in Wuhan, China's animal and food marketplace, as all patients originally came to that area.
They concluded that the virus was not as transmissible as earlier versions, but more so than others.
Researchers hypothesize that this virus could mutate in the near future and become more transmissible and pathogenic.