The mutation profile of SARS-CoV-2 is primarily shaped by the host antiviral defense

Azgari, Cem and Kılınç, Zeynep and Turhan, Berk and Çirci, Defne and Adebali, Ogün (2021) The mutation profile of SARS-CoV-2 is primarily shaped by the host antiviral defense. Viruses, 13 (3). ISSN 1999-4915

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Abstract

Understanding SARS-CoV-2 evolution is a fundamental effort in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus genomes have been broadly evolving due to the high number of infected hosts world-wide. Mutagenesis and selection are two inter-dependent mechanisms of virus diversification. However, which mechanisms contribute to the mutation profiles of SARS-CoV-2 remain underexplored. Here, we delineate the contribution of mutagenesis and selection to the genome diversity of SARS-CoV-2 isolates. We generated a comprehensive phylogenetic tree with representative genomes. Instead of counting mutations relative to the reference genome, we identified each mutation event at the nodes of the phylogenetic tree. With this approach, we obtained the mutation events that are independent of each other and generated the mutation profile of SARS-CoV-2 genomes. The results suggest that the heterogeneous mutation patterns are mainly reflections of host (i) antiviral mechanisms that are achieved through APOBEC, ADAR, and ZAP proteins, and (ii) probable adaptation against reactive oxygen species.
Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: ADAR; APOBEC; COVID-19; Evolution; Mutation; Phylogenetics; ROS; SARS-CoV-2; ZAP
Divisions: Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences > Academic programs > Biological Sciences & Bio Eng.
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Depositing User: Cem Azgari
Date Deposited: 18 Feb 2022 12:00
Last Modified: 03 Sep 2022 15:47
URI: https://research.sabanciuniv.edu/id/eprint/42750

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