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Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection in K18 hACE2 Transgenic Mice Using Reporter-Expressing Recombinant SARS-CoV-2
Published on: November 5, 2021
Could the D614G substitution in the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein be associated with higher COVID-19 mortality?
Muthukrishnan Eaaswarkhanth1, Ashraf Al Madhoun1, Fahd Al-Mulla1
1Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
Abstract:
The increasing number of deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic has raised serious global concerns. Increased testing capacity and ample intensive care availability could explain lower mortality in some countries compared to others. Nevertheless, it is also plausible that the SARS-CoV-2 mutations giving rise to different phylogenetic clades are responsible for the apparent death rate disparities around the world. Current research literature linking the genetic make-up of SARS-CoV-2 with fatalities is lacking. Here, we suggest that this disparity in fatality rates may be attributed to SARS-CoV-2 evolving mutations and urge the international community to begin addressing the phylogenetic clade classification of SARS-CoV-2 in relation to clinical outcomes.
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