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Genetic drift in the genome of SARS COV-2 and its global health concern

Iqra Bano1, Mehmoona Sharif2, Sadia Alam1

  • 1Department of Microbiology, The University of Haripur, Haripur, Pakistan.

Journal of Medical Virology
|September 15, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) continually mutates, creating variants that challenge vaccines and diagnostics. Genomic surveillance is crucial for tracking these mutations, especially in spike proteins, to combat COVID-19 effectively.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Genomics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has been prolonged by the continuous emergence of new viral variants.
  • Existing antiviral and anti-inflammatory treatments have limited effectiveness against rapidly mutating strains.
  • Mutations in SARS-CoV-2, particularly in surface spike proteins, can significantly impact viral neutralization and diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review potential SARS-CoV-2 mutations that have emerged since the pandemic began.
  • To assess the impact of these mutations on vaccine efficacy.
  • To evaluate the effect of viral mutations on the validity of diagnostic assays.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance.
  • Analysis of reported mutations in SARS-CoV-2, focusing on the spike protein.
  • Examination of research on the impact of mutations on vaccine neutralization and diagnostic assay performance.

Main Results:

  • SARS-CoV-2 exhibits continuous genetic diversity, leading to numerous variants with altered characteristics.
  • Mutations in the spike protein are of significant concern, potentially affecting antibody binding and vaccine effectiveness.
  • Changes in viral genetic sequences can compromise the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests.

Conclusions:

  • Ongoing genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 is essential for early detection of concerning mutations.
  • Understanding viral evolution is critical for developing effective vaccines and reliable diagnostic tools.
  • The continuous mutation of SARS-CoV-2 necessitates adaptive strategies in public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords:
COVID-19SARS-CoV-2geneticsmutationserodiagnosisvaccinationvariants

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