Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses
Published on: November 10, 2023
The domestication of SARS-CoV-2 into a seasonal infection by viral variants
Ryley D McClelland1, Yi-Chan James Lin1, Tyce N Culp1
1Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Introduction:
The COVID-19 pandemic was caused by the zoonotic betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged due to adaptation in humans, shifting SARS-CoV-2 towards an endemic seasonal virus. We have termed this process 'virus domestication'.
Methods:
We analyzed aggregate COVID-19 data from a publicly funded healthcare system in Canada from March 7, 2020 to November 21, 2022. We graphed surrogate calculations of COVID-19 disease severity and SARS-CoV-2 variant plaque sizes in tissue culture.
Results And Discussion:
Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 adapt the virus to better infect humans and evade the host immune response, resulting in the emergence of variants with altered pathogenicity. We observed a decrease in COVID-19 disease severity surrogates after the arrival of the Delta variant, coinciding with significantly smaller plaque sizes. Overall, we suggest that SARS-CoV-2 has become more infectious and less virulent through viral domestication. Our findings highlight the importance of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and help inform public policy on the highest probability outcomes during viral pandemics.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Viral Recombination
Viral Mutations
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs

