Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 13, 2026
08:41
Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection in K18 hACE2 Transgenic Mice Using Reporter-Expressing Recombinant SARS-CoV-2
Published on: November 5, 2021
3.3K
Evolutionary Insight into Fatal Human Coronaviruses (hCoVs) with a Focus on Circulating SARS-CoV-2 Variants Under
Mohammad Asrar Izhari1, Fahad Alghamdi2, Essa Ajmi Alodeani3
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha 65528, Saudi Arabia.
Biomedicines
|October 29, 2025
Summary
The study tracks the evolution of lethal human coronaviruses (hCoVs), focusing on SARS-CoV-2 variants. Understanding viral evolution is key to managing pandemics and developing effective vaccines and treatments.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Genomics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- RNA viruses, including human coronaviruses (hCoVs) like SARS-CoV-2, pose significant global health and socioeconomic risks due to interspecies transmission.
- The rapid evolution and emergence of diverse hCoV variants complicate clinical management and public health interventions.
- Studying viral evolutionary trajectories is crucial for understanding adaptation, spread, virulence, and immune evasion, particularly for zoonotic viruses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the evolutionary landscape of lethal hCoVs, with a specific focus on SARS-CoV-2 variants under monitoring (VUMs) as of May 2025.
- To provide genomic insights for risk stratification, variant classification, pandemic preparedness, and the development of vaccines and therapeutics.
- To highlight the role of spike protein substitutions, especially in the receptor-binding domain (RBD), in viral transmissibility and immune escape.
Main Methods:
- Advanced bioinformatics approaches were employed for data analysis.
- Data visualization techniques were used to illustrate evolutionary patterns.
- Genomic surveillance data for SARS-CoV-2 variants under monitoring (VUMs) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Key spike protein substitutions, particularly within the RBD, were identified as drivers of increased transmissibility and immune escape.
- The study highlights specific SARS-CoV-2 variants under monitoring (VUMs) as of May 2025.
- Analysis revealed potential for therapeutic resistance associated with specific mutations.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the evolutionary trajectory of lethal hCoVs, especially SARS-CoV-2 variants, is critical for global health security.
- Real-time genomic surveillance and timely intervention strategies are essential for mitigating risks posed by emerging viral variants.
- Targeting critical viral elements, informed by evolutionary insights, is vital for effective vaccine and therapeutic development against coronaviruses.
Related Concept Videos
00:36Viral Mutations
39.6K
A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material...
39.6K
01:05Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs
17.9K
A single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP is a single nucleotide variation at a specific genomic position in a large population. It is the most prevalent type of sequence variation found in the human genome. Point mutations that occur in more than 1% of the population qualify as SNPs. These are present once every 1000 nucleotides on an average in the human genome. Replacement of a purine with another purine (A/G) or a pyrimidine with another pyrimidine (C/T) is known as a transition. In contrast,...
17.9K
00:57Viral Recombination
24.9K
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
24.9K
01:54Convergent Evolution
31.4K
Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
31.4K
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
793
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
793
01:24Eukaryotic Evolution
40.1K
The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
40.1K