Journal Article

Understanding Mutations in Human SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis

Rai, Pankaj Kumar, Tandel, Nikunj, Panigrahi, Abhishek Ramachandra, Verma, Geetika, Maji, Somnath, Tiwari, Savitri, Sharma, Prakriti, Tyagi, Rajeev K., Muthuramalingam, Pandiyan, Srivastava, Yogesh, Kumar, Reetesh, Beura, Samir Kumar, Singh, Sunil Kumar, Shin, Hyunsuk, Prajapati, Dinesh Kumar

2023

Overview

Genetic variant(s) of concern (VoC) of SARS-CoV-2 have been emerging worldwide due to mutations in the gene encoding spike glycoprotein. We performed comprehensive analyses of spike protein mutations in the significant variant clade of SARS-CoV-2, using the data available on the Nextstrain server. We selected various mutations, namely, A222V, N439K, N501Y, L452R, Y453F, E484K, K417N, T478K, L981F, L212I, N856K, T547K, G496S, and Y369C for this study. These mutations were chosen based on their global entropic score, emergence, spread, transmission, and their location in the spike receptor binding domain (RBD). The relative abundance of these mutations was mapped with global mutation D614G as a reference. Our analyses suggest the rapid emergence of newer global mutations alongside D614G, as reported during the recent waves of COVID-19 in various parts of the world. These mutations could be instrumentally imperative for the transmission, infectivity, virulence, and host immune system’s evasion of SARS-CoV-2. The probable impact of these mutations on vaccine effectiveness, antigenic diversity, antibody interactions, protein stability, RBD flexibility, and accessibility to human cell receptor ACE2 was studied in silico. Overall, the present study can help researchers to design the next generation of vaccines and biotherapeutics to combat COVID-19 infection.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: ACE2 / Analysis / Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 / Antibodies / antigenic variation / computer simulation / Coronaviruses / COVID-19 / COVID-19 infection / COVID-19 vaccines / Crystal structure / Disease transmission / evolution / Evolution & development / Gene mutations / genes / Genetic analysis / Genetic diversity / Genomes / Glycoproteins / Health aspects / Humans / Immune system / Infectivity / Medical research / Meta-analysis / Mutation / mutations / Pandemics / Protein Binding / Protein structure / Proteins / Review / SARS-CoV-2 / SARS-CoV-2 - genetics / Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 / Solvents / Spike glycoprotein / Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - genetics / Spike protein / systematic review / Vaccine efficacy / Vaccines / Virulence / Viruses / VoC