Analysis of mutational spectra in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and its course of evolution to predict the ‘Alarming Variants’ for the upcoming wave of pandemic

Abstract

COVID-19 disease extended to different parts of the globe developing variations in the SARS-CoV-2 viral sequence since its emergence. Some of those variations had functional implications with major concerns, which the WHO termed as ‘Variant of Concern’ during the second wave of infection. The signatures of VOCs are specific to countries where they are observed and are popularly recognized with the country names. It is noteworthy to mention that some new mutations are always evolving and it is expected that some of these new mutations could play a havoc role in hitting the upcoming wave of the pandemic. This work aimed to list all the mutations of the Spike protein that evolved with time and how they have increased their presence in a given course of time (three-time point analysis) and stabilized in the SARS-COV-2 infected population. The mutations that will play predominant role in the upcoming pandemic wave are mentioned here:T19I, V213G, D405N, R408S,G142D, G339D, K417N, N440K, D614G, Q954H, N969K mutations in India; G142D, G339D, S373P, S375F, K417N, N440K, S477N, T478K, Q493R, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K in South Africa; T95I, G339D, S373P, S375F, N501Y, D614G, H655Y in Brazil; G339D, S373P, S375F, K417N, N440K, N501Y, D614G, P681H in the UK.