Analysis of receptor binding domain for possible mutations in S gene region of SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Humanity has historically been affected by remarkable epidemics and pandemics, including the plague, cholera, influenza, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV. A novel coronavirus pandemic known as SARS-CoV-2 is rapidly sweeping the globe. Over the period, the genome of the novel coronavirus has been mutated as it passes through its primary host. The world is reporting multiple point mutations. So the objective of this study was to observe modifications in the partial region of SARS-CoV-2 for the surveillance. This cross sectional study was carried out to detect the modifications in the SARS-CoV-2. For this purpose initial screening of COVID-19 was done to collect the strain of SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR. Then, primers were created in order to amplify the area using the S gene of the SARS-CoV-2. The amplified product was sent for the sequencing and bioinformatic tools were used to observed the mutations and data was compared with the Wild strain of the Virus. During the analysis, one of the most important point mutation was D614G caused by the amino acid substitution of aspartic acid with the glycine. Addition to this point mutation, other important mutations have also been observed.