The adaptation of SARS-CoV-2 to humans.

Eduardo Tosta

doi:10.1590/0074-02760210127

Abstract

The process of adaptation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to humans probably had started decades ago, when its ancestor diverged from the bat coronavirus. The adaptive process comprises strategies the virus uses to overcome the respiratory tract defense barriers and replicate and shed in the host cells. These strategies include the impairment of interferon production, hiding immunogenic motifs, avoiding viral RNA detection, manipulating cell autophagy, triggering host cell death, inducing lymphocyte exhaustion and depletion, and finally, mutation and escape from immunity. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 employs strategies to take advantage of host cell resources for its benefits, such as inhibiting the ubiquitin-proteasome system, hijacking mitochondria functions, and usage of enhancing antibodies. It may be anticipated that as the tradeoffs of adaptation progress, the virus destructive burden will gradually subside. Some evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 will become part of the human respiratory virome, as had occurred with other coronaviruses, and coevolve with its host.

Highlights

Together with the social and economic disruption produced by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, its impressive death toll conveys the idea that the virus is inflicting a war against humankind
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has caused an enormous amount of deaths worldwide, and a massive amount of viruses has been destroyed by those who recovered from the infection
As long as the immune system is activated during the infection, it may control the viral load[181,182] and exert selective pressure on the virus population, increasing its diversity.[183,184,185,186] Mutations likely arise when the SARS-CoV-2 is put under selective pressure by antibodies that limit but do not eliminate viral replication

Summary

Introduction

Together with the social and economic disruption produced by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, its impressive death toll conveys the idea that the virus is inflicting a war against humankind.

Results

Conclusion