The Worldwide Search for the New Mutations in the RNA-Directed RNA Polymerase Domain of SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an RNA virus, responsible for the current pandemic outbreak In total, 200 genomes of the SARS-CoV-2 strains from four host organisms have been analyzed To investigate the presence of the new mutations in the RNA-directed RNA Polymerase (RdRp) of SARS-CoV-2, we analyzed sequences isolated from different hosts, with particular emphasis on human isolates We performed a search for the new mutations of the RdRp proteins and study how those newly identified mutations could influence RdRp protein stability Our results revealed 25 mutations in Rhinolophus sinicus, 1 in Mustela lutreola, 6 in Homo sapiens, and none in Mus musculus RdRp proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 isolates We found that P323L is the most common stabilising radical mutation in human isolates Also, we described several unique mutations, specific for studied hosts Therefore, our data suggest that new and emerging variants of the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp have to be considered for the development of effective therapeutic agents and treatments © 2020 Siarhei A Dabravolski et al , published by Sciendo 2020