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Tan M, Xia J, Luo H, Meng G, Zhu Z. Applying the digital data and the bioinformatics tools in SARS-CoV-2 research. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:4697-4705. [PMID: 37841328 PMCID: PMC10568291 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.09.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioinformatics has been playing a crucial role in the scientific progress to fight against the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The advances in novel algorithms, mega data technology, artificial intelligence and deep learning assisted the development of novel bioinformatics tools to analyze daily increasing SARS-CoV-2 data in the past years. These tools were applied in genomic analyses, evolutionary tracking, epidemiological analyses, protein structure interpretation, studies in virus-host interaction and clinical performance. To promote the in-silico analysis in the future, we conducted a review which summarized the databases, web services and software applied in SARS-CoV-2 research. Those digital resources applied in SARS-CoV-2 research may also potentially contribute to the research in other coronavirus and non-coronavirus viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Tan
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiaxin Xia
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Haitao Luo
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Geng Meng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenglin Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
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Xi B, Zeng X, Chen Z, Zeng J, Huang L, Du H. SARS-CoV-2 within-host diversity of human hosts and its implications for viral immune evasion. mBio 2023; 14:e0067923. [PMID: 37273216 PMCID: PMC10470530 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00679-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is continuously evolving, bringing great challenges to the control of the virus. In the present study, we investigated the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 within-host diversity of human hosts and its implications for immune evasion using about 2,00,000 high-depth next-generation genome sequencing data of SARS-CoV-2. A total of 44% of the samples showed within-host variations (iSNVs), and the average number of iSNVs in the samples with iSNV was 1.90. C-to-U is the dominant substitution pattern for iSNVs. C-to-U/G-to-A and A-to-G/U-to-C preferentially occur in 5'-CG-3' and 5'-AU-3' motifs, respectively. In addition, we found that SARS-CoV-2 within-host variations are under negative selection. About 15.6% iSNVs had an impact on the content of the CpG dinucleotide (CpG) in SARS-CoV-2 genomes. We detected signatures of faster loss of CpG-gaining iSNVs, possibly resulting from zinc-finger antiviral protein-mediated antiviral activities targeting CpG, which could be the major reason for CpG depletion in SARS-CoV-2 consensus genomes. The non-synonymous iSNVs in the S gene can largely alter the S protein's antigenic features, and many of these iSNVs are distributed in the amino-terminal domain (NTD) and receptor-binding domain (RBD). These results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 interacts actively with human hosts and attempts to take different evolutionary strategies to escape human innate and adaptive immunity. These new findings further deepen and widen our understanding of the within-host evolutionary features of SARS-CoV-2. IMPORTANCE Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative pathogen of the coronavirus disease 2019, has evolved rapidly since it was discovered. Recent studies have pointed out that some mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 S protein could confer SARS-CoV-2 the ability to evade the human adaptive immune system. In addition, it is observed that the content of the CpG dinucleotide in SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences has decreased over time, reflecting the adaptation to the human host. The significance of our research is revealing the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 within-host diversity of human hosts, identifying the causes of CpG depletion in SARS-CoV-2 consensus genomes, and exploring the potential impacts of non-synonymous within-host variations in the S gene on immune escape, which could further deepen and widen our understanding of the evolutionary features of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Xi
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xi Zeng
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zixi Chen
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiong Zeng
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lizhen Huang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongli Du
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
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Shishir TA, Saha O, Rajia S, Mondol SM, Masum MHU, Rahaman MM, Hossen F, Bahadur NM, Ahmed F, Naser IB, Amin MR. Genome-wide study of globally distributed respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) strains implicates diversification utilizing phylodynamics and mutational analysis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13531. [PMID: 37598270 PMCID: PMC10439963 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40760-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory pathogen that causes mild cold-like symptoms and severe lower respiratory tract infections, causing hospitalizations in children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Due to genetic variability, this virus causes life-threatening pneumonia and bronchiolitis in young infants. Thus, we examined 3600 whole genome sequences submitted to GISAID by 31 December 2022 to examine the genetic variability of RSV. While RSVA and RSVB coexist throughout RSV seasons, RSVA is more prevalent, fatal, and epidemic-prone in several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and China. Additionally, the virus's attachment glycoprotein and fusion protein were highly mutated, with RSVA having higher Shannon entropy than RSVB. The genetic makeup of these viruses contributes significantly to their prevalence and epidemic potential. Several strain-specific SNPs co-occurred with specific haplotypes of RSVA and RSVB, followed by different haplotypes of the viruses. RSVA and RSVB have the highest linkage probability at loci T12844A/T3483C and G13959T/C2198T, respectively. The results indicate that specific haplotypes and SNPs may significantly affect their spread. Overall, this analysis presents a promising strategy for tracking the evolving epidemic situation and genetic variants of RSV, which could aid in developing effective control, prophylactic, and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tushar Ahmed Shishir
- Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Otun Saha
- Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh.
| | - Sultana Rajia
- Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | | | - Md Habib Ullah Masum
- Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | | | - Foysal Hossen
- Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | | | - Firoz Ahmed
- Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Iftekhar Bin Naser
- Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Ruhul Amin
- Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh.
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Xi B, Meng Y, Jiang D, Bai Y, Chen Z, Qu Y, Li S, Wei J, Huang L, Du H. Analyses of Long-Term Epidemic Trends and Evolution Characteristics of Haplotype Subtypes Reveal the Dynamic Selection on SARS-CoV-2. Viruses 2022; 14:v14030454. [PMID: 35336862 PMCID: PMC8954678 DOI: 10.3390/v14030454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The scale of SARS-CoV-2 infection and death is so enormous that further study of the molecular and evolutionary characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 will help us better understand and respond to SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks. The present study analyzed the epidemic and evolutionary characteristics of haplotype subtypes or regions based on 1.8 million high-quality SARS-CoV-2 genomic data. The estimated ratio of the rates of non-synonymous to synonymous changes (Ka/Ks) in North America and the United States were always more than 1.0, while the Ka/Ks in other continents and countries showed a sharp decline, then a slow increase to 1.0, and a dramatic increase over time. H1 (B.1) with the highest substitution rate has become the most dominant haplotype subtype since March 2020 and has evolved into multiple haplotype subtypes with smaller substitution rates. Many evolutionary characteristics of early SARS-CoV-2, such as H3 being the only early haplotype subtype that existed for the shortest time, the global prevalence of H1 and H1-5 (B.1.1) within a month after being detected, and many high divergent genome sequences early in February 2020, indicate the missing of early SARS-CoV-2 genomic data. SARS-CoV-2 experienced dynamic selection from December 2019 to August 2021 and has been under strong positive selection since May 2021. Its transmissibility and the ability of immune escape may be greatly enhanced over time. This will bring greater challenges to the control of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Xi
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (B.X.); (D.J.); (Y.B.); (Z.C.); (Y.Q.); (S.L.); (J.W.); (L.H.)
| | - Yuhuan Meng
- Guangzhou KingMed Transformative Medicine Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou KingMed Center for Clinical Laboratory Co., Ltd. & Guangzhou KingMed Diagnostics Group Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510220, China;
| | - Dawei Jiang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (B.X.); (D.J.); (Y.B.); (Z.C.); (Y.Q.); (S.L.); (J.W.); (L.H.)
| | - Yunmeng Bai
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (B.X.); (D.J.); (Y.B.); (Z.C.); (Y.Q.); (S.L.); (J.W.); (L.H.)
| | - Zixi Chen
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (B.X.); (D.J.); (Y.B.); (Z.C.); (Y.Q.); (S.L.); (J.W.); (L.H.)
| | - Yimo Qu
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (B.X.); (D.J.); (Y.B.); (Z.C.); (Y.Q.); (S.L.); (J.W.); (L.H.)
| | - Shuhua Li
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (B.X.); (D.J.); (Y.B.); (Z.C.); (Y.Q.); (S.L.); (J.W.); (L.H.)
| | - Jinfen Wei
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (B.X.); (D.J.); (Y.B.); (Z.C.); (Y.Q.); (S.L.); (J.W.); (L.H.)
| | - Lizhen Huang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (B.X.); (D.J.); (Y.B.); (Z.C.); (Y.Q.); (S.L.); (J.W.); (L.H.)
| | - Hongli Du
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (B.X.); (D.J.); (Y.B.); (Z.C.); (Y.Q.); (S.L.); (J.W.); (L.H.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-20-3938-0667; Fax: +86-20-3938-0667
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