Inferring Recombination Events in SARS-CoV-2 Variants In Silico

Over the last 34 months, at least 10 severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) distinct variants have evolved. Among these, some were more infectious while others were not. These variants may serve as candidates for identification of the signature sequences linked to infectivity and viral transgressions. Based on our previous hijacking and transgression hypothesis, we aimed to investigate whether SARS-CoV-2 sequences associated with infectivity and trespassing of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) provide a possible recombination mechanism to drive the formation of new variants. This work involved a sequence and structure-based approach to screen SARS-CoV-2 variants in silico, taking into account effects of glycosylation and links to known lncRNAs. Taken together, the findings suggest that transgressions involving lncRNAs may be linked with changes in SARS-CoV-2-host interactions driven by glycosylation events.

Wong's anomaly - a rare variant of cor triatriatum

Cor triatriatum sinistrum is an extremely rare congenital heart disease. It is even more uncommon in adults, and clinically significant mitral valve lesion complicating cor triatriatum is distinctly rare. Wong et al reported for the first time the rare combination of cor triatriatum sinister associated with severe mitral regurgitation and abnormal tensor apparatus of the mitral valve. We report a similar case and used the term Wong's anomaly for the syndrome, having membranous type of cor triatriatum sinistrum, severe mitral regurgitation and hypoplasia of the papillary muscles and short chordae. Color Doppler Echocardiography showed peculiar 'helmet sign' of mitral regurgitation, wherein the mitral regurgitation color jet fills the distal atrial chamber and abruptly ends in a horizontal plane as it is halted by the intra-atrial membrane.