The dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2 is a mosaicism.

ABSTRACT: COVID-19 is seriously threatening human health all over the world. A comprehensive understanding of the genetic mechanisms driving the rapid evolution of its pathogen (SARS-CoV-2) is the key to controlling this pandemic. In this study, by comparing the entire genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 isolates from Asia, Europe and America, and analyzing their phylogenetic histories, we found a lineage derived from a recombination event that likely occurred before March 2020. More importantly, the recombinant offspring has become the dominant strain responsible for more than one-third of the global cases in the pandemic. These results indicated that the recombination might have played a key role in the pandemic of the virus.

SUBMITTER: Wang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8416297 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature