Alignment of SARS-CoV-2 in comparison with other coronaviruses

Abstract

Introduction. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently declared as pandemic according to WHO. It was initially detected in China and then rapidly transmitted to most world territories. The SARS-CoV-2 has an ambiguous origin, with unique properties, pathogenesis and transmission rate, thus making its prevention and control a difficult task. Aim. In the present study, we investigated the origin hypotheses through conducting multiple alignments and phylogenetic analysis for surface glycoprotein and complete genome of SARS-CoV-2 in comparison with other coronaviruses of different species. All the data used in this study were obtained from NCBI online database and analyzed using Blast tool. The alignment and phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 surface glycoprotein in comparison with spike glycoprotein of Bat coronavirus RaTG13, Pangolin coronavirus, Bat SARS-like coronavirus, SARS-CoV, BCoV, IBV, ECoV, MHV-JHM, MERS-CoV, CCoV, HCoV-229E and FCOV indicated close identical matching to spike protein for Bat coronavirus RaTG13 and Pangolin coronavirus isolate MP789. The similarity was 97.41% and 96.67%, respectively. Also, multiple alignments of complete genome for SARS-CoV-2 and Bat coronavirus RaTG13 showed a significant similarity of 96.11%. Recommendation. Therefore, these relevant results strongly recommend the origin hypothesis of SARS-CoV-2 from Bat coronavirus RaTG13. The nature of evolution is considered to be natural selection.