SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance in Northeast Brazil: timing of emergence of the Brazilian variant of concern P1

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV- 2) is a novel enveloped, single-stranded RNA betacoronavirus associated to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The viral genome is -30 kb and consists of 10 open reading frames that encode structural, non-structural and accessory proteins. The structural proteins include nucleocapsid (N), spike (S), membrane (M) and envelope (E) proteins that play a critical role in the life cycle of the viral particles. There is evidence that the critical determinant of the SARS-CoV-2 genome is the S protein that mediates the virus entry into human host cells through interactions with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor.