Generation of a Novel SARS-CoV-2 Sub-genomic RNA Due to the R203K/G204R Variant in Nucleocapsid: Homologous Recombination has Potential to Change SARS-CoV-2 at Both Protein and RNA Level

Leary, Shay, Gaudieri, Silvana, Parker, Matthew D., Chopra, Abha, James, Ian, Pakala, Suman, Alves, Eric, John, Mina, Lindsey, Benjamin B., Keeley, Alexander J., Rowland-Jones, Sarah L., Swanson, Maurice S., Ostrov, David A., Bubenik, Jodi L., Das, Suman R., Sidney, John, Sette, Alessandro, The COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium, , De Silva, Thushan, Phillips, Elizabeth, Mallal, Simon, Smith, Darren, Bashton, Matthew, Young, Greg, Nelson, Andrew, McCann, Clare and Yew, Wen Chyin (2021) Generation of a Novel SARS-CoV-2 Sub-genomic RNA Due to the R203K/G204R Variant in Nucleocapsid: Homologous Recombination has Potential to Change SARS-CoV-2 at Both Protein and RNA Level. Pathogens and Immunity, 6 (2). pp. 27-49. ISSN 2469-2964

[img]
Preview
Text
document.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

Download (3MB) | Preview
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.20411/pai.v6i2.460

Abstract

Background: Genetic variations across the SARS-CoV-2 genome may influence transmissibility of the virus and the host’s anti-viral immune response, in turn affecting the frequency of variants over time. In this study, we examined the adjacent amino acid polymorphisms in the nucleocapsid (R203K/G204R) of SARS-CoV-2 that arose on the background of the spike D614G change and describe how strains harboring these changes became dominant circulating strains globally.

Methods: Deep-sequencing data of SARS-CoV-2 from public databases and from clinical samples were analyzed to identify and map genetic variants and sub-genomic RNA transcripts across the genome. Results: Sequence analysis suggests that the 3 adjacent nucleotide changes that result in the K203/R204 variant have arisen by homologous recombination from the core sequence of the leader transcription-regulating sequence (TRS) rather than by stepwise mutation. The resulting sequence changes generate a novel sub-genomic RNA transcript for the C-terminal dimerization domain of nucleocapsid. Deep-sequencing data from 981 clinical samples confirmed the presence of the novel TRS-CS-dimerization domain RNA in individuals with the K203/R204 variant. Quantification of sub-genomic RNA indicates that viruses with the K203/R204 variant may also have increased expression of sub-genomic RNA from other open reading frames.

Conclusions: The finding that homologous recombination from the TRS may have occurred since the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 in humans, resulting in both coding changes and novel sub-genomic RNA transcripts, suggests this as a mechanism for diversification and adaptation within its new host.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Matthew Bashton, Darren L. Smith, Gregory R. Young, Clare McCann, Andrew Nelson and Wen Chyin Yew are members of the COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium. Funding Information: SG, SL and EA were supported by a grant awarded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC; APP1148284). SM was supported by a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Tennessee Center for AIDS Research (P30 AI110527). MDP was funded by the NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre (BRC - IS-BRC-1215-20017). Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 samples was undertaken by the Sheffield COVID-19 Genomics Group as part of the COG-UK CONSORTIUM. COG-UK and supported by funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) part of UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) and Genome Research Limited, operating as the Wellcome Sanger Institute. TIdS is supported by a Wellcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellowship (110058/Z/15/Z).
Uncontrolled Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, homologous recombination, sub-genomic RNA transcript, transcription-regulating sequence, viral polymorphism
Subjects: C500 Microbiology
Department: Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Applied Sciences
Depositing User: John Coen
Date Deposited: 22 Nov 2021 15:41
Last Modified: 22 Nov 2021 15:45
URI: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/47813

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics