Estudo das mutações do gene que codifica a glicoproteína da espícula do SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Since 2020, SARS-CoV-2 has had a significant global impact on public health, bringing serious social and economic consequences to populations on all continents. SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus with high potential for genetic variability, especially due to mutations occurring during viral replication. Research has described many mutations in the gene for the glycoprotein that makes up the viral spike, which are associated with changes in transmissibility and virulence. This is because there is a significant increase in the frequency of mutations due to the extensive genetic material of the virus. This high genetic variability is also due to genetic recombination between variants, resulting in the emergence of new viral variants that can give rise to new strains. Some of these mutations may affect the effectiveness of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, reducing the ability of neutralizing antibodies to recognize and inactivate the virus. To date, several Variants of Concern (VoC's) derived from mutations have been identified and reported in the gene that encodes the SARS-CoV-2 spike, which is the main target of the immune system. This is because it is used by the virus as a tool for cellular recognition through the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD), being the main epitope that induces neutralizing antibodies and therefore, this protein is a viable antigenic target for the development of vaccines. . We will see the following mutations: N439K, N501Y, Y453F, E484K, K417N, T478K and Y369C and A222V. And the importance of continually monitoring them to adjust vaccination strategies and develop more effective vaccines against emerging variants.