US, WASHINGTON (ORDO NEWS) — Scientists have found common features in lethal coronaviruses that distinguish them from SARS. SARS, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2 identified eleven common genomic sequences. They are responsible for the high pathogenicity of coronaviruses.
Thanks to them, deadly strains penetrate the nuclei of infected cells more effectively than others. Biologists also drew attention to the specific features in the spike protein of the new pathogen, allowing it to adapt to the next host.
The study is extremely important to prevent subsequent epidemics, as well as the creation of effective drugs – in particular, from COVID-19, Russian researchers say.
A bioinformatic analysis of the genomes of all coronaviruses that are dangerous to humans was carried out by a group of researchers from the US National Center for Biotechnological Information, which included the famous Russian biologist Yevgeny Kunin.
Four studied pathogens are not particularly dangerous and are characterized by mild symptoms of SARS. And three – SARS (the virus that caused the outbreak of SARS in 2002), MERS (the virus that provoked the Middle East respiratory syndrome in 2013) and SARS-CoV-2 (the COVID-19 pandemic started with it) – are deadly for people.
Those mutations of viral proteins that allow more to disrupt the normal functioning of defense mechanisms from foreign molecules will contribute to a more rapid spread of the virus.
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