Novel mutations in the spike protein of SARS CoV 2 from Bangladesh

Abstract

Genetic characterization may provide useful insights into severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV 2) circulating in Bangladesh. Here we analyzed the SARS Cov 2 positive 41 nasopharyngeal samples collected in lysis buffer obtained at different regional national laboratories of Bangladesh during July – December 2020. Full length spike gene was amplified and SARS CoV 2 was confirmed upon Sanger sequencing. Multiple ClustalW alignment and phylogenetic study of 15 strains showed that genetically diverse SARS CoV 2 is circulating in the country where 80 documented and 55 novel substitutions have been observed in different regions of spike glycoprotein. Major mutations and/or deletions was identified at conserved amino acid positions that are functionally linked to host transition, antigenic drift, host surface receptor binding or antibody recognition sites, and viral oligomerization interfaces that may have significant effects on pathogenic capacity and epidemiological signatures.