PLoS Comput Biol: Genetic barcodes reveal the evolutionary path of the new coronavirus.

4, 2020 /--- In a recent study, researchers at Drexel University reported a way to quickly identify and label mutations in COVID-19 viruses.
their analysis using information from a global genetic information database collected from coronavirus testing showed that there were at least eight to 14 different strains of the virus in the United States, some of them the same as before, while others came from Europe.
the genetic analysis tool was originally developed as a way to analyze genetic samples for snapshots of bacterial mixtures, to identify patterns from a large amount of genetic information and to identify whether the virus has been genetically altered.
then, they can use this pattern to classify viruses with small genetic differences using a label called informational subtype markers (ISM).
the study, recently published in the journal PLoS Computational Biology, used the same method to process viral genetic data to quickly detect and classify subtle genetic variants in SARS-CoV-2.
the tool was designed by Zhengzhen Zhao, a researcher at Dresel University, and made publicly available on GitHub.
Gail Rosen, a professor at the Drexel School of Engineering at www.pixabay.com, said: "The types of SARS-CoV-2 viruses we have seen in our tests are different from 1990 found in the United States.
" identifies mutations that allow us to see how viruses spread between different populations.
it can also show us the areas where COVID-19 is successfully isolated through social isolation.
, a tool called ISM, is particularly useful because it does not require analysis of the virus's complete genetic sequence to identify its mutations.
for SARS-CoV-2, this means reducing the genetic code of the virus's 30,000 base lengths to 20 base length labels.
ISM tool also identifies certain locations in the virus's genetic sequence that change as the virus spreads.
researchers found that three locations in the SARS-CoV-2 sequence mutated simultaneously from early April to the end of summer.
these locations are located in different parts of the genetic sequence.
part of the cell is thought to be related to cell signaling and replication.
is related to the formation of prickly proteins.
researchers say that while more research is needed on how these simultaneous mutations affect the spread and severity of the virus, a subtype label can be integrated into 11 bases using a changed bit, which could make downstream analysis more effective.
in addition to helping scientists understand how viruses change and spread, this approach could also reveal parts of their genetic code that still appear to be resistant to mutations, a finding that could help develop treatments to fight the virus.
(bioon.com) Source: Genetic tracing 'barcode' is rapidly revealing COVID-19's journey and evolution Original source: Zhengqiao zhao et al, Genetic grouping of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus sequences using informative subtypeers mark for pandemic spreading, PLOS Computational Biology (2020). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008269.