Variants Within over a Hundred Complete COVID-19 Genomes and the Impact on Health Security

Abstract

102 complete COVID-19 genomes have been collected from the viral genomes database to track and characterize novel variants. The data were treated bioinformatically so that 172 variants, with 127 unique and 45 polymorphic variants were found. The 127 unique variants consist of 76 missense, 39 synonymous, 6 non-coding, 5 deletions and 1 insertion. The 45 polymorphic variants consist of 25 missense, 15 synonymous, 4 non-coding and 1 in-frame-deletion. Most common variants are 28144T>C (33 missense), 8782C>T (31 synonymous), followed by missense 11083G>T (11 samples), 18060C>T (9 samples) and 26144G>T (7 samples). L3606F, S5932F and L84S are the amino acid changes in the last three common variants. Most variants were found in ORF1ab gene within the region encoded for domains (nsp4 and nsp6) and in the coding ORF8 gene. The variant 28144T>C could be among the main enhancers of viral transmission. There is a tendency for a national specificity of the most recorded variants. The virus outbreak could be between countries or dependent on the place of origin. Reasonable evidence of Chinese origin of the virus could be possible and thus more genomes should be collected and analyzed to understand the origin and the reason for its outbreak. This could support human health security by either finding out suitable vaccines or managing health precautionary measures.