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A comprehensive review of SARS-CoV-2 genetic mutations and lessons from animal coronavirus recombination in one health perspective

Journal of Microbiology volume 59, pages 332–340 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 was originated from zoonotic coronaviruses and confirmed as a novel beta-coronavirus, which causes serious respiratory illness such as pneumonia and lung failure, COVID-19. In this review, we describe the genetic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, including types of mutation, and molecular epidemiology, highlighting its key difference from animal coronaviruses. We further summarized the current knowledge on clinical, genetic, and pathological features of several animal coronaviruses and compared them with SARS-CoV-2, as well as recent evidences of interspecies transmission and recombination of animal coronaviruses to provide a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection in One Health perspectives. We also discuss the potential wildlife hosts and zoonotic origin of this emerging virus in detail, that may help mitigate the spread and damages caused by the disease.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Korea Mouse Phenotyping Project (NRF-2019M3A9D5A01102797) of the Ministry of Science and ICT through the National Research Foundation, and supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (No. 2020R1C1C1008347).

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  1. These authors contributed equally to this work.

Affiliations

  1. College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea

    Woonsung Na

  2. College of Healthcare & Biotechnology, Semyung University, Jecheon, 27136, Republic of Korea

    Hyoungjoon Moon

  3. College of Pharmacy, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea

    Daesub Song

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  1. Woonsung Na
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Correspondence to Daesub Song.

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Na, W., Moon, H. & Song, D. A comprehensive review of SARS-CoV-2 genetic mutations and lessons from animal coronavirus recombination in one health perspective. J Microbiol. 59, 332–340 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-021-0660-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-021-0660-4

Keywords

  • coronavirus disease 2019
  • genetic mutations
  • animal coronavirus
  • pandemic