Analysis of Clinical Characteristics and Virus Strains Variation of Patients Infected With SARS-CoV-2 in Jiangsu Province—A Retrospective Study

Background: At present, the global sever acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) situation is still grim, and the risk of local outbreaks caused by imported viruses is high. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the genomic variation and genetic evolution characteristics of SARS-CoV-2. The main purpose of this study was to detect the entry of different SARS-CoV-2 variants into Jiangsu Province, China.Methods: First, oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 165 patients (55 locally confirmed cases and 110 imported cases with confirmed and asymptomatic infection) diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Jiangsu Province, China between January 2020 and June 2021. Then, whole genome sequencing was used to explore the phylogeny and find potential mutations in genes of the SARS-CoV-2. Last, association analysis among clinical characteristics and SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern, pedigree surveillance analysis of SARS-COV-2, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detection in SARS-COV-2 samples was performed.Results: More men were infected with the SARS-CoV-2 when compared with women. The onset of the SARS-CoV-2 showed a trend of younger age. Moreover, the number of asymptomatic infected patients was large, similar to the number of common patients. Patients infected with Alpha (50%) and Beta (90%) variants were predominantly asymptomatic, while patients infected with Delta (17%) variant presented severe clinical features. A total of 935 SNPs were detected in 165 SARS-COV-2 samples. Among which, missense mutation (58%) was the dominant mutation type. About 56% of SNPs changes occurred in the open reading frame 1ab (ORF1ab) gene. Approximately, 20% of SNP changes occurred in spike glycoprotein (S) gene, such as p.Asp501Tyr, p.Pro681His, and p.Pro681Arg. In total, nine SNPs loci in S gene were significantly correlated with the severity of patients. It is worth mentioning that amino acid substitution of p.Asp614Gly was significantly positively correlated with the clinical severity of patients. The amino acid replacements of p.Ser316Thr and p.Lu484Lys were significantly negatively correlated with the course of disease.Conclusion: Sever acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may further undergo a variety of mutations in different hosts, countries, and weather conditions. Detecting the entry of different virus variants of SARS-CoV-2 into Jiangsu Province, China may help to monitor the spread of infection and the diversity of eventual recombination or genomic mutations.

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vrrB, a Hypervariable Open Reading Frame in Bacillus anthracis

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.182.14.3989-3997.2000 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 182 (14) ◽

pp. 3989-3997 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

James M. Schupp ◽

Alexandra M. Klevytska ◽

Guenevier Zinser ◽

Lance B. Price ◽

Paul Keim

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Bacillus Anthracis ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Variable Number Tandem Repeat ◽

Genomic Variation ◽

Open Reading Frame ◽

Protein Sequence Analysis ◽

Adaptive Genetic Variation ◽

Variable Regions ◽

Reading Frame

ABSTRACT Bacillus anthracis appears to be the most molecularly homogeneous bacterial species known. Extensive surveys of worldwide isolates have revealed vanishingly small amounts of genomic variation. The biological importance of the resting-stage spore may lead to very low evolutionary rates and, perhaps, to the lack of potentially adaptive genetic variation. In contrast to the overall homogeneity, some gene coding regions contain hypervariability that is translated into protein variation. During marker analysis of diverse strains, we have discovered a novel ca. 750-nucleotide open reading frame (ORF) that contains in-frame, variable-number tandem-repeat sequences. Four distinct variable regions exist within vrrB, giving rise to 11 distinct alleles in eight different length categories among B. anthracis strains. This ORF putatively codes for a 241- to 265-amino-acid protein, rich in glutamine (13.2%), glycine (23.4%), and histidine (23.0%). The variable-region amino acids of the vrrB ORF are strongly hydrophilic. Coupled with putative transmembrane domains flanking the variable regions, this suggests a membrane-anchored cytosolic or extracellular location for the putative protein. Sequence analysis of the complete ORFs from three Bacillus cereus strains shows maintenance of the ORF across species boundaries, including strong conservation of the amino acid sequence and the capacity to vary among strains. The presence of 11 different alleles of the vrrB locus is in stark contrast to the near homogeneity of B. anthracis. Evolution of hypervariable genes can negate the lack of genetic variability in species such as B. anthracisand provide select rapid evolution in other more variable species.

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Cloning and expression of caprine KIT gene and associations of polymorphisms with litter size

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an13497 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 56 (10) ◽

pp. 1579 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

X. P. An ◽

J. X. Hou ◽

T. Y. Gao ◽

B. Y. Cao

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Litter Size ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Homo Sapiens ◽

Ovis Aries ◽

Cloning And Expression ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Coding Region ◽

Reading Frame ◽

Kit Gene

The full coding region of KIT mRNA was cloned from the caprine ovary. The results showed the caprine KIT cDNA (GenBank accession number KF364483) contained a 2925-bp open reading frame encoding a protein with 974 amino acid residues. BLAST analysis revealed that the caprine KIT protein had high similarity with that of four species: Ovis aries (99%), Bos taurus (99%), Sus scrofa (94%) and Homo sapiens (90%). The KIT mRNA expression pattern showed that KIT mRNA was expressed highly in kidney, ovary, uterus and breast. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (g.88430T > A and g.120466G > A) in the caprine KIT gene were detected by PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and DNA sequencing in 735 goats of Xinong Saanen, Guanzhong and Boer breeds. The g.88430T > A mutation was a missense mutation (Tyr > Asn at position 409 amino acid of KIT). The association study has been done by jointly analysing all data in one analysis. The result showed that individuals with TT and TA genotypes had their litter size increased by 0.11 and 0.09, respectively, compared with those with AA genotype at the g.88430T > A locus for three goat breeds (P < 0.05). Further analysis revealed that combined genotype TTAA was better than the others for litter size in three goat breeds. Therefore, the biochemical and physiological functions, together with the results obtained in our investigation, suggest that the KIT gene could serve as a genetic marker for litter size in goat breeding.

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Divergent pattern of genomic variation in Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.10255.1 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 2763 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Preeti Goel ◽

Gajinder Pal Singh

Keyword(s):

Plasmodium Falciparum ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Large Scale ◽

Genomic Variation ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Evolutionary Response ◽

Substitution Bias ◽

Synonymous Sites

The two main species causing malaria in humans, Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax, differ significantly from each other in their evolutionary response to common drugs, but the reasons for this are not clear. Here we utilized the recently available large-scale genome sequencing data from these parasites and compared the pattern of single nucleotide polymorphisms, which may be related to these differences. We found that there was a five-fold higher preference for AT nucleotides compared to GC nucleotides at synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism sites in P. vivax. The preference for AT nucleotides was also present at non-synonymous sites, which lead to amino acid changes favouring those with codons of higher AT content. The substitution bias was also present at low and moderately conserved amino acid positions, but not at highly conserved positions. No marked bias was found at synonymous and non-synonymous sites in P. falciparum. The difference in the substitution bias between P. falciparum and P. vivax found in the present study may possibly contribute to their divergent evolutionary response to similar drug pressures.

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Global Genomic Diversity of Human Papillomavirus 11 Based on 433 Isolates and 78 Complete Genome Sequences

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.03149-15 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 90 (11) ◽

pp. 5503-5513 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Mateja M. Jelen ◽

Zigui Chen ◽

Boštjan J. Kocjan ◽

Lea Hošnjak ◽

Felicity J. Burt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Papillomavirus ◽

Regulatory Region ◽

International Study ◽

Genomic Region ◽

Genomic Variation ◽

Noncoding Region ◽

Genomic Diversity ◽

Global Alignment ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Reading Frame

ABSTRACTHuman papillomavirus 11(HPV11) is an etiological agent of anogenital warts and laryngeal papillomas and is included in the 4-valent and 9-valent prophylactic HPV vaccines. We established the largest collection of globally circulating HPV11 isolates to date and examined the genomic diversity of 433 isolates and 78 complete genomes (CGs) from six continents. The genomic variation within the 2,800-bp E5a-E5b-L1-upstream regulatory region was initially studied in 181/207 (87.4%) HPV11 isolates collected for this study. Of these, the CGs of 30 HPV11 variants containing unique single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), indels (insertions or deletions), or amino acid changes were fully sequenced. A maximum likelihood tree based on the global alignment of 78 HPV11 CGs (30 CGs from our study and 48 CGs from GenBank) revealed two HPV11 lineages (lineages A and B) and four sublineages (sublineages A1, A2, A3, and A4). HPV11 (sub)lineage-specific SNPs within the CG were identified, as well as the 208-bp representative region for CG-based phylogenetic clustering within the partial E2 open reading frame and noncoding region 2. Globally, sublineage A2 was the most prevalent, followed by sublineages A1, A3, and A4 and lineage B.IMPORTANCEThis collaborative international study defined the global heterogeneity of HPV11 and established the largest collection of globally circulating HPV11 genomic variants to date. Thirty novel complete HPV11 genomes were determined and submitted to the available sequence repositories. Global phylogenetic analysis revealed two HPV11 variant lineages and four sublineages. The HPV11 (sub)lineage-specific SNPs and the representative region identified within the partial genomic region E2/noncoding region 2 (NCR2) will enable the simpler identification and comparison of HPV11 variants worldwide. This study provides an important knowledge base for HPV11 for future studies in HPV epidemiology, evolution, pathogenicity, prevention, and molecular assay development.

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Polymorphisms of the kappa casein (<i>CSN</i>3) gene and inference of its variants in water buffalo (<i>Bubalus bubalis</i>)

Archives Animal Breeding ◽

10.5194/aab-62-585-2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

pp. 585-596 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xinyang Fan ◽

Zifang Zhang ◽

Lihua Qiu ◽

Yongyun Zhang ◽

Yongwang Miao

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Water Buffalo ◽

Direct Sequencing ◽

Bubalus Bubalis ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Amino Acid Residues ◽

Reading Frame ◽

Milk Clotting ◽

Pcr Product ◽

Vital Effect

Abstract. Kappa casein plays a crucial role in the formation of stable casein micelles and has a key influence on milk-clotting properties. However, current understanding of buffalo CSN3 gene polymorphisms is not sufficient. In this study, the polymorphisms in the complete coding sequence (CDS) of the buffalo CSN3 were detected using PCR product direct sequencing. The CDS of CSN3 for river and swamp buffalo was the same in length, which contained an open reading frame of 573 nucleotides encoding a peptide containing 190 amino acid residues. A total of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was identified in two types of buffalo. Among them, c.86C>T, c.252G>C, c.445G>A, c.467C>T and c.516A>C were non-synonymous, which leads to p.Pro8Leu, p.Lys63Asn, p.Val128Ile, p.Thr135Ile and p.Glu151Asp substitutions in buffalo kappa casein (κ-CN), respectively. The substitution of p.Thr135Ile may exert a vital effect on the function of buffalo κ-CN. Eleven haplotypes were defined based on the SNPs found in buffalo, and accordingly, seven protein variants and four synonymous variants of buffalo κ-CN were inferred, called variants A, B, B1, C, C1, C2, D, E, F, F1 and G. The variants observed in water buffalo did not exist in the Bos genus. In addition, 14 amino acid differential sites of κ-CN between buffalo and the Bos genus were identified, of which 3 were located at glycosylation sites (80S, 96T, 141S) and 4 at phosphorylation sites (19S, 80S, 96T, 141S). It is speculated that they may lead to differences in the physicochemical properties of κ-CN between buffalo and the Bos genus. This study will lay a foundation for exploring the association between the variation in the CSN3 gene and the lactation traits of buffalo.

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Comparative Genomics Used to Predict Virulence Factors and Metabolic Genes among Monilinia Species

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7060464 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 464

Author(s):

Marina Marcet-Houben ◽

Maria Villarino ◽

Laura Vilanova ◽

Antonieta De Cal ◽

Jan A. L. van Kan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brown Rot ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Genomic Variation ◽

Disease Development ◽

Stone Fruits ◽

Yield Losses ◽

Future Studies ◽

Metabolic Genes ◽

Pome Fruits ◽

Significant Yield

Brown rot, caused by Monilinia spp., is among the most important diseases in stone fruits, and some pome fruits (mainly apples). This disease is responsible for significant yield losses, particularly in stone fruits, when weather conditions favorable for disease development appear. To achieve future sustainable strategies to control brown rot on fruit, one potential approach will be to characterize genomic variation among Monilinia spp. to define, among others, the capacity to infect fruit in this genus. In the present work, we performed genomic and phylogenomic comparisons of five Monilinia species and inferred differences in numbers of secreted proteins, including CAZy proteins and other proteins important for virulence. Duplications specific to Monilinia were sparse and, overall, more genes have been lost than gained. Among Monilinia spp., low variability in the CAZome was observed. Interestingly, we identified several secondary metabolism clusters based on similarity to known clusters, and among them was a cluster with homology to pyriculol that could be responsible for the synthesis of chloromonilicin. Furthermore, we compared sequences of all strains available from NCBI of these species to assess their MAT loci and heterokaryon compatibility systems. Our comparative analyses provide the basis for future studies into understanding how these genomic differences underlie common or differential abilities to interact with the host plant.

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Unexpected genomic, biosynthetic and species diversity of Streptomyces bacteria from bats in Arizona and New Mexico, USA

BMC Genomics ◽

10.1186/s12864-021-07546-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Cooper J. Park ◽

Nicole A. Caimi ◽

Debbie C. Buecher ◽

Ernest W. Valdez ◽

Diana E. Northup ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Mexico ◽

Genetic Manipulation ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Biosynthetic Gene Cluster ◽

Genomic Variation ◽

Species Variation ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Peptide Synthetases ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Diversity Estimates

Abstract Background Antibiotic-producing Streptomyces bacteria are ubiquitous in nature, yet most studies of its diversity have focused on free-living strains inhabiting diverse soil environments and those in symbiotic relationship with invertebrates. Results We studied the draft genomes of 73 Streptomyces isolates sampled from the skin (wing and tail membranes) and fur surfaces of bats collected in Arizona and New Mexico. We uncovered large genomic variation and biosynthetic potential, even among closely related strains. The isolates, which were initially identified as three distinct species based on sequence variation in the 16S rRNA locus, could be distinguished as 41 different species based on genome-wide average nucleotide identity. Of the 32 biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) classes detected, non-ribosomal peptide synthetases, siderophores, and terpenes were present in all genomes. On average, Streptomyces genomes carried 14 distinct classes of BGCs (range = 9–20). Results also revealed large inter- and intra-species variation in gene content (single nucleotide polymorphisms, accessory genes and singletons) and BGCs, further contributing to the overall genetic diversity present in bat-associated Streptomyces. Finally, we show that genome-wide recombination has partly contributed to the large genomic variation among strains of the same species. Conclusions Our study provides an initial genomic assessment of bat-associated Streptomyces that will be critical to prioritizing those strains with the greatest ability to produce novel antibiotics. It also highlights the need to recognize within-species variation as an important factor in genetic manipulation studies, diversity estimates and drug discovery efforts in Streptomyces.

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Sequence and structure of mtr, an amino acid transport gene of Neurospora crassa

Genome ◽

10.1139/g91-098 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 644-651 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Kenneth Koo ◽

W. Dorsey Stuart

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Neurospora Crassa ◽

Rna Binding ◽

Signal Sequence ◽

Average Length ◽

Open Reading Frame ◽

Mrna Transcript ◽

S1 Nuclease ◽

Reading Frame

The gene product of the mtr locus of Neurospora crassa is required for the transport of neutral aliphatic and aromatic amino acids via the N system. We have previously cloned three cosmids containing Neurospora DNA that complement the mtr-6(r) mutant allele. The cloned DNAs were tightly linked to restriction fragment length polymorphisms that flank the mtr locus. A 2.9-kbp fragment from one cosmid was subcloned and found to complement the mtr-6(r) allele. Here we report the sequence of the fragment that hybridized to a poly(A)+ mRNA transcript of about 2300 nucleotides. We have identified an 845-bp open reading frame (ORF) having a 59-bp intron as the potential mtr ORF. S1 nuclease analysis of the transcript confirmed the transcript size and the presence of the intron. A second open reading frame was found upstream in the same reading frame as the mtr ORF and appears to be present in the mRNA transcript. The mtr ORF is predicted to encode a 261 amino acid polypeptide with a molecular mass of 28 613 Da. The proposed polypeptide exhibits six potential α-helical transmembrane domains with an average length of 23 amino acids, does not have a signal sequence, and contains amino acid sequence homologous to an RNA binding motif.Key words: sequence, membranes, ribonucleoprotein.

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Human eosinophil cationic protein. Molecular cloning of a cytotoxin and helminthotoxin with ribonuclease activity.

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.170.1.163 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 170 (1) ◽

pp. 163-176 ◽

Cited By ~ 86

Author(s):

H F Rosenberg ◽

S J Ackerman ◽

D G Tenen

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Cellular Localization ◽

Basic Protein ◽

Eosinophil Cationic Protein ◽

Ribonuclease Activity ◽

Monocytic Differentiation ◽

Cationic Protein ◽

Human Eosinophil ◽

Reading Frame ◽

The Matrix

We have isolated a 725-bp full-length cDNA clone for the human eosinophil cationic protein (ECP). ECP is a small, basic protein found in the matrix of the eosinophil's large specific granule that has cytotoxic, helminthotoxic, and ribonuclease activity, and is a member of the ribonuclease multigene family. The cDNA sequence shows 89% sequence identity with that reported for the related granule protein, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN). The open reading frame encodes a previously unidentified 27-amino acid leader sequence preceding a 133-residue mature ECP polypeptide with a molecular mass of 15.6 kD. The encoded amino acid sequence of ECP shows 66% identity to that of EDN and 31% identity to that of human pancreatic ribonuclease, including conservation of the essential structural cysteine and cataytic lysine and histidine residues. mRNA for ECP was detected in eosinophil-enriched peripheral granulocytes and in a subclone of the promyelocytic leukemia line, HL-60, induced toward eosinophilic differentiation with IL-5. No ECP mRNA was detected in uninduced HL-60 cells, or in HL-60 cells induced toward monocytic differentiation with vitamin D3 or toward neutrophilic differentiation with DMSO. In contrast, mRNA for EDN was detected in uninduced HL-60 cells and was upregulated in HL-60 cells induced with DMSO. Despite similarities in sequence and cellular localization, these results suggest that ECP and EDN are subject to different regulatory mechanisms.

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Natural variation in rice starch synthase IIa affects enzyme and starch properties

Functional Plant Biology ◽

10.1071/fp04009 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 31 (7) ◽

pp. 671 ◽

Cited By ~ 108

Author(s):

Takayuki Umemoto ◽

Noriaki Aoki ◽

Hongxuan Lin ◽

Yasunori Nakamura ◽

Naoyoshi Inouchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Natural Variation ◽

Oryza Sativa L ◽

Length Distribution ◽

Starch Synthase ◽

Rice Starch ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Cultivated Rice ◽

Chain Length Distribution ◽

Starch Properties

The natural variation in starch synthase IIa (SSIIa) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was characterised using near-isogenic lines (NILs). SSIIa is a candidate for the alk gene regulating the alkali disintegration of rice grains, since both genes are genetically mapped at the same position on chromosome 6 and related to starch properties. In this study, we report that the alkali-susceptible cultivar Nipponbare lacked SSIIa activity in endosperm. However, the activity was detected with NILs having the alk allele of alkali-tolerant Kasalath. SSIIa protein was present even in Nipponbare endosperm, but it was not associated with starch granules at the milky stage of endosperm. Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) predicting amino acid substitutions existed between the cDNA sequences of SSIIa of Nipponbare and Kasalath were genotyped with 65 rice cultivars and four wild relatives of cultivated rice. The results obtained explain the potential importance of two of the amino acid residues for starch association of rice SSIIa. An analysis of the chain-length distribution of β-limit dextrin of amylopectin showed that without SSIIa activity, the relative number of A-chains (the short chains without branches) increased and that of B1-chains (the short chains with branches) decreased. This suggests that, given the SSIIa defect, short A-chains could not reach a sufficient length for branching enzymes to act on them to produce B1-chains.

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