Delta plus variant with neutral mutation is less virulent compared to wild type SARS-CoV2

BackgroundWith the start of the Coronavirus disease19 (COVID19) pandemic, the Coronavirus has mutated constantly. Recently a new variant called Delta plus has been reported in few countries, including South Africa, Brazil and India. The Delta plus variant contains an additional mutation called K417N on the coronavirus spike. The present study aims to determine the virulence and transmissibility of the Delta plus variant and to check the efficiency of different antibodies on its neutralization.Materials and MethodsDifferent computational tools such as PROVEAN, an online tool, HOPE server, simulation using CABS Flex, Clus pro, an online docking tool, were used to predict the structure and function of Delta plus variant by performing a comparative study with wild type protein. Also, to find an effective antibody against Delta plus variant, antigen-antibody docking studies were conducted through Clus pro server. Furthermore, we performed a 2D interaction diagram analysis to find the amino acid residue's interaction against antibodies.Results PROVEAN and HOPE showed the mutation (K417N) in the S-glycoprotein of Delta plus as NEUTRAL mutation. This mutation causes the loss of cysteine bonds leading to the destabilization of the 3D structure of spike protein. Furthermore, the RMSF plot emphasizing the 17th amino acid position of wild and Delta plus mutant revealed the high fluctuation of mutant protein structure compared to the wild protein structure. Further, a comparative docking study against hACE2 shows higher binding energy of wild-type RBD (-751.7 kcal/mol) than mutant RBD (-750.1 kcal/mol). Moreover, antigen-antibody docking study revealed higher affinity of BD-23 Fab antibodies with greater interaction energy ( -997 kcal/mol) compared to other antibodies and thus may prove to be a promising therapeutic against Delta plus variant.ConclusionDelta plus variant is less stable, has a lower binding affinity to hACE2 and has less virulence than wild type. However, the BD-23 Fab antibody has shown a more significant association for this variant and can be used in its treatment.

The Carbon-Based Evolutionary Theory (CBET)

To establish a comprehensive and comprehensible evolutionary theory, and to use this theory to bridge physics, biology, and social sciences, we employ the concept carbon-based entities (CBEs), which include methane, glucose, proteins, organisms, and other entities chemically containing carbon atoms. We deduce the steps, driving forces, and mechanisms of evolution of CBEs through integration of geology, physics, chemistry, and biology. We hence establish the Carbon-Based Evolutionary Theory (CBET), which suggests that evolution is the increase in the amount, diversity, and fitness of higher-hierarchy CBEs under natural selection and driven by the organic synthesis tendency on the Earth from the thermodynamic features of the Earth. It provides better explanations for various evolutionary issues and social issues (e.g. life origin, natural selection, neutral mutation, diversity importance, and altruism) than previous theories. It refutes some incorrect views (e.g. negative entropy) in thermodynamics on evolution. The CBET could have great significance in various sciences.

Reproduction, development, asymmetry and late eye regression in the Brazilian cave catfish Ituglanis passensis (Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae): evidence contributing to the neutral mutation theory

The troglobitic (exclusively subterranean source population) catfish Ituglanis passensis (Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae) is endemic to the Passa Três Cave, São Domingos karst area, Rio Tocantins basin, Central Brazil. This unique population presents variably reduced eyes and melanic pigmentation. We describe reproduction and early development in this species based on a spontaneous (non-induced) reproductive-event that occurred in the laboratory in January–February, 2009, while simultaneously comparing with data from the cave-habitat and a previous reproductive event. Egg laying was parceled. Egg-size and number were within variations observed in epigean congeners. Larvae behavior and growth is described. A single surviving specimen was monitored over two years. Eye-regression started late, one year after birth, and followed a pattern of stasis phases intercalated with slow growth and fluctuating asymmetric rates. Late eye regression, associated with asymmetry in eye development and intra-population variability of troglomorphic traits, as shown by several Brazilian subterranean fishes, provide support for the Neutral Mutation Theory.

Male Sexual Trait Decay in Two Asexual Springtail Populations Follows Neutral Mutation Accumulation Theory

The transition to asexual reproduction is frequent and widespread across the tree of life and constitutes a major life history change. Without sexual reproduction, selection on sexually selected traits is expected to be weaker or absent, allowing the decay and ultimately loss of sexual traits. In this study, we applied an experimental approach to investigate the decay of reproductive traits under asexuality in two asexual populations of the springtail Folsomia candida. Specifically, we compared several key male sexual traits of a sexual population and two distinct parthenogenetic lines. To allow direct comparisons between sexual and asexual individuals we first determined a suite of life history characteristics in the sexual F. candida population, which performs an indirect transfer of sperm packages (spermatophores).To investigate the decay of male sexual traits under asexuality we measured the size of spermatophores, quantified the amount of sperm DNA material, and tested spermatophore attractiveness to females in all three populations. The amount of sperm DNA material in the sperm droplets and the attractiveness of spermatophores were lower in the asexual lines compared to the sexual population. However, the two asexual lines differed in the extent of decay of these traits. Our results are consistent with predictions from neutral mutation accumulation theory, and thus suggest this to be the main evolutionary process underlying the decay of male traits in F. candida.

DYNAMICS BEHAVIOR OF MUTATION DURING REPRODUCTION ON HIV-1 DRUG RESISTANCE

To study the transition dynamics of resistant-type human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the affect of neutral mutation in the evolution of HIV-1, a mathematical model is proposed when mutation occurs mainly during reproduction. The derived results show that the resistant-type will certainly colonize in patients once mutation occurs. Furthermore, a neutral mutation is closely related to the colonized pattern of resistant-type HIV-1 quasispecies and there are some changes in the pattern of transmission dynamics when mutation occurs mainly during reproduction or in the absence of reproduction, which may lead to significant strategies for predicting or checking HIV-1 drug resistance in HAART.