BIOINFORMATIC ANALYSIS OF SOME GLOBAL STRAINS OF SARS-COV-2 GENOMES REVEAL DISTRIBUTION OF SIX MAJOR PHYLOGENETIC GROUPS

Abstract

The global strains of SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated using bioinformatic approach in order to infer their
levels of variation. Phylogeny, toggling and secondary structure were carried out using maximum
likelihood, percentages and SOPMA tools respectively while tajima's neutrality test and maximum
likelihood estimate for transition-transversion bias were estimated using standard recommended
procedures. Results obtained delineate the evaluated global SARS-Cov-2 into six distinct haplotypes
with several conserved sites at different levels of percentages ranging from 50-100%. The tajima's
neutrality test and maximum likelihood for transition-transversion bias were found to be
approximately 5.85 and 0.59 respectively while the secondary structure of these six haplotypes shows
similar representation of protein content with approximately 67% ( cluster 3-6) showing higher
content of alpha helix than other protein structures. The remaining 33% (cluster 1 and 2) however also
resembles themselves as their random coil was found to be higher than other protein structures.
Results of this study have shown that, even though, there is a little variation occurring in the SARSCov-
2 genome, the rate at which is happening is a cause for concern and there might be SARS-Cov-2
variants escaping vaccines in the nearest future