Genomic characterization and phylogenetic evolution of the SARS-CoV-2.

Zhang, Rui-Hua; Ai, Xia; Liu, Yang; Li, Chun-Hong; Zhang, Hong-Liang

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) started on 12 December 2019 in Wuhan, China, had caused 7,885,123 cases including 431,835 deaths by 14 Jun 2020 all over the world. Here we report the genomic characterization and phylogenetic evolution of this coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 that caused COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 genomes and other coronaviruses were obtained from GISAID and GenBank. Then the genome was annotated, and potential genetic recombination was investigated. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted and used to determine the evolutionary history of the virus and help deduce the origin of virus. An annotation has revealed SARS-CoV-2 possessed a similar genomic organisation to bat-SARS-like-CoV collected in China. The genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 were very similar, showing 99.6-100% sequence identity. Notably, SARS-CoV-2 was closely related (with 88% identity) to bat-SARS-like coronavirus, but was more distant from SARS-CoV (about 79%) and MERS-CoV (about 50%). Phylogenetic tree of the complete viral genome showed that the virus clustered with bat SARS-like coronavirus. The results of the similarity between SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses did not identify any potential genomic recombination events. Therefore, it seems like that the SARS-CoV-2 might be originally hosted by bats, and might have been transmitted to humans via intermediate hosts of currently unknown wild animal(s). Finally, based on the wide spread of SARS-CoV in their natural reservoirs, future studies should focus more on surveillance of coronavirus, and measures against the domestication and consumption of wild animals should be implemented. Keywords: coronavirus; SARS coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2; genomic characterization; phylogenetic evolution.