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Biologists at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) have conducted a comparative genetic analysis of strains of SARS-Cov-2 and seven other human coronaviruses that cause colds, as well as coronaviruses that infect bats, pigs, pangolins, and ferrets, ferrets. the hens.
They attempted to determine the characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 genome, which contribute to its viral replication, pathogenicity, and host vulnerability, as well as the discovery of common genomic patterns of variability of different SARS-CoV-2 strains that reflect the effects of the selection.
The researchers found unique SARS-CoV-2 sequence signatures in the 3′-UTR region that interact with the human hsa-miR1307-3p microRNA. They concluded that the miR1307 molecule was the genetic target in question that explained the various manifestations of COVID-19.
Studies have shown that miR1307 serves as a “switch” that turns various genes of the virus on or off, making the disease potentially more or less dangerous for patients.
The authors hope that their discovery will serve as the basis for the development of a new type of vaccine against COVID-19, based on proteins or RNA, as well as specific genetic markers to monitor the spread of the disease and track the transmission of the virus from a species. to another. other.
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