Analysis of UK and South African Strains of SARS-CoV-2 Using Resonant Recognition Model

Author(s): Irena Cosic, Drasko Cosic, Ivan Loncarevic

With newly discovered UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has been shown to be about 70% more infectious and possibly 30% more deadly, there is a need to understand why mutations within this variant are so critical. Here, we have applied the Resonant Recognition Model (RRM) to computationally analyse six the most critical mutations within this UK variant and we have found that these mutations are significantly increasing RRM characteristics related to its viral activity. To test the approach, we have also applied the RRM to three the most critical mutations within the South African variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus and found that those mutations are increasing RRM characteristics related to viral activity, but not as much as UK variant. This is in complete agreement with known viral activities of these SARS-CoV-2 variants. Using the same approach, we have applied the RRM model to predict possible even more critical mutations, which probably have not yet occurred, but may lead to even more virulent mutants of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Both UK variant mutations, as well as RRM predicted mutations, have been presented within 3D structure of spike protein during the interaction with ACE2 receptor. It has been shown that all these mutations are in close proximity of interaction site between spike protein and ACE2 receptor.

UK Variant of SARS-CoV-2, South African Variant of SARS-CoV-2, Prediction of Functional Mutations, Resonant Recognition Model, COVID-19

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