Development of a PCR-RFLP method for detection of D614G mutation in SARS-CoV-2

• Published in: Infection, genetics and evolution genetics and evolution, 2020-12, Vol.86, p.104625-104625, Article 104625
• Main Authors: Hashemi, Seyed Ahmad, Khoshi, Amirhosein, Ghasemzadeh-moghaddam, Hamed, Ghafouri, Majid, Taghavi, Mohammadreza, Namdar-Ahmadabad, Hasan, Azimian, Amir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coronavirus; COVID-19 - virology; Humans; Mutation; Mutation - genetics; Polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length - genetics; Research Paper; Restriction fragment length polymorphism; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - genetics
• ISSN: 1567-1348; 1567-7257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104625

In late 2019, an outbreak of respiratory disease named COVID-19 started in the world. To date, thousands of cases of infection are reported worldwide. Most researchers focused on epidemiology and clinical features of COVID-19, and a small part of studies was performed to evaluate the genetic characteristics of this virus. Regarding the high price and low availability of sequencing techniques in developing countries, here we describe a rapid and inexpensive method for the detection of D614G mutation in SARS-CoV-2. Using bioinformatics databases and software, we designed the PCR-RFLP method for D614G mutation detection. We evaluated 144 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples isolated in six months in Northeastern Iran. Our results showed that the prevalent type is S-D in our isolates, and a small number of isolated belongs to the S-G type. Of 144 samples, 127 (88.2%) samples have belonged to type S-D, and 13 (9%) samples typed S-G. The first S-G type was detected on 2020 June 10. We have little information about the prevalence of D614G mutation, and it seems that the reason is the lack of cheap and fast methods. We hope that this method will provide more information on the prevalence and epidemiology of D614G mutations worldwide. •SARS-CoV-2 is the major viral pathogen today.•SARS-CoV-2 has mutations that lead to change in pathogenesis.•The D614G mutation lead to the change of infectivity.•We lack the rapid and inexpensive method for detection of this mutation.•We designed the rapid and inexpensive method for detection of this mutation.