Hossein Teimouri - Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Amirhosein Maali - Pasteur Institute of Iran

Introduction: Coronavirus infectious disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) is a viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus ۲ (SARS-CoV-۲). Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) can be detected by host pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) expressed in inherent immune cells. The polymorphisms in PRRs leads to different recognizing and immune responses against viral infections. Methods: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms of PRRs, minor allele frequency (MAF), and their geographical distribution were obtained from the Ensembl genome database. Interaction between the common polymorphic forms of PRRs (including TLR۳, TLR۷, RIG-۱, and MDA-۵) and SARS-CoV-۲ virus genome (dsRNA) were predicted using the hybrid protein-RNA docking algorithm HDOCK server. Also, the global distribution of common SNPs and their MAFs were statistically analyzed using SPSS, ver.۱۶. Results: The wild-type TLR۳ and TLR۳ SNP rs۷۳۸۷۳۷۱۰ had the same docking energy score (-۳۳۰.۴۸ kcal/mol), and had lower docking energy scores compared to the other two SNPs, rs۳۷۷۵۲۹۰ and rs۳۷۷۵۲۹۱ (-۳۰۱.۴۲ and -۲۹۵.۸۱ kcal/mol, respectively). TLR۷ SNP rs۱۷۹۰۰۸ had a higher docking energy score (-۴۲۳.۰۳ kcal/mol), comparing to the wild-type TLR۷ (-۴۴۵.۴۶ kcal/mol). Also, there was a statistically significant direct relationship between MAF of TLR۳ SNP rs۳۷۷۵۲۹۰ and rs۳۷۷۵۲۹۱ with SARS-CoV-۲ prevalence (P=۰.۰۲۱ and P=۰.۰۲۳, respectively) and prevalence/population ratio of COVID-۱۹ (P=۰.۰۲۶ and P<۰.۰۰۱, respectably). Conclusion: Wild-type TLR۳ and TLR۳ SNP rs۷۳۸۷۳۷۱۰ can recognize the SARS-CoV-۲ dsRNA genome through a better performance compared to TLR۳ SNP rs۳۷۷۵۲۹۰ and TLR۳ SNP rs۳۷۷۵۲۹۱. Therefore, our in-silico study established that PRRs SNPs are associated with antiviral responses against SARS-CoV-۲.

COVID-۱۹, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ۲, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Pathogen-Associated, Molecular Pattern Molecules