Bioinformatic analysis and identification of single-stranded RNA sequences recognized by TLR7/8 in the SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV genomes

Microbes Infect. 2020 May-Jun;22(4-5):226-229. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2020.04.009. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Abstract

During virus infection, host toll-like receptors (TLRs) can recognize different pathogen-associated molecular patterns and trigger the innate immune response. TLR7/8 can identify the single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) of the virus. This study aimed to search ssRNA sequences recognized by TLR7/8 from the SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV whole genomes by a bioinformatic technique. The immunoinformatic approach showed that the SARS-CoV-2 genome has more ssRNA fragments that could be recognized by TLR7/8 than the SARS-CoV genome. These findings suggest innate immune hyperactivation by SARS-CoV-2. This activity is possibly able to provoke a robust proinflammatory response via TLR7/8 recognition and cause acute lung injury.

Keywords: MERS; SARS; SARS-CoV-2; TLR7; TLR8.

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus / physiology*
  • COVID-19
  • Computational Biology
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology*
  • Genome, Viral
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / physiology*
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / physiology*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / physiology*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 8 / physiology*
  • Virus Attachment

Substances

  • TLR7 protein, human
  • TLR8 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7
  • Toll-Like Receptor 8