The report (Jan. 2020), re HIV and SARS-CoV-2
Uncanny similarity of unique inserts in the 2019-nCoV spike protein to HIV-1 gp120 and Gag
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.01.30.927871v1
ABSTRACT
We are currently witnessing a major epidemic caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The evolution of 2019-nCoV remains elusive. We found 4 insertions in the spike glycoprotein (S) which are unique to the 2019-nCoV and are not present in other coronaviruses. Importantly, amino acid residues in all the 4 inserts have identity or similarity to those in the HIV-1 gp120 or HIV-1 Gag.
Interestingly, despite the inserts being discontinuous on the primary amino acid sequence, 3D-modelling of the 2019-nCoV suggests that they converge to constitute the receptor binding site. The finding of 4 unique inserts in the 2019-nCoV, all of which have identity /similarity to amino acid residues in key structural proteins of HIV-1 is unlikely to be fortuitous in nature.
This work provides yet unknown insights on 2019-nCoV and sheds light on the evolution and pathogenicity of this virus with important implications for diagnosis of this virus.
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The report may be downloaded from:
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.01.30.927871v1.full.pdf
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There is now a “WITHDRAWN” watermark on the PDF file pages. That is in regard to criticsm - NOT of the HIV revelations in the report, but - of the report not yet being properly peer-reviewed. IMHO, that specific cause for criticsm, was ignored by too many academics and news media who used the gripe to convey instead, that “experts say” “nothing to see here.”
Bookmark to read later.