As the coronavirus has spread worldwide, there are numerous conspiracy theories and misinformation taking place around world. Back in February, an extensively shared article claimed that “coronavirus may have leaked from a lab.” It was claimed that the virus might have escaped from one of the China’s bioweapon labs in Wuhan. This theory is now discredited.
According to recent research, it is proven that the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 responsible for the covid-19 comes from natural origin. Researchers also shed some light on kinds of origin.
According to the study published in the Natural Medicine Journal, researchers have traced the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and compared it with other coronaviruses to divulge that it is the product of natural evolution and not engineered in the lab.
Study author Kristian Andersen, P.H.D (an associate professor of immunology and microbiology at Scripps Research) stated that :
“By estimating and evaluating the available genome sequence data, we can firmly say that SAR-CoV-2 arises through natural processes.”
The researchers got the most evident clues from the molecular structure of SARS-CoV-2.
They observe the distinct ‘backbone’ in novel coronavirus, which hasn’t been found in previously studied coronaviruses. It possesses a different structure that resembles viruses found in bats and pangolins.
Novel coronavirus used the “lock and key” domain to bind the receptors of host cells; it contains spike protein that has a great ability to target receptors on human cells regulating blood pressure. Its strong effectiveness clearly shows that it is a product of natural origin and not obtained from genetic engineering.
These two features of the virus, the mutations in the RBD portion of the spike protein and its distinct backbone, rule out laboratory manipulation as a potential origin for SARS-CoV-2,” stated Andersen.
Genomic sequencing analysis also showed a few possibilities.
One of the possible outcomes is that the infection might have transmitted from animals to humans; the virus might have originated to its pathogenic state and jumped to humans. Another likely scenario can be a harmless version of a virus has transmitted from animal to human, then evolved into a pathogenic state within the human population. This theory also suggests a possibility of another pathogenic strain of the virus that could make the second leap into humans.
For now, it is not possible to assure which scenario is most appropriate, scientists are keen to find other facts and possibilities to understand and predict future outbreaks.
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