@inbook{320a86047467486e9c39384fdb4a53e5,
title = "The seasonal behaviour of COVID-19 and its galectin-like culprit of the viral spike",
abstract = "Seasonal behaviour is an attribute of many viral diseases. Like other {\textquoteleft}winter{\textquoteright} RNA viruses, infections caused by the causative agent of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, appear to exhibit significant seasonal changes. Here we discuss the seasonal behaviour of COVID-19, emerging viral phenotypes, viral evolution, and how the mutational landscape of the virus affects the seasonal attributes of the disease. We propose that the multiple seasonal drivers behind infectious disease spread (and the spread of COVID-19 specifically) are in {\textquoteleft}trade-off{\textquoteright} relationships and can be better described within a framework of a {\textquoteleft}triangle of viral persistence{\textquoteright} modulated by the environment, physiology, and behaviour. This {\textquoteleft}trade-off{\textquoteright} exists as one trait cannot increase without a decrease in another. We also propose that molecular components of the virus can act as sensors of environment and physiology, and could represent molecular culprits of seasonality. We searched for flexible protein structures capable of being modulated by the environment and identified a galectin-like fold within the N-terminal domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 as a potential candidate. Tracking the prevalence of mutations in this structure resulted in the identification of a hemisphere-dependent seasonal pattern driven by mutational bursts. We propose that the galectin-like structure is a frequent target of mutations because it helps the virus evade or modulate the physiological responses of the host to further its spread and survival. The flexible regions of the N-terminal domain should now become a focus for mitigation through vaccines and therapeutics and for prediction and informed public health decision making.",
keywords = "Epidemic calendar, Mutation, N-terminal domain, Proteome, SARS-CoV-2, Seasonality, Variants, COVID-19",
author = "Kelsey Caetano-Anoll{\'e}s and Nicolas Hernandez and Fizza Mughal and Tre Tomaszewski and Gustavo Caetano-Anoll{\'e}s",
note = "We dedicate this work to the frontline medical professionals who have been saving the life of others with limited protective equipment, selflessly, and at their own peril during an age of misinformation. COVID-19 research in the laboratory of G.C.-A. is supported by the Office of Research and Office of International Programs in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. We dedicate this work to the frontline medical professionals who have been saving the life of others with limited protective equipment, selflessly, and at their own peril during an age of misinformation. COVID-19 research in the laboratory of G.C.-A. is supported by the Office of Research and Office of International Programs in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The authors have no financial disclosures or conflicts of interests to disclose.",
year = "2022",
doi = "10.1016/bs.mim.2021.10.002",
language = "English (US)",
isbn = "9780323850612",
series = "Methods in Microbiology",
publisher = "Academic Press Inc.",
pages = "27--81",
editor = "Pavia, {Charles S} and Voker Gurtler",
booktitle = "Covid-19",
address = "United States",
}