Genetic Variations of SARS-COV-2: Distribution of Variants and Mutations in the N Gene

The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) gene is the most frequently mutated gene after the spike gene. This research aims to analyze the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 and nucleotide variations of the N gene in the SARS-CoV-2 variant found in West Sumatra. We analyzed 268 genome sequences of SARS-COV-2 at the start of the pandemic from April 2020 to March 2022 and compared them with NC45512. The range consists of three waves: the first, second, and third waves, all of which are dominated by the B.1.466.2 lineage. Distribution lineage found 20 lineages, with the majority being B.1.466.2 (31.72%), a local variant. The delta variant is 19.20% divided into two lineages, AY.23 and AY24, and the Omicron variant is 14.18%. In this study, we found unique mutations in the N gene where the B.1.466.2 variant can be seen with the T205I amino acid change and Delta with the D64G, R203M, and G215C amino acid changes; omicron variant with amino acid changes P13L, DEL 31/33, R203K, and G204R. Conclusion: We conclude that there are nucleotide variations in the West Sumatra SARS-CoV-2 N gene. Keywords: SARS CoV-2, nucleocapsid gene, mutation variant B.1.466.2, delta, omicron