Evolutionary dynamics of the glycoprotein (gp) gene of Zaire Ebolavirus strains and its implications across Africa

Twenty seven viral sequences were acquired from the National Center for Biotechnology Information GenBank (NCBI GenBank) and analyzed them using multiple alignments with the Fast Fourier Transform (MAFFT), and Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA) programs. The purpose of this study was to examine the genetic variation in the glycoprotein (gp) gene among Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) strains. We identified 347 mutations with a high single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) frequency at positions 2008, 2038, 2221, 2267, and 2271. Positions 2221 and 2038 showed particularly high frequencies. All four regions displayed nucleotide conservation, some parts of the gp gene are quite stable (382 - 2522), while other parts are rapidly evolving, possibly resulting in virus neutralization by antibodies. Nucleotide changes in closely related strains, Yembelengoye (AY526103.1) and Entsiami (AY526102.1), as well as Mayibout (HQ849547.1) and Mvoula (AY526104.1). This suggests that the virus population is adapting to different geographical regions. There is a need for continuous monitoring of virus evolutionary trends, expanding genomic analysis to include diverse viral genes related to replication and pathogenicity, and monitoring genetic changes globally.