%0 Journal Article
%T Is Gain of Function a Reliable Tool for Establishing Sars-Cov-2 Origin?
%A Giovanni Di Guardo
%J Advances in Microbiology
%P 103-108
%@ 2165-3410
%D 2022
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/aim.2022.123009
%X The present opinion article, while dealing with the debated origin of ¡°Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2¡± (SARS-CoV-2), the betacoronavirus responsible for ¡°Corona Virus Disease-2019¡± (COVID-19), provides a speculative insight into the so-called ¡°gain of function¡± (GOF), a process resulting in the acquirement of new phenotypic features on behalf of the viral pathogen. More in detail, a GOF-related phenomenon leading to increased SARS-CoV-2 virulence and/or transmissibility¡ªas clearly exemplified by the ¡°delta¡± and the ¡°omicron¡± as well as by other ¡°variants of concern¡±¡ªwould not necessarily imply that viral genetic manipulations made in the laboratory are its exclusive drivers, provided that GOF may also occur as a consequence of a natural selection process. In order to gain a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 GOF and GOF-associated phenomena, an in-depth knowledge of the complex viral-host interaction dynamics is absolutely needed, while also paying special attention to the human-animal-viral ecological interfaces within an ¡°ad hoc¡± multidisciplinary, ¡°holistic¡±, scientific evidence-based and ¡°One Health¡±-based approach.
%K SARS-CoV-2
%K COVID-19
%K Gain of Function
%K Viral Evolutionary Phylogeny
%K Viral Host Range
%K Viral Spillover
%K Viral Spillback
%K One Health
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=115958