Analysis and forecasting of global real time RT-PCR primers and probes for SARS-CoV-2
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Abstract
Rapid tests for active SARS-CoV-2 infections rely on reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RT-PCR uses reverse transcription of RNA into complementary DNA (cDNA) and amplification of specific DNA (primer and probe) targets using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The technology makes rapid and specific identification of the virus possible based on sequence homology of nucleic acid sequence and is much faster than tissue culture or animal cell models. However the technique can lose sensitivity over time as the virus evolves and the target sequences diverge from the selective primer sequences. Different primer sequences have been adopted in different geographic regions. As we rely on these existing RT-PCR primers to track and manage the spread of the Coronavirus, it is imperative to understand how SARS-CoV-2 mutations, over time and geographically, diverge from existing primers used today. In this study, we analyze the performance of the SARS-CoV-2 primers in use today by measuring the number of mismatches between primer sequence and genome targets over time and spatially. We find that there is a growing number of mismatches, an increase by 2% per month, as well as a high specificity of virus based on geographic location.
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SciScore for 10.1101/2020.12.26.424429: (What is this?)
Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.
Table 1: Rigor
NIH rigor criteria are not applicable to paper type.Table 2: Resources
Software and Algorithms Sentences Resources Specifically, we used BLASTN with parameters similar to Primer-BLAST16. BLASTNsuggested: (BLASTN, RRID:SCR_001598)The BLAST results are then parsed, ensuring that the forward, reverse, and probe sequences match a given genome and that the probe sequence is matched spatially in the forward and reverse directions on the genome, and the number of mismatches is aggregated for each PCR sequence and genome. BLASTsuggested: (BLASTX, RRID:SCR_001653)Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nat…
SciScore for 10.1101/2020.12.26.424429: (What is this?)
Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.
Table 1: Rigor
NIH rigor criteria are not applicable to paper type.Table 2: Resources
Software and Algorithms Sentences Resources Specifically, we used BLASTN with parameters similar to Primer-BLAST16. BLASTNsuggested: (BLASTN, RRID:SCR_001598)The BLAST results are then parsed, ensuring that the forward, reverse, and probe sequences match a given genome and that the probe sequence is matched spatially in the forward and reverse directions on the genome, and the number of mismatches is aggregated for each PCR sequence and genome. BLASTsuggested: (BLASTX, RRID:SCR_001653)Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).
Results from LimitationRecognizer: An explicit section about the limitations of the techniques employed in this study was not found. We encourage authors to address study limitations.Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.
Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.
Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.
Results from rtransparent:- Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
- No funding statement was detected.
- No protocol registration statement was detected.
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