Distinct evolutionary trajectories of SARS-CoV-2 interacting proteins in bats and primates identify important host determinants of COVID-19
Authors: Cariou Marie , Picard Léa , Guéguen Laurent , Jacquet Stéphanie , Cimarelli Andrea , Fregoso Oliver I , Molaro Antoine , Navratil Vincent , Etienne Lucie 
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus that spilled from the bat reservoir. Despite numerous clinical trials and vaccines, the burden remains immense, and the host determinants of SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 severity remain largely unknown. Signatures of positive selection detected by comparative functional-genetic analyses in primate and bat genomes can uncover important and specific adaptations that occurred at virus-host interfaces. Here, we performed high-throughput evolutionary analyses of 334 SARS- CoV-2 interacting proteins to identify SARS-CoV adaptive loci and uncover functional differences between modern humans, primates and bats. Using DGINN (Detection of Genetic INNovation), we identified 38 bat and 81 primate proteins with marks of positive selection. Seventeen genes, including the ACE2 receptor, present adaptive marks in both mammalian orders, suggesting common virus-host interfaces and past epidemics of coronaviruses shaping their genomes. Yet, 84 genes presented distinct adaptations in bats and primates. Notably, residues involved in ubiquitination and phosphorylation of the inflammatory RIPK1 have rapidly evolved in bats but not primates, suggesting different inflammation regulation versus humans. Furthermore, we discovered residues with typical virus-host arms-race marks in primates, such as in the entry factor TMPRSS2 or the autophagy adaptor FYCO1, pointing to host-specific in vivo important interfaces that may be drug targets. Finally, we found that FYCO1 sites under adaptation in primates are those associated with severe COVID-19, supporting their importance in pathogenesis and replication. Overall, we identified functional adaptations involved in SARS- CoV-2 infection in bats and primates, critically enlightening modern genetic determinants of virus susceptibility and severity.

Key findings:

Evolutionary history of 334 SARS-CoV-2 interacting proteins (VIPs) in bats and primates identifying how the past has shaped modern viral reservoirs and humans – results publicly-available in an online resource.

Identification of 81 primate and 38 bat VIPs with signatures of adaptive evolution. The common ones among species delineate a core adaptive interactome, while the ones displaying distinct evolutionary trajectories enlighten host lineage-specific determinants.

Evidence of primate specific adaptation of the entry factor TMPRSS2 pointing to its host- specific in vivo importance and predicting molecular interfaces.

FYCO1 sites associated with severe COVID-19 in human (GWAS) display hallmarks of ancient adaptive evolution in primates, highlighting its importance in SARS-CoV-2 replication or pathogenesis and differences with the bat reservoir.

Identification of adaptive evolution in the bat’s multifunctional RIPK1 at residues that may differentially regulate inflammation.