Decoding the Host Adaptation of the Mayaro Virus Through Codon Usage Studies

Abstract

The Mayaro virus (MAYV), an arbovirus within the Alphavirus genus, is a significant public health concern in tropical regions, particularly in Latin America. This study explores the codon usage patterns of MAYV to uncover its adaptive strategies, host interactions, and evolutionary dynamics. By analyzing 64 complete MAYV genome sequences, this research reveals a striking alignment between the virus's codon usage and the human tRNA pool, indicating a strong adaptation to the host's translational machinery. The Codon Adaptation Index (CAI) value of 0.72914 and the low Similarity Index (SiD) underscore the virus's optimization for efficient protein synthesis in human cells. Nucleotide composition and relative dinucleotide abundance analyses highlight key preferences, such as the over-representation of CpU and UpG dinucleotides and the under-representation of CpG, which may serve as an immune evasion strategy. The GC3-ENC and neutrality plot analyses suggest that translational selection pressure plays a more significant role than compositional constraints in shaping MAYV's codon usage patterns. This study provides crucial insights into the evolutionary dynamics of MAYV and its adaptation to human hosts. These findings contribute to the understanding of viral genomics and offer transformative solutions for combating MAYV.