Integrated bioinformatics analysis for the screening of hub genes and therapeutic drugs in severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 infection/COVID 19
Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections (COVID 19) is a progressive viral infection that has been investigated extensively. However, genetic features and molecular pathogenesis underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection remain unclear. Here we used bioinformatics to investigate the candidate genes associated in the molecular pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Expression profiling by high throughput sequencing (GSE149273) was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in remdesivir traded SARS-CoV-2 infection samples and non treated SARS-CoV-2 infection samples with an adjusted P-value < 0.05 and a |log fold change (FC)| > 1.3 were first identified by limma in R software package. Next, Pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of these DEGs was performed. Then, the hub genes were identified by the Network Analyzer plugin and the other bioinformatics approaches including protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, module analysis, target gene - miRNA regulatory network, and target gene - TF regulatory network construction was also performed. Finally, receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were for diagnostic values associated with hub genes. A total of 909 DEGs were identified, including 453 up regulated genes and 457 down regulated genes. As for the pathway and GO enrichment analysis, the up regulated genes were mainly linked with influenza A and defense response, whereas down regulated genes were mainly linked with Drug metabolism - cytochrome P450 and reproductive process. Additionally, 10 hub genes (VCAM1, IKBKE, STAT1, IL7R, ISG15, E2F1, ZBTB16, TFAP4, ATP6V1B1 and APBB1) were identified. ROC analysis showed that hub genes (CIITA, HSPA6, MYD88, SOCS3, TNFRSF10A, ADH1A, CACNA2D2, DUSP9, FMO5 and PDE1A) had good diagnostic values. In summary, the data may produce new insights regarding pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and treatment. Hub genes and candidate drugs may improve individualized diagnosis and therapy for SARS-CoV-2 infection in future.