Genetic innovation in coronaviruses driven by a viral nuclease
Christopher Bianco, Alex Stabell, Manivel Lodha, Miranda Aldis, Michael A. Tartell, Théodora Hatziioannou, Paul D. Bieniasz
This study shows that the coronavirus nuclease NSP15 drives insertion mutations, which can enhance viral transmissibility, as seen in the SARS-CoV-2 furin cleavage site.
bioRxiv · Aug 19, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology