Progress in five coronaviruses with cross-species transmission potential

ABSTRACT

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a group of common viruses that can infect humans and pose a great threat to global public health. Mounting evidence has shown that seven zoonotic CoVs can infect human through cross-species transmission. These continuously occurring yet unpredictable events of CoVs repeatedly crossing species barriers have attracted special attention to CoVs and caused panic worldwide. It is generally believed that the spike (S) protein is the key factor determining the cross-species transmission and the invasion potential of CoVs. This review focused on the new-found coronaviruses with potential cross-species transmission capabilities, and summarized and analyzed the research progress in S protein-mediated viral invasion as well as the potential mechanisms, aiming to provide reference for developing effective prevention and control strategies against potential cross-species transmission of CoVs in the future.