The high diversity of SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses in pangolins alerts potential ecological risks.
Zool Res
; 42(6): 834-844, 2021 11 18.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1515719
ABSTRACT
Understanding the zoonotic origin and evolution history of SARS-CoV-2 will provide critical insights for alerting and preventing future outbreaks. A significant gap remains for the possible role of pangolins as a reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 related coronaviruses (SC2r-CoVs). Here, we screened SC2r-CoVs in 172 samples from 163 pangolin individuals of four species, and detected positive signals in muscles of four Manis javanica and, for the first time, one M. pentadactyla. Phylogeographic analysis of pangolin mitochondrial DNA traced their origins from Southeast Asia. Using in-solution hybridization capture sequencing, we assembled a partial pangolin SC2r-CoV (pangolin-CoV) genome sequence of 22 895 bp (MP20) from the M. pentadactyla sample. Phylogenetic analyses revealed MP20 was very closely related to pangolin-CoVs that were identified in M. javanica seized by Guangxi Customs. A genetic contribution of bat coronavirus to pangolin-CoVs via recombination was indicated. Our analysis revealed that the genetic diversity of pangolin-CoVs is substantially higher than previously anticipated. Given the potential infectivity of pangolin-CoVs, the high genetic diversity of pangolin-CoVs alerts the ecological risk of zoonotic evolution and transmission of pathogenic SC2r-CoVs.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Evolution, Molecular
/
Pangolins
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Animals
Language:
English
Journal:
Zool Res
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.issn.2095-8137.2021.334
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