- The new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is a product of various coronaviruses that recombine in animal species.
- A new study suggests that hundreds of animal species may contain several types of coronaviruses, meaning that recombination events may be more likely than previously thought.
- The authors noted that their results may help improve surveillance programs to reduce the risks associated with a future new coronavirus.
A new study highlights hundreds of mammalian species that can contract multiple coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, and thus become the source of new coronaviruses. Published in Nature Communications, the research suggests that new coronaviruses can be found in many more animal species than scientists have so far observed.
Coronaviruses consist of a large family of viruses. Humans are known to contract only seven coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, all of which can cause serious illness or death. But coronaviruses can spread more widely in the animal kingdom, in which scientists have identified hundreds of unique strains.
Some animals can become infected with multiple coronaviruses simultaneously. When this happens, genes from different viruses can combine and repeat, creating a new coronavirus. This natural process is called recombination, and it produced SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
So, in which animal species can the next new coronavirus arise through recombination?
Wardeh et al.
Predicted hosts are grouped in order (inner circle). Middle circle indicates probability of association between host and SARS-CoV-2 (gray scale indicates predicted associations with probability within range> 0.5 to ≤0.75. Red scale indicates predicted associations with probability within range> 0.75 to <0.9821. Blue to purple scale present indicates associations with probability ≥ 0.9821). Yellow bars represent number of coronaviruses (species or strains) observed to be found in each host. Blue stacked bars represent other coronaviruses predicted to be found in each host by our model. Predicted coronaviruses per host are grouped by prediction probability into three categories (from inside to outside): ≥0.9821, >0.75 to <0.9821 and >0.5 to ≤0.75.
To answer this, the researchers behind the recent study created a computer model to predict which species are most at risk of being “reservoirs” for coronavirus. Using data from GenBank, a database of the National Institutes of Health, the team compared 411 coronaviruses with 876 mammalian species known to contract coronaviruses.
The model predicted that each coronavirus species could infect, on average, more than 12 species of mammalian hosts. Meanwhile, the results suggested that each mammalian host could contract about five different types of coronavirus.
In terms of recombination, some mammal species pose excessive threats. The study noted that the domestic pig is at high risk because there are many different coronaviruses.
“Given the large number of predicted virus associations presented here, the pig’s close association with humans, the known reservoir status for many other zoonotic viruses, and its involvement in genetic recombination of some of these viruses, the pig is predicted to be one of the leading candidates an important recombination host, ‘the authors wrote.
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The study also identified species in which SARS-CoV-2 could combine with other coronaviruses. These include the lesser Asian yellow bat, the common hedgehog, the European rabbit, chimpanzees, the African green monkey and domestic cats (which are already known to contract SARS-CoV-2, although there is no evidence that cats or other pets the new coronavirus for humans).
Also on the list was the dromedary camel, a “well-known host of multiple coronaviruses and the primary way to transmit MERS-CoV to humans.” This would be of particular concern if MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 recombine, as the former is very deadly and the latter is highly contagious.
Improved surveillance programs
Nevertheless, many factors must match to fuse coronaviruses and generate a new coronavirus, and just because an animal is vulnerable to multiple viruses, does not mean that the viruses will reconnect. But the team behind the study noted that scientists are likely to underestimate the number of animals that can generate new coronaviruses, and that the results could help inform surveillance programs for endangered species.
“Such information can help provide prevention and mitigation strategies and provide an important early warning system for future new coronaviruses,” the authors wrote.
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