Detection and Characterization of Bat Sarbecovirus Phylogenetically Related to SARS-CoV-2, Japan

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Dec;26(12):3025-3029. doi: 10.3201/eid2612.203386.

Abstract

Epidemiology of bat Betacoronavirus, subgenus Sarbecovirus is largely unknown, especially outside China. We detected a sarbecovirus phylogenetically related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 from Rhinolophus cornutus bats in Japan. The sarbecovirus' spike protein specifically recognizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 of R. cornutus, but not humans, as an entry receptor.

Keywords: COVID-19; Japan; Rhinolophus cornutus; SARS; SARS-CoV-2; bat sarbecovirus; betacoronavirus; coronavirus; coronavirus disease; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Betacoronavirus / genetics*
  • Betacoronavirus / physiology
  • Chiroptera / virology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / veterinary*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Phylogeny
  • SARS-CoV-2 / genetics
  • SARS-CoV-2 / physiology
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / genetics
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / metabolism
  • Virus Internalization

Substances

  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2