Prediction of SARS-CoV-2 hosts among Brazilian mammals and new coronavirus transmission chain using evolutionary bioinformatics

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and SARS-CoV-2 are thought to transmit to humans via wild mammals, especially bats. However, evidence for direct bat-to-human transmission is lacking. Involvement of intermediate hosts is considered a reason for SARS-CoV-2 transmission to humans and emergence of outbreak. Large biodiversity is found in tropical territories, such as Brazil. On the similar line, this study aimed to predict potential coronavirus hosts among Brazilian wild mammals based on angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) sequences using evolutionary bioinformatics. Cougar, maned wolf, and bush dogs were predicted as potential hosts for coronavirus. These indigenous carnivores are philogenetically closer to the known SARS-CoV/SARS-CoV-2 hosts and presented low ACE2 divergence. A new coronavirus transmission chain was developed in which white-tailed deer, a susceptible SARS-CoV-2 host, have the central position. Cougar play an important role because of its low divergent ACE2 level in deer and humans. The discovery of these potential coronavirus hosts will be useful for epidemiological surveillance and discovery of interventions that can contribute to break the transmission chain.

Evolutionary Analysis of Mammalian ACE2 and the Key Residues Involved in Binding to the Spike Protein Revealed Potential SARS-CoV-2 Hosts

“…Deer have a high population density and are kept as livestock [33]. Their ecological interactions place these animals at an important position in the SARS-CoV-2 transmission chain [34]. Interestingly, the present study showed that deer and bovids share identical ACE2 key residues (Fig.…”