RETRACTED: Canine Morbillivirus from Colombian Lineage Exhibits In Silico and In Vitro Potential to Infect Human Cells

Abstract

Canine morbillivirus (CDV) is a viral agent that infects domestic dogs and a vast array of wildlife species. It belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family, genus Morbillivirus, which is shared with the Measles virus (MeV). Both viruses employ orthologous cellular receptors, SLAM in mononuclear cells and Nectin-4 in epithelial cells, to enter the cells. Although CDV and MeV hemagglutinin (H) have similar functions in viral pathogenesis and cell tropism, the potential interaction of CDV-H protein with human cellular receptors is still uncertain. Considering that CDV is classified as a multi-host pathogen, the potential risk of CDV transmission to humans has not been fully discarded. In this study, we aimed to evaluate both in silico and in vitro, whether there is a cross-species transmission potential from CDV to humans. To accomplish this, the CDV-H protein belonging to the Colombian lineage was modelled. After model validations, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were carried out between Colombian CDV-H protein and canine and human cellular receptors to determine different aspects of the protein–protein interactions. Moreover, cell lines expressing orthologous cellular receptors, with both reference and wild-type CDV strains, were conducted to determine the CDV cross-species transmission potential from an in vitro model. This in silico and in vitro approach suggests the possibility that CDV interacts with ortholog human SLAM (hSLAM) and human Nectin-4 receptors to infect human cell lines, which could imply a potential cross-species transmission of CDV from dogs to humans.

Reconstruction of the Evolutionary Origin, Phylodynamics, and Phylogeography of the Porcine Circovirus Type 3

“…Malaysia has many tropical rainforests, and there are many animals in these rainforests, including bats and birds. In tropical rainforests, the boundaries between wild and domestic animals are unclear, and there are often various contacts among different animals, which increases the risk of transmission among different species ( Rendon-Marin et al, 2021 ). Therefore, researchers need to pay more attention to tropical or subtropical rainforest areas in future epidemic studies.…”

Morbillivirus: A highly adaptable viral genus

“…CDV infection is known to occur in urban, rural, wildlife and aquatic environments worldwide [ 7 , 50 ]. The broad host range of CDV includes at least eight orders and over 20 families of mammals which are known to be susceptible to infection with CDV [ 51 , 52 ]. CDV may be unique among the morbilliviruses as it appears that individual host species living in low density populations can sustain the virus [ 6 ].…”

“…The ability of CDV to infect a wide range of dog and non-dog species worldwide suggests that it is a potential conservation threat to endangered wildlife and a potential zoonotic threat to humans, especially following MeV eradication and complete withdrawal of MeV vaccination [[ 10 , 51 , 54 , 55 ], reviewed in Refs. [ 47 , 52 ]]. A recent in silico and in vitro examination of the cross-species transmission potential of this multi-host pathogen demonstrated, based on H protein interaction with cellular receptors, that there is cause for concern that CDV (specifically the Colombian strain) may be transmitted from dogs to humans [ 52 ].…”

Measles in non‐human primates

“…69 However, data from in silico and in vitro studies provide evidence of the potential for CDV to infect human cells. 71 Thus, vaccination against MeV also allows us to control zoonotic morbillivirus infections in NHPs and humans. 72 It should be noted that not only does the MeV vaccine protect against CDV, but the CDV vaccine can also protect against measles.…”

“…NHP susceptibility to CDV indicates the potential for cross‐species transmission of this virus to humans, which appears to be limited by cross‐specific immunity to CDV in the human population 69 . However, data from in silico and in vitro studies provide evidence of the potential for CDV to infect human cells 71 . Thus, vaccination against MeV also allows us to control zoonotic morbillivirus infections in NHPs and humans 72 …”