Differential Tropism of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 in Bat Cells

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Dec;26(12):2961-2965. doi: 10.3201/eid2612.202308. Epub 2020 Jul 30.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 did not replicate efficiently in 13 bat cell lines, whereas severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus replicated efficiently in kidney cells of its ancestral host, the Rhinolophus sinicus bat, suggesting different evolutionary origins. Structural modeling showed that RBD/RsACE2 binding may contribute to the differential cellular tropism.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-related coronavirus; bat; coronavirus disease; origin; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; tropism; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • COVID-19
  • Chiroptera / virology
  • Humans
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / genetics
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / physiology
  • Pandemics
  • SARS-CoV-2 / genetics
  • SARS-CoV-2 / physiology*
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / genetics
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / physiology*
  • Viral Tropism / genetics*
  • Virus Replication