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Updated: Dec 7, 2025

Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection in K18 hACE2 Transgenic Mice Using Reporter-Expressing Recombinant SARS-CoV-2
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Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection in K18 hACE2 Transgenic Mice Using Reporter-Expressing Recombinant SARS-CoV-2

Published on: November 5, 2021

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SARS-CoV-2: Zoonotic origin of pandemic coronavirus

S Vilcek

    Acta Virologica
    |September 28, 2020
    PubMed

    Insights

    The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 genome suggests a natural evolutionary origin from bat and pangolin coronaviruses, not a recombinant virus.

    Area of Science:

    • Virology
    • Genomics

    Background:

    • The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, emerged in late 2019.
    • SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus responsible for a severe, deadly pneumonia.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the origin and genomic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2.
    • To understand the evolutionary pathways leading to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2.

    Main Methods:

    • Genomic analysis of the SARS-CoV-2.
    • Comparative analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genome with other coronaviruses, including bat and pangolin strains.

    Main Results:

    • SARS-CoV-2 possesses unique features in its S protein, including the receptor binding domain (RBD) and a furin-like cleavage site.
    • Genomic analysis suggests a natural evolutionary origin, potentially involving recombination between bat and pangolin coronaviruses.
    • Recent analyses indicate SARS-CoV-2 is not a recombinant virus.

    Conclusions:

    • The specific genomic features of SARS-CoV-2, particularly in the S gene, are crucial for its pathogenicity.
    • The origin of SARS-CoV-2 is likely zoonotic, resulting from natural evolution and interspecies transmission.
    • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the evolutionary trajectory of SARS-CoV-2.

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