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Prediction of HIV-1 Coreceptor Usage Tropism by Sequence Analysis using a Genotypic Approach
Published on: December 1, 2011
Prediction of SARS-CoV-2 hosts among Brazilian mammals and new coronavirus transmission chain using evolutionary
Luciano Rodrigo Lopes1, Giancarlo de Mattos Cardillo2, Natália Carvalho de Lucca Pina1
1Bioinformatics and Bio-Data Science Division - Health Informatics Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, Rua Botucatu 862 - Prédio Leal Prado (térreo), CEP: 04023-062, Sao Paulo [SP], SP Brasil.
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.
Supplementary Information:
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s44149-021-00020-w.
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