TY - JOUR
T1 - Urgent Need for Field Surveys of Coronaviruses in Southeast Asia to Understand the SARS-CoV-2 Phylogeny and Risk Assessment for Future Outbreaks
AU - Seyran, Murat
AU - Hassan, Sk. Sarif
AU - Uversky, Vladimir N.
AU - Pal Choudhury, Pabitra
AU - Uhal, Bruce D.
AU - Lundstrom, Kenneth
AU - Attrish, Diksha
AU - Rezaei, Nima
AU - Aljabali, Alaa A. A.
AU - Ghosh, Shinjini
AU - Pizzol, Damiano
AU - Adadi, Parise
AU - El-aziz, Tarek Mohamed Abd
AU - Kandimalla, Ramesh
AU - Tambuwala, Murtaza M.
AU - Lal, Amos
AU - Azad, Gajendra Kumar
AU - Sherchan, Samendra P.
AU - Baetas-da-cruz, Wagner
AU - Palù, Giorgio
AU - Brufsky, Adam M.
PY - 2021/3/9
Y1 - 2021/3/9
N2 - Phylogenetic analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is focused on a single isolate of bat coronaviruses (bat CoVs) which does not adequately represent genetically related coronaviruses (CoVs). The unique bat CoV RaTG13 is the only identified sequence genetically associated with SARS-CoV-2. Data scarcity of bat CoV sequences raises concerns over several fundamental experimental and biostatistical aspects, e.g., repeatability of sequences and intraspecies variations in critical gene regions, such as the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein. The Sunda pangolin has been proposed as the intermediate host and source of SARS-CoV-2, but no pangolin CoV isolates have been reported in its habitats in Southeast Asia. Most pangolin CoVs were isolated from pangolins captured during illegal animal trafficking, raising questions about such isolates’ reliability and quality. Problems with pangolin CoV sampling are also related to the substandard quality of deposited sequences. There is an urgent need for field surveys of bat CoVs and possible intermediate hosts, such as pangolins, ferrets, and civets, in Southeast Asia to investigate the genomic source of SARS-CoV-2 and assess possible future risks for new outbreaks.
AB - Phylogenetic analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is focused on a single isolate of bat coronaviruses (bat CoVs) which does not adequately represent genetically related coronaviruses (CoVs). The unique bat CoV RaTG13 is the only identified sequence genetically associated with SARS-CoV-2. Data scarcity of bat CoV sequences raises concerns over several fundamental experimental and biostatistical aspects, e.g., repeatability of sequences and intraspecies variations in critical gene regions, such as the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein. The Sunda pangolin has been proposed as the intermediate host and source of SARS-CoV-2, but no pangolin CoV isolates have been reported in its habitats in Southeast Asia. Most pangolin CoVs were isolated from pangolins captured during illegal animal trafficking, raising questions about such isolates’ reliability and quality. Problems with pangolin CoV sampling are also related to the substandard quality of deposited sequences. There is an urgent need for field surveys of bat CoVs and possible intermediate hosts, such as pangolins, ferrets, and civets, in Southeast Asia to investigate the genomic source of SARS-CoV-2 and assess possible future risks for new outbreaks.
U2 - 10.3390/biom11030398
DO - 10.3390/biom11030398
M3 - Article
C2 - 33803118
VL - 11
JO - Biomolecules
JF - Biomolecules
SN - 2218-273X
IS - 3
M1 - 398
ER -