Evolutionary Analysis of Mammalian ACE2 and the Key Residues Involved in Binding to the Spike Protein Revealed Potential SARS-CoV-2 Hosts

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV- 2) spilled over to humans via wild mammals, entering the host cell using angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as receptor through Spike (S) protein binding. While SARS-CoV-2 became fully adapted to humans and globally spr...

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Main Authors: Luciano Rodrigo Lopes1, Natália Carvalho de Lucca Pina1, Antonio Carlos da Silva Junior1, Paulo- Bandiera Paiva1
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pasteur Institute of Iran 2022-03-01
Series:Journal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-436-en.html
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author Luciano Rodrigo Lopes1
Natália Carvalho de Lucca Pina1
Antonio Carlos da Silva Junior1
Paulo- Bandiera Paiva1
author_facet Luciano Rodrigo Lopes1
Natália Carvalho de Lucca Pina1
Antonio Carlos da Silva Junior1
Paulo- Bandiera Paiva1
author_sort Luciano Rodrigo Lopes1
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV- 2) spilled over to humans via wild mammals, entering the host cell using angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as receptor through Spike (S) protein binding. While SARS-CoV-2 became fully adapted to humans and globally spread, some mammal species were infected back. The present study evaluated the potential risk of mammals becoming hosts for SARS-CoV-2 through bioinformatics prediction based on ACE2 receptors. Methods: We used evolutionary bioinformatic approaches and comparative analysis of ACE2 critical residues that bind SARS-CoV-2 S-protein and predicted potential SARS-CoV-2 hosts among mammals and assessed their risk. Results: ACE2 phylogenetic tree placed primates close to rodents and rabbits. Felines, rodents, and rabbits had higher ACE2 similarities than human ACE2 (hACE2). Farmed animals, such as bovids, swine, and equids, had similar ACE2 compared to hACE2; however, these animals showed low SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility. Some cetaceans also presented high similarities in ACE2 key residues with hACE2. Conclusion: Here, we showed wild and domestic mammals with a low divergence of ACE2 compared to humans, discussing their possible chance of being infected, especially those animals kept as livestock or pets. Regarding the feasible transmission through contaminated water, cetaceans can be at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Extensive surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 should be applied to prevent new coronavirus outbreaks and preserve mammals from infectious threats.
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spelling doaj-art-612a7cb0326040f8b142780b760c4e192025-08-20T02:57:08ZengPasteur Institute of IranJournal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases2345-53492345-53302022-03-011011910.52547/JoMMID.10.1.1Evolutionary Analysis of Mammalian ACE2 and the Key Residues Involved in Binding to the Spike Protein Revealed Potential SARS-CoV-2 HostsLuciano Rodrigo Lopes10https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0284-2821Natália Carvalho de Lucca Pina11Antonio Carlos da Silva Junior12https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6316-8711Paulo- Bandiera Paiva13https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9409-39701Bioinformatics and Bio-Data Science Division, Health Informatics Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.1Bioinformatics and Bio-Data Science Division, Health Informatics Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.1Bioinformatics and Bio-Data Science Division, Health Informatics Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.1Bioinformatics and Bio-Data Science Division, Health Informatics Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV- 2) spilled over to humans via wild mammals, entering the host cell using angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as receptor through Spike (S) protein binding. While SARS-CoV-2 became fully adapted to humans and globally spread, some mammal species were infected back. The present study evaluated the potential risk of mammals becoming hosts for SARS-CoV-2 through bioinformatics prediction based on ACE2 receptors. Methods: We used evolutionary bioinformatic approaches and comparative analysis of ACE2 critical residues that bind SARS-CoV-2 S-protein and predicted potential SARS-CoV-2 hosts among mammals and assessed their risk. Results: ACE2 phylogenetic tree placed primates close to rodents and rabbits. Felines, rodents, and rabbits had higher ACE2 similarities than human ACE2 (hACE2). Farmed animals, such as bovids, swine, and equids, had similar ACE2 compared to hACE2; however, these animals showed low SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility. Some cetaceans also presented high similarities in ACE2 key residues with hACE2. Conclusion: Here, we showed wild and domestic mammals with a low divergence of ACE2 compared to humans, discussing their possible chance of being infected, especially those animals kept as livestock or pets. Regarding the feasible transmission through contaminated water, cetaceans can be at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Extensive surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 should be applied to prevent new coronavirus outbreaks and preserve mammals from infectious threats.https://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-436-en.htmlsars-cov-2coronavirusace2mammalswildlife
spellingShingle Luciano Rodrigo Lopes1
Natália Carvalho de Lucca Pina1
Antonio Carlos da Silva Junior1
Paulo- Bandiera Paiva1
Evolutionary Analysis of Mammalian ACE2 and the Key Residues Involved in Binding to the Spike Protein Revealed Potential SARS-CoV-2 Hosts
Journal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
sars-cov-2
coronavirus
ace2
mammals
wildlife
title Evolutionary Analysis of Mammalian ACE2 and the Key Residues Involved in Binding to the Spike Protein Revealed Potential SARS-CoV-2 Hosts
title_full Evolutionary Analysis of Mammalian ACE2 and the Key Residues Involved in Binding to the Spike Protein Revealed Potential SARS-CoV-2 Hosts
title_fullStr Evolutionary Analysis of Mammalian ACE2 and the Key Residues Involved in Binding to the Spike Protein Revealed Potential SARS-CoV-2 Hosts
title_full_unstemmed Evolutionary Analysis of Mammalian ACE2 and the Key Residues Involved in Binding to the Spike Protein Revealed Potential SARS-CoV-2 Hosts
title_short Evolutionary Analysis of Mammalian ACE2 and the Key Residues Involved in Binding to the Spike Protein Revealed Potential SARS-CoV-2 Hosts
title_sort evolutionary analysis of mammalian ace2 and the key residues involved in binding to the spike protein revealed potential sars cov 2 hosts
topic sars-cov-2
coronavirus
ace2
mammals
wildlife
url https://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-436-en.html
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