Elsevier

Microbes and Infection

Volume 22, Issues 4–5, May–June 2020, Pages 221-225
Microbes and Infection

Short communication
Predicting the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) utilizing capability as the receptor of SARS-CoV-2

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micinf.2020.03.003Get rights and content
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Abstract

SARS-CoV-2, the newly identified human coronavirus causing severe pneumonia pandemic, was probably originated from Chinese horseshoe bats. However, direct transmission of the virus from bats to humans is unlikely due to lack of direct contact, implying the existence of unknown intermediate hosts. Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the receptor of SARS-CoV-2, but only ACE2s of certain species can be utilized by SARS-CoV-2. Here, we evaluated and ranked the receptor-utilizing capability of ACE2s from various species by phylogenetic clustering and sequence alignment with the currently known ACE2s utilized by SARS-CoV-2. As a result, we predicted that SARS-CoV-2 tends to utilize ACE2s of various mammals, except murines, and some birds, such as pigeon. This prediction may help to screen the intermediate hosts of SARS-CoV-2.

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2
Coronavirus
Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)
Receptor utilization
Phylogenetic analysis

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These authors contributed equally to this work.