Pangoline as a missing link for the Transmission of SARS-CoV-2?
There are various controversial theories about the emergence and Transmission of the Coronavirus. The results of a new study refute two such notions and suggest that anteater-like animals, called Pangoline, the missing link for the Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between bats and people seem to be.
In the current investigation of the University of Michigan, it was found that Pangoline are the missing link for the Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between bats and people. The results of the study were published in the English journal “Journal of Proteome Research”.
New study refutes earlier controversial statements
Two recent studies on the genome of the SARS-CoV-2-Coronavirus came to controversial conclusions: snakes are intermediate hosts of the new Virus, and a key protein of the Coronavirus Similarities with an HIV-1 Protein. The current study reflect both sets of these ideas.
False statements about Coronavirus
A recent study that analyzed the genome of the new Virus, suggested snakes as a host, although it is known that corona viruses infect only mammals, and birds. A related study analyzed the sequence of the so-called Spike Protein of the new Coronavirus and found unexpected Similarities with HIV-1. This brought rumors and conspiracy theories that the new Coronavirus could be produced in a laboratory. In the meantime, this was a pre-print manuscript to a scientific criticism, withdrew.
Connection between SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1?
In comparison to the previous studies, the researchers used the ends of larger data sets and newer, more accurate bioinformatic methods and databases to analyze SARS-CoV-2 genome. So they found that, in contrast to the claim that four regions of the Spike Protein are clearly divided between SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1, the four Sequence segments with other viruses, including the bat-Coronavirus, occur.
Researchers sought between host
For the control and treatment of the Virus it is important to understand how SARS-CoV-2 originates and how it spreads. Most researchers agree that bats are a natural Reservoir of coronaviruses, but it is an intermediate host would be required, so that it could skip from bats to humans.
What is the role of Pangoline play?
The results of the new study suggest that the scaly, anteater-like animals, which are referred to as Pangoline, shed, animals, or fir animals, cones, represent the missing link for the Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between bats and people.
Beat were excluded as Vectors
After an error was detected in the analysis of queues as an intermediate host, suggested that the Team was looking for from the fabric of Pangolinen isolated DNA and protein sequences to the SARS-CoV-2 are similar.
Pangoline most likely intermediate hosts for the Coronavirus
The research group identified the protein sequences in the lungs of sick animals, which were at 91 percent with the proteins of the human Virus are identical. In addition, the Receptor-binding domain of the Spike Protein from the Pangolin had Coronavirus only five amino acid differences of the SARS-CoV-2, compared with 19 Differences between the proteins of the human and the bat virus. This evidence suggests Pangoline as the most likely intermediate host for the new Coronavirus, but could be intermediate hosts possible, report the researchers. (as)
Also read: Coronavirus-conspiracy disproved: SARS-CoV-2 was not created in the laboratory.