Identifying SARS CoV 2 related coronaviruses in Malayan pangolins
The ongoing outbreak of viral pneumonia in China and across the world is associated with a new coronavirus, SARS CoV 2 1 This outbreak has been tentatively associated with a seafood market in Wuhan, China, where the sale of wild animals may be the source of zoonotic infection 2 Although bats are probable reservoir hosts for SARS CoV 2, the identity of any intermediate host that may have facilitated transfer to humans is unknown. Here we report the identification of SARS CoV 2 related coronaviruses in Malayan pangolins Manis javanica seized in anti smuggling operations in southern China. Metagenomic sequencing identified pangolin associated coronaviruses that belong to two sub lineages of SARS CoV 2 related coronaviruses, including one that exhibits strong similarity in the receptor binding domain to SARS CoV 2. The discovery of multiple lineages of pangolin coronavirus and their similarity to SARS CoV 2 suggests that pangolins should be considered as possible hosts in the emergence of new coronaviruses and should be removed from wet markets to prevent zoonotic transmission. SARS CoV 2 related coronaviruses are identified in Malayan pangolins Manis javanica these pangolin associated coronaviruses belonged to two sub lineages of SARS CoV 2 related coronaviruses, including one that exhibits strong similarity in the receptor binding domain to SARS CoV 2.
Nature