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Literature detail

Metagenomic identification of a new sarbecovirus from horseshoe bats in Europe.

Jack M Crook1,2 Ivana Murphy3 Daniel P Carter1 Steven T Pullan1 Miles Carroll1,4 Richard Vipond1 Andrew A Cunningham5 Diana Bell3
Affiliations 5 institutions
  1. National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK.
  2. NIHR Health Protection Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7TX, UK.
  3. Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
  4. Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.
  5. Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, NW1 4RY, UK. [email protected].
PMID 34282196 2021 Sci Rep eng epublish
PubMed DOI Browse context

Article

Publication summary

The source of the COVID-19 pandemic is unknown, but the natural host of the progenitor sarbecovirus is thought to be Asian horseshoe (rhinolophid) bats. We identified and sequenced a novel sarbecovirus (RhGB01) from a British horseshoe bat, at the western extreme of the rhinolophid range. Our results extend both the geographic and species ranges of sarbecoviruses and suggest their presence throughout the horseshoe bat distribution. Within the spike protein receptor binding domain, but excluding the receptor binding motif, RhGB01 has a 77% (SARS-CoV-2) and 81% (SARS-CoV) amino acid homology. While apparently lacking hACE2 binding ability, and hence unlikely to be zoonotic without mutation, RhGB01 presents opportunity for SARS-CoV-2 and other sarbecovirus homologous recombination. Our findings highlight that the natural distribution of sarbecoviruses and opportunities for recombination through intermediate host co-infection are underestimated. Preventing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to bats is critical with the current global mass vaccination campaign against this virus.

Amino Acid Sequence Animals Betacoronavirus Chiroptera Europe Genome, Viral Metagenomics Phylogeny SARS-CoV-2 Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus

Structured evidence records

Evidence records

4 total
Genomic Evolution 1 records
Genomic Evolution Extraction confidence 0.90
Key finding

Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the newly identified sarbecovirus RhGB01 from a British horseshoe bat is closely related to SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, extending the known evolutionary and geographic range of sarbecoviruses.

Virus
SARSr-CoV
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

We identified and sequenced a novel sarbecovirus (RhGB01) from a British horseshoe bat, at the western extreme of the rhinolophid range. Within the spike protein receptor binding domain, but excluding the receptor binding motif, RhGB01 has a 77% (SARS-CoV-2) and 81% (SARS-CoV) amino acid homology.

Genes or proteins
spike protein; receptor binding domain
Analysis methods
metagenomic sequencing; phylogenetic analysis
Receptor Usage 1 records
Receptor Usage Extraction confidence 0.80
Key finding

The bat sarbecovirus RhGB01 lacks detectable binding to human ACE2, indicating receptor incompatibility for human infection.

Virus
SARSr-CoV
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Within the spike protein receptor binding domain, but excluding the receptor binding motif, RhGB01 has a 77% (SARS-CoV-2) and 81% (SARS-CoV) amino acid homology. While apparently lacking hACE2 binding ability, and hence unlikely to be zoonotic without mutation, RhGB01 presents opportunity for SARS-CoV-2 and other sarbecovirus homologous recombination.

Receptors
hACE2
Recombination Or Reassortment 1 records
Recombination Or Reassortment Extraction confidence 0.75
Key finding

The newly discovered sarbecovirus RhGB01 could undergo homologous recombination with SARS-CoV-2 or other sarbecoviruses, indicating potential for genomic exchange that may enable cross-species transmission.

Host
Not specified
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

RhGB01 presents opportunity for SARS-CoV-2 and other sarbecovirus homologous recombination. Our findings highlight that the natural distribution of sarbecoviruses and opportunities for recombination through intermediate host co-infection are underestimated.

Event type
recombination
Genes or segments
spike protein receptor binding domain
Zoonotic Surveillance 1 records
Zoonotic Surveillance Extraction confidence 0.95
Key finding

A novel sarbecovirus, RhGB01, was detected by metagenomic sequencing in a British horseshoe bat.

Virus
Sarbecovirus
Location
United Kingdom United Kingdom
Supporting text

We identified and sequenced a novel sarbecovirus (RhGB01) from a British horseshoe bat, at the western extreme of the rhinolophid range.

Method
metagenomic sequencing
Geographic raw
Britain
Country inferred
United Kingdom