OmniVira

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].
PMID34282196 DOI10.1038/s41598-021-94011-z Year2021 Journal Scientific reports Sci Rep Languageeng Statusepublish

Abstract

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.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
Amino Acid Sequence 128 Animals 1948 Betacoronavirus 78 Chiroptera 371 Europe 27 Genome, Viral 317 Metagenomics 37 Phylogeny 805 SARS-CoV-2 453 Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 78 Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus 274

Evidence records

2 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
1 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Viral Detection
1 records
OVE4985 Viral Detection
Key finding

A novel sarbecovirus, RhGB01, was detected and sequenced from a British horseshoe bat.

Virus
SARS-related coronavirus Sarbecovirus
Host
horseshoe bats Rhinolophidae Natural host
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.

Method
metagenomic sequencing | viral genome identification
Sample type
bat specimen
Genomic Evolution
1 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Phylogenetic Evolution
1 records
OVE4987 Phylogenetic Evolution
Key finding

Phylogenetic analysis of a newly identified sarbecovirus from British horseshoe bats indicates that sarbecoviruses have a broader geographic and species distribution across the horseshoe bat range.

Virus
Sarbecovirus
Host
horseshoe bats Rhinolophidae Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Our results extend both the geographic and species ranges of sarbecoviruses and suggest their presence throughout the horseshoe bat distribution.

Genes or proteins
spike protein receptor binding domain
Analysis methods
phylogenetic analysis