A Tale of Two Viruses: The Distinct Spike Glycoproteins of Feline Coronaviruses.

ABSTRACT: Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is a complex viral agent that causes a variety of clinical manifestations in cats, commonly known as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). It is recognized that FCoV can occur in two different serotypes. However, differences in the S protein are much more than serological or antigenic variants, resulting in the effective presence of two distinct viruses. Here, we review the distinct differences in the S proteins of these viruses, which are likely to translate into distinct biological outcomes. We introduce a new concept related to the non-taxonomical classification and differentiation among FCoVs by analyzing and comparing the genetic, structural, and functional characteristics of FCoV and the FCoV S protein among the two serotypes and FCoV biotypes. Based on our a

SUBMITTER: Jaimes JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7019228 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature