Detection and Characterization of Bat Sarbecovirus Phylogenetically Related to SARS-CoV-2, Japan.

ABSTRACT: Epidemiology of bat Betacoronavirus, subgenus Sarbecovirus is largely unknown, especially outside China. We detected a sarbecovirus phylogenetically related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 from Rhinolophus cornutus bats in Japan. The sarbecovirus' spike protein specifically recognizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 of R. cornutus, but not humans, as an entry receptor.

SUBMITTER: Murakami S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7706965 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature