Structural Insights into SARS-CoV-2 Transmission between Humans and Other Mammals

Abstract

This chapter reported about Structural Insights into SARS-CoV-2 transmission between humans and other mammals. Recent reports have shown multiple instances of dogs contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from their human owners. On March 27, 2020, it was determined that there had been a case of SARS-CoV-2 transfer from a human owner to a household cat. It was also claimed that a tiger from a New York, USA, zoo had contracted SARS-CoV-2. It is believed that SARS-CoV-2 was transmitted to tigers from their caretakers, who were previously infected with this virus. On May 25, 2020, the Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality reported that two employees were infected with SARS-CoV-2 transmitted from minks. The three-dimensional structure of the KGDFR hosting protein region involved in direct interactions with SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD of the mink ACE2 appears to form a loop structurally related to the human ACE2 corresponding protein loop, despite of the reduced available protein length (401 residues of the mink ACE2 available sequence vs 805 residues of the human ACE2). There are concerns that SARS-CoV-2 could be transmitted from humans to whitetail deer and from whitetail deer to humans. It has also been proven that SARS-CoV-2 types that are currently undetectable in humans, such as alpha and delta types, are latently infected within whitetail deer. The World Health Organization recently released a report on the potential risks of reciprocal infections regarding SARS-CoV-2 transmission from animals to humans. In cases where the data uncovered by our investigations can assist with precision vaccine design and the discovery of antiviral therapeutics, which will speed the development of medical countermeasures.