https://sputnikglobe.com/20211120/another-pandemic-of-evolved-sars-viruses-could-come-from-rodents-study-says-1090889564.html
Another Pandemic of Evolved SARS Viruses Could Come From Rodents, Study Says
Another Pandemic of Evolved SARS Viruses Could Come From Rodents, Study Says
Sputnik International
New Pandemic of Evolved SARS Viruses Could Come From Rodents, Study Says
2021-11-20T20:49+0000
2021-11-20T20:49+0000
2021-11-20T20:49+0000
science & tech
sars coronavirus
rats
covid-19
study
virus
rodents
pandemic
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Rodents can be asymptomatic carriers of viruses similar to SARS, which means the next devastating pandemic could come from rats, according to a study by Princeton University published in PLOS Computational Biology.The researchers analyzed various mammalian species, focusing on those receptors that SARS viruses bind to. The results showed that some rodent species have been repeatedly exposed to SARS-like coronaviruses in the past and have developed some resistance to them.The study showed that rats underwent a rapid evolution of the ACE2 receptor, which SARS viruses use to enter a cell. This is indicated, in particular, by the wide variety of amino acid sequences encoding the receptor.As the SARS-CoV-2 virus could be transmitted from animal to person, identifying animals that carry viruses while being protected against them could become vital to prevent future outbreaks, the scientists noted.
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rodents, rats, virus carriers, sars-cov-2, mona singh
rodents, rats, virus carriers, sars-cov-2, mona singh
Another Pandemic of Evolved SARS Viruses Could Come From Rodents, Study Says
Rodents are able to carry viruses asymptomatically while being infectious at the same time. As bats, the most likely sources of the pandemic's SARS-CoV-2 virus, are known to have the same ability, researchers concluded that SARS viruses, including those unknown to science, could be found in rats.
Rodents can be asymptomatic carriers of viruses similar to SARS, which means the next devastating pandemic could come from rats, according to a study by Princeton University published in
PLOS Computational Biology.
The researchers analyzed various mammalian species, focusing on those receptors that SARS viruses bind to. The results showed that
some rodent species have been repeatedly exposed to SARS-like coronaviruses in the past and have developed some resistance to them.
“Our study suggests ancestral rodents may have had repeated infections with SARS-like coronaviruses. They have acquired some form of tolerance or resistance to SARS-like coronaviruses as a result of these infections,” said Professor Mona Singh.
The study showed that
rats underwent a rapid evolution of the ACE2 receptor, which SARS viruses use to enter a cell. This is indicated, in particular, by the wide variety of amino acid sequences encoding the receptor.
“This raises the tantalising possibility some modern rodent species may be asymptomatic carriers of SARS-like coronaviruses - including those that may not have been discovered yet,” Singh said.
As the SARS-CoV-2 virus could be transmitted from animal to person, identifying animals that carry viruses while being protected against them could become vital to prevent future outbreaks, the scientists noted.
