PLoS Pathogens (May 2023)

Pathogenicity, tissue tropism and potential vertical transmission of SARSr-CoV-2 in Malayan pangolins.

  • Xianghui Liang,
  • Xiaoyuan Chen,
  • Junqiong Zhai,
  • Xiaobing Li,
  • Xu Zhang,
  • Zhipeng Zhang,
  • Ping Zhang,
  • Xiao Wang,
  • Xinyuan Cui,
  • Hai Wang,
  • Niu Zhou,
  • Zu-Jin Chen,
  • Renwei Su,
  • Fuqing Zhou,
  • Edward C Holmes,
  • David M Irwin,
  • Rui-Ai Chen,
  • Qian He,
  • Ya-Jiang Wu,
  • Chen Wang,
  • Xue-Qing Du,
  • Shi-Ming Peng,
  • Wei-Jun Xie,
  • Fen Shan,
  • Wan-Ping Li,
  • Jun-Wei Dai,
  • Xuejuan Shen,
  • Yaoyu Feng,
  • Lihua Xiao,
  • Wu Chen,
  • Yongyi Shen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1011384
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 5
p. e1011384

Abstract

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Malayan pangolin SARS-CoV-2-related coronavirus (SARSr-CoV-2) is closely related to SARS-CoV-2. However, little is known about its pathogenicity in pangolins. Using CT scans we show that SARSr-CoV-2 positive Malayan pangolins are characterized by bilateral ground-glass opacities in lungs in a similar manner to COVID-19 patients. Histological examination and blood gas tests are indicative of dyspnea. SARSr-CoV-2 infected multiple organs in pangolins, with the lungs the major target, and histological expression data revealed that ACE2 and TMPRSS2 were co-expressed with viral RNA. Transcriptome analysis indicated that virus-positive pangolins were likely to have inadequate interferon responses, with relative greater cytokine and chemokine activity in the lung and spleen. Notably, both viral RNA and viral proteins were detected in three pangolin fetuses, providing initial evidence for vertical virus transmission. In sum, our study outlines the biological framework of SARSr-CoV-2 in pangolins, revealing striking similarities to COVID-19 in humans.