COVID-19 might have originated from recombination of bat and pangolin coronaviruses: Study

As world continues to struggle against COVID-19 pandemic, scientists have been looking into origin of vel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and its chain of transmission leing up to humans. According to a recent study, pangolins may have played a role in origin of  contagion that has infected over 4.1 million people worldwide. 

SARS-CoV-2 is a zootic infection and has been traced to bats for its RaTG13 geme sequence but scientists have argued that bat virus cant directly infect humans, making case for an intermediate host.

While earlier evidence has pointed towards pangolins, a recent study based on comparative gemic analysis can driving scientific consensus on scaly anteater being potential missing link in transmission between bat to humans. 

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Pangolins possible Intermediate Host 

As per research paper, scientists from South China Agricultural University have isolated a coronavirus in Malayan pangolins that showed 100%, 98.6%, 97.8%, and 90.7% ami acid identity with SARS-CoV-2 in E, M, N and S genes, respectively. 

coronavirus, dubbed Pangolin-CoV, has been found to be 91.02% identical to SARS-CoV-2 at whole-geme level, making it closest relative of SARS-CoV-2 behind RaTG13. Pangolin-CoV was found to be particularly identical to Sars-CoV-2 in its receptor-binding domain (RBD) that consists of an ami acid fragment, which is responsible for recognising and binding cell surface receptor. 

researchers studied 25 Malayan pangolins, of which Pangolin-CoV was detected in 17 specimens. infected pangolins furr showed clinical signs and histological changes while circulating antibodies against Pangolin-CoV reacted with a protein strand of SARS-CoV-2.

scientist also observed that pangolins are most-trafficked mammal in world and vel coronavirus highlights a future threat to public health if wildlife tre is t controlled.

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Wildlife trafficking risk to public health 

COVID-19 pandemic saw it's patient zero in a 57-year-old shrimp seller at a wet market in China's Wuhan. Chinese wet markets are kwn to sell rare animals and suspected for underground wildlife tre. 

In a big development two weeks back, China was reported to have passed regulations banning hunting and consumption of wild animals and ir products. local newspaper stated that steps are being taken to safeguard people's health and livelihoods, ding that violators will be severely punished. ban is expected to come into effect from June 1.

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