Complete genome sequence of bat coronavirus HKU2 from Chinese horseshoe bats revealed a much smaller spike gene with a different evolutionary lineage from the rest of the genome.
Apart from bat-SARS-CoV, we have identified a novel group 1 coronavirus, bat-CoV HKU2, in Rhinolophus sinicus (Chinese horseshoe bats). Since it has been suggested that the receptor-binding motif (RBM) of SARS-CoV may have been acquired from a group 1 coronavirus, we conducted a surveillance study and identified bat-SARS-CoV and bat-CoV HKU2 in 8.7% and 7.5% respectively of R. sinicus in Hong Kong and Guangdong. Complete genome sequencing of four strains of bat-CoV HKU2 revealed the smallest coronavirus genome (27164 nucleotides) and a unique spike protein evolutionarily distinct from the rest of the genome. This spike protein, sharing similar deletions with other group 2 coronaviruses in its C-terminus, also contained a 15-amino acid peptide homologous to a corresponding peptide within the RBM of spike protein of SARS-CoV, which was absent in other coronaviruses except bat-SARS-CoV. These suggest a common evolutionary origin in the spike protein of bat-CoV HKU2, bat-SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV.
Lau
Susanna K P
SK
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Hong Kong.
Woo
Patrick C Y
PC
Li
Kenneth S M
KS
Huang
Yi
Y
Wang
Ming
M
Lam
Carol S F
CS
Xu
Huifang
H
Guo
Rongtong
R
Chan
Kwok-Hung
KH
Zheng
Bo-Jian
BJ
Yuen
Kwok-Yung
KY
D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology*; D003332:Coronaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006723:Hong Kong; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins