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Articles by Michael Letko
Aminopeptidase N is a receptor for hedgehog merbecoviruses
Abstract Merbecoviruses, closely related to the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, circulate in hedgehogs throughout Europe and Asia, raising concerns about zoonotic transmission to humans and domestic animals. However, it is not clear how these viruses enter host cells. Here we tested three coronavirus receptors from European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in cell-based assays and identified aminopeptidase N (APN) as a receptor for hedgehog merbecoviruses.
229E- and NL63-like coronaviruses in phyllostomid bats, Belize
Abstract We report novel and previously identified alphacoronavirus (α-CoV) diversity in three phyllostomid bat species (Desmodus rotundus, Carollia sowelli, and Sturnira parvidens) in Belize. Phylogenetic analysis suggests strong similarity between two Neotropical bat α-CoV lineages and human CoVs (229E and NL63) compared to prior bat α-CoVs. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.
Isolation of ACE2-dependent and -independent sarbecoviruses from Chinese horseshoe bats
INTRODUCTION With the increase of coronaviruses crossing the species barrier into humans and causing severe diseases over the last 20 years, significant effort has been invested into understanding coronaviruses in diverse animals, globally. The first viral relatives of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) were discovered in Rhinolophus bats in 2005, demonstrating these animals are a natural reservoir for the sarbecovirus subgenus of the betacoronaviruses (1, 2).
A sarbecovirus found in Russian bats uses human ACE2
Abstract Spillover of sarbecoviruses from animals to humans resulted in outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS-CoVs and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts to identify the origins of SARS-CoV-1 and -2 has resulted in the discovery of numerous animal sarbecoviruses -the majority of which are only distantly related to known human pathogens and do not infect human cells.
Surface‒Aerosol Stability and Pathogenicity of Diverse Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Strains, 2012‒2018
Disclaimer: Early release articles are not considered as final versions. Any changes will be reflected in the online version in the month the article is officially released. Neeltje van Doremalen1, Michael Letko1 , Robert J. Fischer, Trenton Bushmaker, Jonathan Schulz, Claude K. Yinda, Stephanie N. Seifert, Nam Joong Kim, Maged G. Hemida, Ghazi Kayali, Wan Beom Park, Ranawaka A.P.M. Perera, Azaibi Tamin, Natalie J. Thornburg, Suxiang Tong, Krista Queen, Maria D.
Functional assessment of cell entry and receptor usage for SARS-CoV-2 and other lineage B betacoronaviruses
Abstract Over the past 20 years, several coronaviruses have crossed the species barrier into humans, causing outbreaks of severe, and often fatal, respiratory illness. Since SARS-CoV was first identified in animal markets, global viromics projects have discovered thousands of coronavirus sequences in diverse animals and geographic regions.
Functional assessment of cell entry and receptor usage for lineage B β-coronaviruses, including 2019-nCoV
New Results Michael Letko, Vincent Munster doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.01.22.915660 Abstract Over the past 20 years, several coronaviruses have crossed the species barrier into humans, causing outbreaks of severe, and often fatal, respiratory illness. Since SARS- CoV was first identified in animal markets, global viromics projects have discovered thousands of coronavirus sequences in diverse animals and geographic regions.
Adaptive Evolution of MERS-CoV to Species Variation in DPP4
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) likely originated in bats and passed to humans through dromedary camels; however, the genetic mechanisms underlying cross-species adaptation remain poorly understood. Variation in the host receptor, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), can block the interaction with the MERS-CoV spike protein and form a species barrier to infection.
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