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

  1. Xiaobing Li
  2. Kangpeng Xiao
  3. Xiaoyuan Chen
  4. Xianghui Liang
  5. Xu Zhang
  6. Zhipeng Zhang
  7. Junqiong Zhai
  8. Ruichen Wang
  9. Niu Zhou
  10. Zu-Jin Chen
  11. Renwei Su
  12. Fuqing Zhou
  13. Edward C. Holmes
  14. David M. Irwin
  15. Rui-Ai Chen
  16. Qian He
  17. Ya-Jiang Wu
  18. Chen Wang
  19. Xue-Qing Du
  20. Shi-Ming Peng
  21. Wei-Jun Xie
  22. Fen Shan
  23. Wan-Ping Li
  24. Jun-Wei Dai
  25. Xuejuan Shen
  26. Yaoyu Feng
  27. Lihua Xiao
  28. Wu Chen
  29. Yongyi Shen
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Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is having severe impact on public health at a global scale. Malayan pangolin SARS-CoV-2-related coronavirus (SARSr-CoV-2) is closely related to SARS-CoV-2. We show that CT scans of virus-positive pangolins reveal bilateral ground-glass opacities in lungs in similar manner to COVID-19 patients. The virus infected multiple organs in pangolins, with the lungs being the major target. Histological expression showed that ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are co-expressed with viral RNA. Transcriptome analysis revealed an inadequate interferon response, with different dysregulated chemokines and cytokines responses in pregnant and non-pregnant adults and fetuses. Viral RNA and protein were detected in three fetuses providing evidence for vertical virus transmission. In sum, our study identifies the biological framework of SARSr-CoV-2 in pangolins, revealing striking similarities to COVID-19 in humans.

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