Replication and shedding of MERS-CoV in Jamaican fruit bats (Artibeus jamaicensis)

The emergence of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) highlights the zoonotic potential of Betacoronaviruses . Investigations into the origin of MERS-CoV have focused on two potential reservoirs: bats and camels. Here, we investigated the role of bats as a potential reservoir for...

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Veröffentlicht in:Scientific reports 2016-02, Vol.6 (1), p.21878-21878, Article 21878
Hauptverfasser: Munster, Vincent J., Adney, Danielle R., van Doremalen, Neeltje, Brown, Vienna R., Miazgowicz, Kerri L., Milne-Price, Shauna, Bushmaker, Trenton, Rosenke, Rebecca, Scott, Dana, Hawkinson, Ann, de Wit, Emmie, Schountz, Tony, Bowen, Richard A.
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:The emergence of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) highlights the zoonotic potential of Betacoronaviruses . Investigations into the origin of MERS-CoV have focused on two potential reservoirs: bats and camels. Here, we investigated the role of bats as a potential reservoir for MERS-CoV. In vitro , the MERS-CoV spike glycoprotein interacted with Jamaican fruit bat ( Artibeus jamaicensis ) dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) receptor and MERS-CoV replicated efficiently in Jamaican fruit bat cells, suggesting there is no restriction at the receptor or cellular level for MERS-CoV. To shed light on the intrinsic host-virus relationship, we inoculated 10 Jamaican fruit bats with MERS-CoV. Although all bats showed evidence of infection, none of the bats showed clinical signs of disease. Virus shedding was detected in the respiratory and intestinal tract for up to 9 days. MERS-CoV replicated transiently in the respiratory and, to a lesser extent, the intestinal tracts and internal organs; with limited histopathological changes observed only in the lungs. Analysis of the innate gene expression in the lungs showed a moderate, transient induction of expression. Our results indicate that MERS-CoV maintains the ability to replicate in bats without clinical signs of disease, supporting the general hypothesis of bats as ancestral reservoirs for MERS-CoV.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/srep21878