A MERS-CoV-like mink coronavirus uses ACE2 as an entry receptor
Nature·
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41586-025-09007-w
- PMID
- 40306315
- PMCID
- —
- OpenAlex
- W4410019260
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The authors note that fur farming operations may serve as reservoirs for emerging coronavirus variants with zoonotic potential, emphasizing the need for enhanced surveillance to inform outbreak preparedness.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study investigated whether a newly identified mink-derived respiratory coronavirus uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a cellular entry receptor, and examined its potential for cross-species transmission.
Study design
This was a laboratory-based investigation involving viral isolation from diseased farmed minks, cell infection assays across multiple species, cryo-electron microscopy structural analysis of receptor binding, and antiviral compound testing.
Population and setting
The study utilized mink-derived virus from pneumonia-affected farmed animals, along with cell lines established from mink, bat, primate, and human sources to assess cross-species tropism.
Main findings
Investigators isolated a novel mink respiratory coronavirus (MRCoV) capable of entering ACE2-expressing cells across multiple mammalian species. Structural analysis demonstrated that MRCoV's receptor-binding domain targets the same ACE2 interface utilized by SARS-CoV-2 despite sequence and structural divergence. SARS-CoV-2-directed protease and polymerase inhibitors demonstrated inhibitory activity against MRCoV infection.
Public-health relevance
The authors note that fur farming operations may serve as reservoirs for emerging coronavirus variants with zoonotic potential, emphasizing the need for enhanced surveillance to inform outbreak preparedness.
Important limitations
This summary is confined to the supplied single-article abstract and metadata. The original publication would be required for comprehensive assessment of study limitations, statistical rigor, and generalizability of findings.
GIDS interpretation
This peer-reviewed laboratory characterization study was published in a major scientific journal in April 2025. It contributes foundational receptor biology and structural data relevant to understanding coronavirus diversity in fur production systems, supporting the rationale for One Health surveillance approaches in these agricultural settings.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 13 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.