Research on the Differences in Invasion and Replication of Coronaviruses in Feline and Human Cells

The coronavirus has significantly impacted people's daily lives, inducing inflammatory responses in both the respiratory and digestive systems, particularly in the case of SARS-CoV-2. Coronaviruses are classified into four subtypes, with -coronaviruses and -coronaviruses primarily infecting mammals. Most of these viruses are single-stranded RNA viruses that utilize angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) as their receptor. However, coronaviruses affecting humans originally originate from animals. Animals such as bats and camels serve as reservoirs, transmitting the virus to humans. These animals exhibit specific immune responses to resist the virus and, in some cases, even coexist with it.What are the underlying mechanisms behind this phenomenon? What differences between animal and human coronaviruses contribute to this adaptation? Can these findings be leveraged to improve current treatments for coronavirus infections?This study will use feline coronavirus (FCoV) as an example to compare the invasion mechanisms, replication processes, and clinical manifestations of human coronaviruses (HCoV) and FCoV. Unlike HCoV, which utilizes ACE as its receptor, FCoV binds to aminopeptidase N (APN) and contains 29,585 amino acids, including 13 open reading frames. Since APN primarily accumulates in the intestines, FCoV predominantly targets the digestive system, whereas HCoV mainly affects respiratory function. By examining the differences between HCoV and FCoV and analyzing the consequences of these distinctions, more effective therapeutic strategies for HCoV can be developed, along with improved preventive measures.