Comparison of three pangolin coronaviruses showing distinct pathogenicity, transmissibility and potential for cross-species infection
Pangolins harbor SARS-CoV-2–related coronaviruses (PCoVs). We isolate three PCoVs (P8V, P11V, P5V) from confiscated Malayan pangolins and analyzed their genomes, evolution and functional properties. Phylogenetic analyses place these viruses in two clusters within the PCoV-GX lineage, revealing spike mutations that later convergently evolve in SARS-CoV-2. All viruses replicate efficiently in Vero E6 cells, with variable replication in human cell lines and organoids. In hACE2-transgenic mice, P11V and previously isolated P2V cause rapid, severe disease, whereas P8V and P5V exhibit delayed pathogenicity. Direct-contact transmission in hamsters is efficient for all strains, with lung pathology reflecting strain-specific virulence. These results demonstrate that PCoVs possess substantial infectivity, pathogenicity, and transmissibility, illustrating their adaptability, and highlight the role of pangolins as reservoirs of coronaviruses with zoonotic potential. Comparative analysis of three pangolin coronaviruses reveals distinct pathogenicity and transmissibility profiles, demonstrates their potential for cross species infection, and highlights pangolins as potential reservoirs of zoonotic coronavirus threats.
Authors
- Zhenfei Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9659-1815)
- Wu‐Chun Cao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5090-2251)
- Xue-Bing Ni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5542-8165)
- Mai‐Juan Ma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8105-462X)
- Tommy Tsan‐Yuk Lam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9769-1527)
- Yi Song (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7129-7900)
- Na Jia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0532-7064)
- Luo‐Yuan Xia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1656-3401)
- Yuan-Guo Li
- Jia‐Fu Jiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2624-7450)
- Edward Charles Holmes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9596-3552)
- Jianwei Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1116-4559)
- Wenqi Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4053-5088)
- Wenya Tian
- Yu-Wei Gao
- Lili Ren
- Xiao-Ming Cui
- Hui-Jun Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5486-868X)
- Nan Li
- Yi-Fei Wang
- Lin Zhao
- Bo Zhou
- Wenjing Rui
- Jing-Jing Ni
Institutions
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China (CN)
- Shandong University (CN)
- Peking University (CN)
- Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HK)
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences (CN)
- Shantou University (CN)
- Hong Kong Jockey Club (HK)
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole (HK)
- Changping Laboratory (CN)
- University of Hong Kong (HK)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2026-10-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-78125-4
- Primary Topic
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- National Health and Medical Research Council
- National Key Research and Development Program of China