Researchers are raising concerns about Erinaceus coronaviruses (ErinCoVs), which have a close genetic relationship with the virus causing Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). MERS is a severe respiratory disease that primarily spreads from camels to humans and has a high fatality rate of about one-third for those infected. While the hedgehog viruses are deemed unlikely to infect humans without significant genetic changes, they may pose a more immediate risk to other animals, particularly cats. These findings were published in the journal Nature Microbiology.
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Michael Letko, a virologist with Washington State University’s Paul G. Allen School for Global Health and the study's senior author, noted that scientists have been aware of these viruses for some time but could now understand their cellular infection mechanisms. “That’s a crucial step for understanding what they can and can’t infect,” Letko stated.
Since their detection over a decade ago, ErinCoVs have been identified in hedgehogs across Europe and Asia, with infection rates ranging from approximately 10% in the United Kingdom to around 60% in Germany and Italy. Although these viruses do not seem to cause severe illness in hedgehogs, their prevalence increases the likelihood of potential mutations.
Studying the viruses has been challenging due to difficulties in culturing them in laboratory settings. However, the WSU-led research team successfully recreated non-pathogenic components, such as spike proteins, to investigate their interaction with cells.
The researchers discovered that ErinCoVs use the receptor aminopeptidase N (APN) to enter cells. This was the first instance of a betacoronavirus, including MERS and SARS-CoV-2, known to utilize APN.
By examining APN versions from approximately 30 species, the team found that ErinCoVs cannot use the human version of APN. However, they can utilize APN from various other species, including cats, rats, and elephant shrews. Letko emphasized the importance of viruses that can infect multiple species, as each cross-species jump provides opportunities for mutations that could alter their infectivity.
Despite requiring significant mutations to infect humans, Letko and co-author Victoria Jefferson, a postdoctoral fellow, noted that transmission potential between hedgehogs and other species could facilitate evolution of these viruses. In regions with abundant hedgehogs, interactions between these animals could lead to transmission scenarios. Although no confirmed infections in cats exist, the evidence suggests it is biologically plausible.
The study was a collaborative effort involving 10 institutions worldwide, including Yale University, the National Institutes of Health’s Vaccine Research Center, and several research institutes in Italy.