Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in late 2019 and since evolved into a global threat with nearly 4.4 million infected people and over 290,000 confirmed deaths worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped virus presenting spike (S) glycoproteins on its outer surface. Binding of S to host cell angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is thought to be critical for cellular entry. The host range of the virus extends far beyond humans and non-human primates. Natural and experimental infections have confirmed high susceptibility of cats, ferrets, and hamsters, whereas dogs, mice, rats, pigs, and chickens seem refractory to SARS-CoV-2 infection. To investigate the reason for the variable susceptibility observed in different species, we have developed molecular descriptors to efficiently analyze our dynamic simulation models of complexes between SARS-CoV-2 S and ACE2. Based on our analyses we predict that: (i) the red squirrel is likely susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and (ii) specific mutations in ACE2 of dogs, rats, and mice render them susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

中文翻译：

---

ACE2变异表明动物中潜在的SARS-CoV-2-敏感性：广泛的分子动力学研究

严重急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）于2019年底出现，自此演变为全球性威胁，有近440万人被感染，全世界已确认死亡290,000例。SARS-CoV-2是一种包膜病毒，在其外表面呈刺突（S）糖蛋白。S与宿主细胞血管紧张素转化酶2（ACE2）的结合被认为对于细胞进入至关重要。该病毒的宿主范围远远超出人类和非人类灵长类动物。自然和实验性感染已证实猫，雪貂和仓鼠易感，而狗，小鼠，大鼠，猪和鸡似乎对SARS-CoV-2感染具有抵抗力。为了研究在不同物种中观察到的易感性变化的原因，我们已经开发了分子描述符来有效地分析SARS-CoV-2 S和ACE2之间复合物的动态模拟模型。根据我们的分析，我们预测：（i）红松鼠可能易受SARS-CoV-2感染，并且（ii）狗，大鼠和小鼠的ACE2中的特定突变使其易受SARS-CoV-2感染。