SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2) has been reported to infect domesticated animals in a species-specific manner, where cats were susceptible but not dogs. Using the recently published crystal structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein complexed with the human host cell receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), we characterized the structure and evolution of ACE2 in several of these species and identify a single interacting amino acid residue conserved between human and Felidae ACE2 but not in Canidae that correlates with virus susceptibility. Using computational analyses we describe how this site likely affects ACE2 targeting by the virus. Thus, we highlight how evolution-based approaches can be used to form hypotheses and study animal transmission of such viruses in the future.

中文翻译：

---

狮子、老虎和小猫：ACE2 和对 COVID-19 的易感性


据报道，SARS-CoV-2（严重急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒 2）会以物种特异性方式感染家养动物，其中猫易感，但狗不易感染。利用最近发表的与人类宿主细胞受体血管紧张素转换酶 2 (ACE2) 复合的 SARS-CoV-2 刺突蛋白的晶体结构，我们表征了其中几个物种中 ACE2 的结构和进化，并鉴定了单个相互作用的氨基酸ACE2在人类和猫科动物之间保守，但在犬科动物中不保守，与病毒易感性相关。通过计算分析，我们描述了该位点如何影响病毒靶向 ACE2。因此，我们强调如何使用基于进化的方法来形成假设并研究未来此类病毒的动物传播。