Pangolin-derived sarbecoviruses show attenuated pathogenicity and transmissibility compared with SARS-CoV-2 in human ACE2 transgenic hamsters.

Pangolin-derived sarbecoviruses show significantly reduced pathogenicity and transmissibility compared to SARS-CoV-2 in human ACE2 transgenic hamsters, with MpCoV-GD causing lung damage similar to SARS-CoV-2.

• Why it matters: Understanding the potential threat of wildlife-origin coronaviruses is crucial for preventing future zoonotic outbreaks, as pangolins harbor viruses capable of infecting humans.
• What they did: Researchers compared SARS-CoV-2 and two pangolin sarbecoviruses, MpCoV-GD and MpCoV-GX, using human cell lines, organoids, and hACE2 transgenic hamsters, assessing replication, pathogenicity, and transmission.
• The result: Findings show pangolin viruses can infect human cells and transmit via contact and aerosols, but with lower efficiency and pathogenicity, emphasizing the importance of ongoing wildlife virus surveillance for early detection and outbreak prevention.