Broad host range of SARS-CoV-2 predicted by comparative and structural analysis of ACE2 in vertebrates

The amino acid sequences of ACE2, the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, from 410 vertebrate species including 252 mammals were compared to study their potential to be used as a receptor by SARS-CoV-2. The ACE2 sequences from only mammals were categorized to be medium to very high possibility to interact with SARS-CoV-2 S protein. Importantly, those of catarrhine primates were specifically categorized to be very high affinity to S protein, suggesting that these animals are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, which were partially confirmed by experimentally infection of animal models such as rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys.