SARS-CoV-2 binds to ACE2 receptors to infect cells. The document shows ACE2 binding site similarity data for humans and several mammals, with humans and rhesus macaques having complete similarity and masked palm civets having the lowest. Research has found all species can be infected except one; based on the ACE2 similarity data, the house mouse is the species that cannot be concluded to be infected by SARS-CoV-2.
This PowerPoint helps students to consider the concept of infinity.
SARSCoV2 the novel coronavirus responsible for COVID19 .pdf
1. SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus responsible for COVID-19, gains entry to cells by binding to
their ACE2 receptors. Shown here is simplified homology (similarity) data for key ACE2 sites in
humans and some representative mammals, with "total similarity" representing how many amino
acids match with the human ACE2, e.g., 15/15 means all 15 amino acids at these key binding
sites are the same as the human ones.
Species (common name): Total similarity
Homo sapiens (human) : 15/15
Macaca mulatta (rhesus macaque) : 15/15
Canis lupus familiaris (domestic dog) : 10/15
Felis catus (domestic cat) : 11/15
Paguma larvata (masked palm civet) : 8/15
Mus musculus (house mouse) : 7/15
Research has shown that all but one of these species can be infected by SARS-CoV-2.
Based on the above data, which of these species can we conclude is not infected by SARS-CoV-
2?