tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Bioessays
. 2021 Nov 22;e2100189.
doi: 10.1002/bies.202100189. Online ahead of print.
The SARS-CoV-2 origin dilemma: Zoonotic transfer or laboratory leak?
Blanca E Ruiz-Medina[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Armando Varela-Ramirez[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Robert A Kirken[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Elisa Robles-Escajeda[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for millions of deaths worldwide yet its origin remains unclear. Two potential scenarios of how infection of humans initially occurred include zoonotic transfer from wild animals and a leak of the pathogen from a research laboratory. The Wuhan wet markets where wild animals are sold represent a strong scenario for zoonotic transfer. However, isolation of SARS-CoV-2 or its immediate predecessor from wild animals in their natural environment has yet to be documented. Due to incomplete evidence for a zoonotic origin, a laboratory origin is plausible. The Wuhan Institute of Virology is at the epicenter of the pandemic and their work has included manipulation of wild-type coronavirus to enable infection of human cells. Although stronger evidence supports the zoonotic transfer, inconclusive reports maintain the laboratory leak hypothesis alive. It is imperative to reach a factual conclusion to prevent future pandemics.
Keywords: COVID-19 origin; SARS-CoV-2; laboratory leak; zoonotic transfer.
. 2021 Nov 22;e2100189.
doi: 10.1002/bies.202100189. Online ahead of print.
The SARS-CoV-2 origin dilemma: Zoonotic transfer or laboratory leak?
Blanca E Ruiz-Medina[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Armando Varela-Ramirez[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Robert A Kirken[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Elisa Robles-Escajeda[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34812505
- DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100189
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for millions of deaths worldwide yet its origin remains unclear. Two potential scenarios of how infection of humans initially occurred include zoonotic transfer from wild animals and a leak of the pathogen from a research laboratory. The Wuhan wet markets where wild animals are sold represent a strong scenario for zoonotic transfer. However, isolation of SARS-CoV-2 or its immediate predecessor from wild animals in their natural environment has yet to be documented. Due to incomplete evidence for a zoonotic origin, a laboratory origin is plausible. The Wuhan Institute of Virology is at the epicenter of the pandemic and their work has included manipulation of wild-type coronavirus to enable infection of human cells. Although stronger evidence supports the zoonotic transfer, inconclusive reports maintain the laboratory leak hypothesis alive. It is imperative to reach a factual conclusion to prevent future pandemics.
Keywords: COVID-19 origin; SARS-CoV-2; laboratory leak; zoonotic transfer.