Identification Sus scrofa and Mus musculus as potential hosts of SARS-CoV-2 via phylogenetic and homologous recombination analysis

Abstract

Background: Wuhan Huanan seafood wholesale market is highly suspected as the original place for the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 previously. Most studies focus on the livestock being sold in the market, neglecting that the livestock living around the city of Wuhan could also be the original hosts. Methods: First, relative synonymous codon usage was utilized to analyze the potential hosts of SARS-CoV-2; Then cluster SARS-CoV-2 and related coronavirus through the phylogenetic tree. Next, we used Recombination Detection Program to identify the possible recombination region, as well as verifying via Simplot. Results: Related coronavirus from porcine or murine sources may faciliatate the evolution and reorganization of SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions: Overall, to our knowledge, this is the first paper to illustrate that swine and mice could be probable reservoirs for the SARS-CoV-2.