. doi: 10.1016/j.virs.2026.07.004
Citation: Lin Xu, Edward C. Holmes, Weifeng Shi. Hidden diversity of coronaviruses in high-altitude plateau mammals .VIROLOGICA SINICA, 2026, 41(4) : 1002-1005.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virs.2026.07.004

高原哺乳动物冠状病毒的潜在多样性

  • 通讯作者: 史卫峰, shiwf@ioz.ac.cn
  • 收稿日期: 2026-05-11
    录用日期: 2026-07-10
  • 近期研究表明,高海拔高原(如中国青藏高原)是野生动物冠状病毒多样性的重要生态系统。以鼠兔(Ochotona spp.)和长尾旱獭(Marmota caudata)为代表的高原关键物种携带高度分化的冠状病毒,包括甲型和乙型冠状病毒。其中,源自高原物种的乙型冠状病毒在系统发育上形成独特的进化谱系,基于基因组结构和遗传距离分析,符合冠状病毒新亚属的分类标准。这些发现确立了高海拔哺乳动物在冠状病毒演化格局中的关键地位,同时表明这一领域尚待深入探索,亟需开展系统性监测,以全面评估病毒多样性、进化及潜在的跨种传播风险。

Hidden diversity of coronaviruses in high-altitude plateau mammals

  • Corresponding author: Weifeng Shi, shiwf@ioz.ac.cn
  • Received Date: 11 May 2026
    Accepted Date: 10 July 2026
  • Highlights
    1 Pikas and marmots from plateaus host divergent α- and β-CoVs, including the candidate subgenera Pibecovirus and Mabecovirus.
    2 The plateau CoVs show distinctive genomic features (relocated HE gene, variable ORFs), indicating lineage-specific evolution.
    3 High-altitude plateau ecosystems are a key yet understudied frontier of CoV evolution, warranting systematic surveillance.

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    8. Wang, W., Lin, X.D., Guo, W.P., Zhou, R.H., Wang, M.R., Wang, C.Q., Ge, S., Mei, S.H., Li, M.H., Shi, M., Holmes, E.C., Zhang, Y.Z., 2015. Discovery, diversity and evolution of novel coronaviruses sampled from rodents in China. Virology, 474, 19-27.

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    10. Yi, L., Liang, Y., Yan, G., Cai, C., Li, Y., Zhao, Z., Qu, Y., Tu, C., He, B., 2025. Virome profiling of long-tailed marmots reveals tissue tropism and cross-species transmission of a diversity of uncharacterized mammalian viruses. Microbiome, 14, 53.

    11. Zeng, Q., Langereis, M.A., Van Vliet, A.L., Huizinga, E.G., De Groot, R.J., 2008. Structure of coronavirus hemagglutinin-esterase offers insight into corona and influenza virus evolution. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 105, 9065-9069.

    12. Zhou, H., Ji, J.K., Chen, X., Bi, Y.H., Li, J., Wang, Q.H., Hu, T., Song, H., Zhao, R.C., Chen, Y.H., Cui, M.X., Zhang, Y.Y., Hughes, A.C., Holmes, E.C., Shi, W.F., 2021. Identification of novel bat coronaviruses sheds light on the evolutionary origins of SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses. Cell, 184, 4380-4391.

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    Hidden diversity of coronaviruses in high-altitude plateau mammals

      Corresponding author: Weifeng Shi, shiwf@ioz.ac.cn
    • a. Department of Central Lab, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian 271000, China;
    • b. School of Public Health, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Ji'nan 250117, China;
    • c. School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
    • d. Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China;
    • e. Shanghai Institute of Virology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201318, China;
    • f. School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200240, China

    Abstract: Highlights
    1 Pikas and marmots from plateaus host divergent α- and β-CoVs, including the candidate subgenera Pibecovirus and Mabecovirus.
    2 The plateau CoVs show distinctive genomic features (relocated HE gene, variable ORFs), indicating lineage-specific evolution.
    3 High-altitude plateau ecosystems are a key yet understudied frontier of CoV evolution, warranting systematic surveillance.

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