This work shows that receptor use in merbecovirus is clade-specific by clustering them into clades based on the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of their spike proteins. While MERS-CoV and its close relatives use the DPP4 receptor, several other clades—including all HKU5 bat coronaviruses—rely on ACE2, the same receptor used by SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2.
- Nicholas J. Catanzaro
- Ziyan Wu
- Michael Letko
