Molecular basis of convergent evolution of ACE2 receptor utilization among HKU5 coronaviruses

Abstract DPP4 was considered a canonical receptor for merbecoviruses until the recent discovery of African bat-borne MERS-related coronaviruses using ACE2. The extent and diversity with which merbecoviruses engage ACE2 and their receptor species tropism remain unknown. Here, we reveal that HKU5 enters host cells utilizing Pipistrellus abramus (P.abr) and several non-bat mammalian ACE2s through a binding mode distinct from that of any other known ACE2-using coronaviruses. These results show that several merbecovirus clades independently evolved ACE2 utilization, which appears to be a broadly shared property among these pathogens, through an extraordinary diversity of ACE2 recognition modes. We show that MERS-CoV and HKU5 have markedly distinct antigenicity, due to extensive genetic divergence, and identified several HKU5 inhibitors, including two clinical compounds. Our findings profoundly alter our understanding of coronavirus evolution and pave the way for developing countermeasures against viruses poised for human emergence. Competing Interest Statement H.Y. has submitted a patent application to the China National Intellectual Property Administration for the utilization of propagation-competent VSV to evaluate amplification of ACE2-using merbecoviruses in bat ACE2-expressing cells