This Week in Evolution · Vincent Racaniello

Even the BANAL coronaviruses are interesting

·1 hr 38 min·5 clips

Nels reports that COVID cases are cooling down, offering a glimpse into pandemic trends.

This episode of This Week in Evolution features virologist Vincent Racaniello and his guest Nels Aldi from the University of Utah discussing coronavirus biology beyond the pandemic. They explore the diversity and evolutionary history of coronaviruses found in animals, including bats. The conversation aims to highlight fundamental virology through less-publicized virus examples. The hosts reference the BANAL-52, BANAL-103, and BANAL-236 coronaviruses discovered in bats in Laos. They discuss a specific study from Nature that identified these viruses, which have receptor-binding domains closely related to SARS-CoV-2. Nels Aldi explains the concept of sarbecoviruses as the viral subgenus containing SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and these bat viruses. The discussion covers how recombination events between different bat coronaviruses can lead to new viral variants. They mention the work of researchers like Lin-Fa Wang and Marc Eloit in sampling and discovering these viruses. The episode details the process of metagenomic sequencing from bat guano samples to find viral genetic material. Vincent Racaniello describes the ACE2 receptor as the cellular doorway these viruses use for entry. A key insight is that these bat viruses can bind to human ACE2 receptors in laboratory assays without prior adaptation. The hosts note the surprising genetic proximity of these newly found viruses to the pandemic virus, suggesting a likely natural origin. They explain that the presence of a furin cleavage site in SARS-CoV-2 remains a distinguishing feature not found in these particular bat relatives. The conversation clarifies that "BANAL" is simply a geographic identifier for sampling sites in Laos, not a commentary on the viruses. Nels Aldi emphasizes that most animal coronaviruses pose no direct threat to humans but are crucial for understanding viral evolution. The episode underscores how surveillance of animal viruses is a predictive tool for pandemic preparedness. The tone is casual and educational, opening with personal updates on weather and skiing before diving into the science. The style is a conversational interview between two experts, with clear explanations of complex virology concepts. Listeners interested in fundamental virology, zoonotic disease origins, and the science behind pandemic viruses would find this episode compelling. Those seeking breaking news about the current COVID-19 pandemic or political commentary might find the technical focus less engaging.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from This Week in Evolution