AI predicts which mammals are most likely to spread covid-19

An AI tool has predicted 540 mammalian species that are most likely to spread covid-19 using information about where they live and aspects of their biology. According to the model, mink, Sunda pangolins and bats are among the top 10 per cent of species most likely to spread covid-19, which matches results from lab experiments. The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes covid-19, invades human and animal cells by engaging the ACE2 protein on host cells with its spike protein. This step is required to infect an animal and be transmitted to other hosts. Distinct species have different versions of the protein, so understanding how well their ACE2 protein binds to the coronavirus spike protein can help scientists predict which animals are most likely to spread covid-19.