The origins of SARS-CoV-2: A critical review

• Published in: Cell Vol. 184; no. 19; pp. 4848 - 4856
• Main Authors: Holmes, Edward C., Goldstein, Stephen A., Rasmussen, Angela L., Robertson, David L., Crits-Christoph, Alexander, Wertheim, Joel O., Anthony, Simon J., Barclay, Wendy S., Boni, Maciej F., Doherty, Peter C., Farrar, Jeremy, Geoghegan, Jemma L., Jiang, Xiaowei, Leibowitz, Julian L., Neil, Stuart J.D., Skern, Tim, Weiss, Susan R., Worobey, Michael, Andersen, Kristian G., Garry, Robert F., Rambaut, Andrew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 16.09.2021; The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Biological Evolution; COVID-19; COVID-19 - virology; evolution; Humans; Laboratories; origins; Review; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; SARS-CoV-2 - physiology; Zoonoses - virology; zoonosis; COVID-19; origins; SARS-CoV-2; evolution; zoonosis
• ISSN: 0092-8674; 1097-4172
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.08.017

Since the first reports of a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-like coronavirus in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, there has been intense interest in understanding how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in the human population. Recent debate has coalesced around two competing ideas: a “laboratory escape” scenario and zoonotic emergence. Here, we critically review the current scientific evidence that may help clarify the origin of SARS-CoV-2. A review of the current literature supports a zoonotic origin for SARS-CoV-2 and emphasizes the need to focus on identifying the exact animal host through collaborative and carefully coordinated studies. This will enable the community to understand the roots of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as better prepare us for future pandemics