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Scientists have been working around the clock to understand COVID-19, including how it was initially transmitted. Snakes have been suggested as the link between bats and humans, but a recent study suggests it was actually pangolins.
Most experts agree that bats are a natural reservoir for SARS-CoV-2, but an intermediate host was needed for the transmission.
By studying the virus' genome and a sequence of the spike protein - a key protein responsible for getting the virus into mammalian cells - they were able to find similarities in pangolin tissues that are 91% identical to the human virus' proteins.
The sequence comparison between human and pangolins showed only 5 different amino acids, versus 19 differences between human and bats.
In Chinese medicine, pangolin scales are used for a variety of treatments, including: to promote blood circulation, to stimulate lactation, to drain pus, and to relieve skin diseases. This trade is part of the reason the animal is endangered. The meat is also considered a delicacy in China and Vietnam.
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