First Complete Genome Sequence of Human Coronavirus HKU1 from a Nonill Bat Guano Miner in Thailand

Joyjinda, Yutthana; Rodpan, Apaporn; Chartpituck, Pongtorn; Suthum, Krairerk; Yaemsakul, Suphaluk; Cheun-Arom, Thaniwan; Bunprakob, Saowalak; Olival, Kevin J.; Stokes, Martha M.; Hemachudha, Thiravat; Wacharapluesadee, Supaporn

Phylogenetic analysis of our HCoV-HKU1 whole-genome and reference sequences from the GenBank database, using maximum likelihood algorithm on the MEGA6 program, showed that our sequence is in the same clade with sequences from China and the United States (Fig. 1) . It belonged to the group B genotype and was closely related to HCoV-HKU1 from Hong Kong (GenBank accession number AY884001) that was isolated in 2006 (99% nucleotide identity) (9) . It is worth noting that this virus was detected from an individual with a high level of occupational exposure to bat feces and, thus, an elevated level of zoonotic virus spillover. While this individual was likely exposed to HCoV-HKU1 due to person-to-person transmission and not via exposure from bats, our surveillance strategy and viral characterization pipeline provide valuable insight into the circulation of endemic infectious diseases in Thailand and increase the country's preparedness for other novel emerging infectious diseases.