• A replicon of the pangolin HKU4-related coronavirus (MjHKU4r-CoV-1) containing a nanoluciferase reporter gene was constructed. • A stable BHK21 cell line carrying the replicon has been generated. • This replicon system has been effectively employed in testing the antiviral activity of replication-targeting coronavirus drugs. • It offers a safe, efficient and convenient tool for screening antivirals against MjHKU4r-CoV-1 and other coronaviruses.
Wu et al. (Sun,) studied this question.