New Bat Coronavirus Discovered in China: Potential Risk of Human Infection Raises Concerns
In a recent discovery that has sparked global attention, Chinese researchers have identified a new bat coronavirus named HKU5-CoV-2, which has the potential to infect humans. Found in bats within China, the virus uses the same human receptor as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic, raising concerns about the possibility of another spillover event.
What Is HKU5-CoV-2?
The newly discovered virus belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, which also includes the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus. It is considered a new lineage of the HKU5 coronavirus, first detected in Japanese pipistrelle bats in Hong Kong. According to the study, HKU5-CoV-2 can bind to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2) receptor—the same pathway used by SARS-CoV-2 to infect human cells.
The research team, which includes scientists from the Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Academy of Sciences, Wuhan University, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology, revealed that the virus has a furin cleavage site similar to SARS-CoV-2, allowing it to enter human cells. Lab tests showed that HKU5-CoV-2 could infect human cells with elevated ACE2 levels, particularly in simulated human intestinal and respiratory models.
How Serious Is the Threat?
Despite its ability to attach to human ACE2 receptors, the virus’s efficiency in binding is reportedly “significantly lower” than that of SARS-CoV-2, according to the study published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell. Lead researcher Shi Zhengli, widely known as “batwoman” for her work on bat coronaviruses, emphasized that more studies are needed to understand the virus’s potential for animal-to-human transmission.
Global Implications and Precautionary Measures
The World Health Organization (WHO) has added merbecoviruses to its list of emerging pathogens requiring pandemic preparedness. This precaution comes amidst ongoing investigations into the origins of Covid-19, which is suspected to have originated in bats before transmitting to humans through an intermediary species.
What’s Next?
With this new discovery, experts are urging further research to evaluate the virus’s risk to humans. Shi Zhengli and her team continue to study the transmission dynamics and potential preventive measures.
As the world remains on high alert for potential pandemics, the discovery of HKU5-CoV-2 serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilant surveillance and scientific research in preventing future outbreaks.
Stay tuned for more updates
-t-thumb.jpeg)
