China : Researchers in China have identified a new bat coronavirus: HKU5-CoV-2, which is believed to be a candidate for infection in humans (via ScienceDirect). The virus is a member of the same subgenus as MERS and has been shown to attach to the ACE2 receptor — the same gateway that COVID-19 uses to invade human cells.
The finding led by virologist Shi Zhengli and colleagues appeared in the journal Cell. In lab studies, the virus had successfully infected human cells, indicating that it could potentially spill over from animals to humans. Even more worryingly, the researchers found that HKU5-CoV-2 can grab hold of ACE2 receptors of several types of mammals so it could jump from one of these species to another before hopping over to humans.
But before we go into a panic, there is an important distinction to be made. Although the virus can infect human cells, its ability to do so now appears much weaker than COVID-19’s. But scientists are cautious and stressed that the immediate risk of an outbreak is small.
Shi’s team is calling for continued monitoring of bat coronaviruses since these animals harbor many viruses that could threaten humans in the future. Ongoing debates about the origins of COVID-19 have helped keep coronaviruses found in bats in the spotlight and this study comes at a time of interest.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has placed merbecoviruses on its watch list of pathogens signifying the need for early detection and pandemic readiness.
This finding is a wake-up call for how crucial it is to study zoonotic viruses and to take proactive measures to prevent outbreaks in the future.” Scientists will keep an eye on this virus and for now, the best thing we can do is follow the science and support efforts to understand these new health threats.
