New virus discovered in bats that can infect humans like Covid-19

A team of Chinese scientists has discovered a new strain of coronavirus in bats that can be transmitted from animals to humans through the ACE2 receptor – the same mechanism that SARS-CoV-2 uses.

The research was led by virologist Shi Zhengli, who is known as the "bat man" for his outstanding contributions to the study of coronaviruses in this species.

The new virus, named HKU5-CoV-2, belongs to the branch of the HKU5 strain, which was first discovered in Japanese bats in Hong Kong. It belongs to the Merbecovirus group, a group of viruses that includes the agent that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

According to a publication in the journal Cell a few days ago, scientists have isolated and identified this new variant that is able to bind to the ACE2 receptor not only in bats but also in humans and many other mammals.



Experiments have shown that HKU5-CoV-2 can enter human cells as well as artificial tissues (simulating the respiratory and digestive systems). This raises concerns about the risk of spreading from bats to humans, either through direct transmission or through an intermediate host. In particular, the ability to link to many other animal species increases the risk of widespread spread.

However, scientists emphasize that the risk of an outbreak from this virus remains low. Although HKU5-CoV-2 has a higher level of adaptation to the human ACE2 receptor than the previous variant, its infection efficiency is still much lower than that of SARS-CoV-2.



The study also shows that the Merbecovirus group currently includes four separate viruses: MERS virus, two found in bats, and one found in hedgehogs. Of these, HKU5-CoV-2 is assessed to have the ability to infect across species, but the level of effective interaction with human cells is still limited.

Shi Zhengli, a renowned scientist at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, has faced controversy over the origins of Covid-19. Some theories suggest that SARS-CoV-2 may have originated from a leak at a Wuhan laboratory, but Shi has dismissed the claim. While there is no consensus on the origins of Covid-19, many studies suggest that the virus may have originated in bats and spread to humans through an intermediate host.