Discovery of New Bat Coronavirus HKU5-CoV-2 in China Raises Zoonotic Concerns
A new bat coronavirus, named HKU5-CoV-2, has been discovered in China, raising concerns about its potential for animal-to-human transmission. The virus, identified by a team of Chinese researchers led by Shi Zhengli, a prominent virologist at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, uses the same human receptor, ACE2, as the viruses responsible for COVID-19 and SARS. This similarity allows it to infect human cells and artificially-grown lung and intestine tissues, according to a study published in the scientific journal Cell.
The research, conducted in collaboration with the Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Academy of Sciences, and Wuhan University, found that HKU5-CoV-2 belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, which includes the virus causing Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Lab tests revealed that the virus can bind to ACE2 receptors in humans, bats, and other animals, increasing the risk of cross-species transmission. However, the study emphasized that HKU5-CoV-2 is far less potent than SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, and the likelihood of widespread human transmission remains low.
Despite the virus’s ability to infect human cells, experts caution against overreacting. Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert, noted that the population now has greater immunity to similar viruses compared to 2019, potentially reducing the risk of a pandemic. The study also highlighted that HKU5-CoV-2 has a weaker binding affinity to human ACE2 than SARS-CoV-2, further mitigating concerns.
The discovery comes amid ongoing debates about the origins of COVID-19, with Shi Zhengli and the Wuhan Institute of Virology repeatedly denying claims of a lab leak. The first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Wuhan in December 2019, leading to a global pandemic that caused nearly seven million deaths. While HKU5-CoV-2 poses a zoonotic risk, researchers stress that further investigation is needed to determine its potential impact on human health.
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