A newly identified bat coronavirus, named HKU5-CoV-2, has been discovered in China and could potentially be transmitted from animals to humans, similar to the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic. This virus was found by a team of virologists led by Shi Zhengli, known as “Batwoman” for her extensive research on coronaviruses, particularly at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has been at the center of lab leak theories—though China has denied these allegations.
The new virus shares similarities with SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, as it can invade human cells through ACE2 receptors in much the same way. HKU5-CoV-2 is part of the merbecovirus subgenus, which includes the MERS virus. It was found to bind to human ACE2 receptors, making it comparable to SARS-CoV-2 and NL63, a common cold virus. In laboratory tests, the virus successfully infected human cell cultures and mini-organ models.
The research indicates that bat coronaviruses like HKU5-CoV-2 pose a significant risk of spilling over into humans, either directly or through intermediate hosts. However, the researchers emphasize that more study is needed to determine whether the virus could actually jump to humans. The findings suggest that HKU5-CoV-2 has a stronger ability to bind to human ACE2 than other related viruses, which increases its potential for zoonotic transmission.
Despite concerns about the possibility of a new pandemic, Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert, downplayed the fears, noting that there is now more immunity in the population against similar SARS viruses, which could reduce the risk of a pandemic. The study also suggests that HKU5-CoV-2 has a lower affinity for human ACE2 compared to SARS-CoV-2, and other factors indicate that the risk of this virus emerging in humans is lower than initially thought.
