Researchers in China identified a new bat coronavirus that could transmit to humans using the same cellular receptor as SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind Covid-19. Led by Shi Zhengli, the study reveals a potential pathway for zoonotic transmission, linking the virus to bats and illustrating concerns regarding future outbreaks.
A new bat coronavirus has been discovered by a Chinese research team, raising concerns over its potential to infect humans similarly to Covid-19. The study was led by Shi Zhengli, renowned for her extensive research on coronaviruses, particularly at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. This discovery was conducted at the Guangzhou Laboratory in collaboration with the Guangzhou Academy of Sciences, Wuhan University, and the Wuhan Institute.
The newly identified virus is from the HKU5 lineage, first detected in Japanese pipistrelle bats in Hong Kong. It belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, which includes similar viruses such as the one causing Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). This is particularly alarming as the new virus can bind to the human angiotensin conversion enzyme 2 (ACE2), the same receptor utilized by the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for Covid-19.
Despite the controversy surrounding the origins of Covid-19, Shi Zhengli has firmly denied allegations that her institute was the source of the outbreak. Some researchers continue to advocate that the virus jumped from bats to humans through an intermediary species, but consensus remains elusive for now. As this new coronavirus has the capacity for animal-to-human transmission, it signals potential risks for future zoonotic infections.
The discovery of a new bat coronavirus by a Chinese research team highlights concerns regarding its ability to infect humans through the same receptor pathway as Covid-19. Led by the prominent virologist Shi Zhengli, this finding underscores the ongoing risk of zoonotic diseases emerging from animal reservoirs, particularly given the virus’s linkage to the ACE2 receptor and its classification within the merbecovirus subgenus. Continued research is vital to understand these potential threats.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
