New bat coronavirus discovered in China sparks pandemic concerns

The identification of a novel bat coronavirus in China has raised alarms regarding the possibility of a new pandemic.

Designated as HKU5-CoV-2, this virus shares similarities with SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen responsible for COVID-19, as it targets the same human receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2), according to a report by the South China Morning Post.

Researchers have indicated that HKU5-CoV-2 may facilitate human-to-human transmission or even cross-species transmission.

The research was spearheaded by Zheng-Li Shi at the Guangzhou Laboratory in Guangdong, China. Known as the “batwoman,” Shi has previously worked at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has faced scrutiny as a potential origin of COVID-19.

The study highlights a unique lineage of HKU5-CoVs in bats that effectively utilize human ACE2, emphasizing their potential zoonotic threat, as stated in the research published in the scientific journal Cell on February 18.

Contributors to this study included researchers from the Guangzhou Academy of Sciences, Wuhan University, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

The findings revealed that HKU5-CoV-2 is capable of infecting human cells as well as those artificially cultivated.

Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and a senior medical analyst for Fox News, remarked that bats are known to host various species of coronaviruses. He noted that Shi-Zhengli discovered a pipistrellus species of bats carrying the HKU5-CoV-2 coronavirus, which is related to the MERS virus that caused a limited outbreak in humans in 2012.
As we persist in our examination of potential human pathogens, it is crucial that we do not succumb to fear.

This specific strain possesses the capability to attach to the same receptor in the lungs, nose, and respiratory tracts that enabled SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) to infect humans. Consequently, there exists a possibility of zoonotic spillover, where this virus could potentially infect humans and facilitate human-to-human transmission, he affirmed.

However, the physician noted that the likelihood of such an occurrence remains “very low,” as the binding affinity is weaker and the virus is “significantly less potent” than SARS-CoV-2.

While we continue to explore potential human pathogens and prepare for possible pandemics, it is essential that we do not yield to fear, Siegel emphasized.

The COVID pandemic has been the most severe in a century, but this does not imply that another outbreak is imminent from bird flu or any other source.

The virus, designated HKU5-CoV-2, targets the same human receptor as the similar SARS-CoV-2, which is responsible for COVID-19.

In an optimal scenario, Siegel suggested the formation of an international consortium of scientists to enhance global protection.

“This certainly did not occur during the COVID pandemic, and a veil of secrecy persists,” he remarked. “Nevertheless, studies like this, published in a reputable journal, represent progress in the right direction.”