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A team of Chinese researchers has discovered a new bat coronavirus that has the potential to jump from animals to humans, raising concerns about possible future outbreaks.
The virus, named HKU5-CoV-2, uses the same receptor as the SARS and COVID-19 viruses to infect human cells, according to a study published in the scientific journal Cell.
Scientists warn of possible cross-species transmission
The study was conducted by the Guangzhou Laboratory in collaboration with the Guangzhou Academy of Sciences, Wuhan University, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Researchers found that HKU5-CoV-2 can infect human cells and artificially-grown lung and intestine tissues in lab tests. More notably, it can bind to ACE2 receptors in humans, bats, and other animals, increasing the risk of cross-species transmission.
The virus belongs to a lineage of coronaviruses originally identified in Japanese pipistrelle bats in Hong Kong.
While it exhibits a stronger ability to bind to hosts than its original strain, scientists emphasize that HKU5-CoV-2 is significantly weaker than SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the likelihood of widespread human transmission remains low.
Ongoing debates about virus origins
Shi Zhengli, the lead scientist of the study and a prominent researcher at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, has previously faced scrutiny over theories suggesting that COVID-19 originated from a lab leak. Shi has denied such claims, maintaining that natural transmission remains the most plausible explanation.
China has repeatedly dismissed the theory that COVID-19 resulted from an accidental lab leak, calling it a "CIA-backed narrative." Instead, Chinese authorities argue that the pandemic likely originated from natural transmission in a wet market in Wuhan, where the first cases were reported in December 2019.
While HKU5-CoV-2 does not currently pose an immediate global threat, experts urge continued surveillance of emerging coronaviruses to prevent future pandemics. The findings highlight the importance of monitoring bat populations, as these animals have been identified as key reservoirs for potential zoonotic diseases.