Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:03pm on 21 Feb 2025,Friday Health & Wellness
Chinese researchers have identified a new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, capable of binding to the human ACE2 receptor, similar to SARS-CoV-2. Led by virologist Shi Zhengli, the study involved scientists from Wuhan and Guangzhou and was published in Cell. The virus, linked to the MERS subgenus, was found in Japanese pipistrelle bats. Researchers warn of possible animal-to-human transmission but stress its binding efficiency to human receptors is lower than SARS-CoV-2. Scientists caution against exaggerating the risk but highlight the potential for spillover through intermediate hosts.
