Scientists in China have identified a new coronavirus in bats that could potentially infect humans. The discovery was made by researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, who published their findings in the journal Cell last week.
The virus, dubbed HKU5-CoV-2, is closely related to the MERS virus and has been found to possess an adaptation that allows it to infect a wide range of mammals. However, further analysis suggests that the virus is less suited for human infection due to certain suboptimal factors.
HKU5-CoV-2 interacts with a protein receptor called ACE2, which is also used by SARS-CoV-2 to infect cells. While the researchers found that strains of HKU5-CoV-2 could efficiently use human ACE2 to enter cells, other factors suggest that the virus may not be able to spread easily between humans.
The study highlights the importance of monitoring and studying emerging infectious diseases, as new coronaviruses like HKU5-CoV-2 may pose a threat in the future. The researchers emphasize that while the risk of this particular virus spreading is low, other similar viruses could potentially become a threat.
According to the researchers, tracking and learning more about these threats early on will be essential in stopping or mitigating the harm caused by new infectious diseases.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/scientists-discover-new-coronavirus-with-potential-to-infect-humans-what-to-know-2000568235