Chinese researchers, led by virologist Shi Zhengli, have discovered a new bat coronvirus, leading to potential risks of animal-human transmission, which increases the concerns of future spillover phenomena.
The virus, known as HKU5-Cov-2, belongs to Merbecovirus subgenus, including the Mers virus. According to the study cited by the Reuters of the news agency, this new isolated stress can bind the Ace2 receptor into human cells, the same passage used by the Covid-19 virus.
Published in the journal Room, The study stated that HKU5-Cov-2 was found to be infected in laboratory settings to infect human cells, increasing concerns about species to jump. In particular, it can also bind Ace2 receptors in a wide variety of mammals, suggests that many intermediate hosts may get its transmission facility to humans.
However, researchers emphasized that its current efficiency of infecting human cells is much lower than the Covid-19 virus. Despite the ability to infect human cells, he warned against increasing its immediate threat to the human population. More monitoring is required, but the virus capacity is speculative at this stage due to global epidemic.
Talk to South China morning post, The SHI team reiterated the need for vigilance in tracking the emerging virus in the bat population, as they pose a constant risk of zoonotic transmission. This new discovery occurs at a time when the origin of the Covid -19 epidemic remains the subject of intensive debate in which Bat Koronwirus often doubts as the primary source. These viruses are also known as “Batwuman” for their research, Shi has defended the role of Wuhan Institute of Virology, claiming that the Covid -19 virus has emerged from a laboratory leak.
The report also follows a previous study of the University of Washington, which efficiently binds the risk of HKU5 virus to human Ace2 receptors. However, Shii’s team argues that their findings indicate a broad host border and high capacity for intersection infections. The World Health Organization recently added Merbecovirus to its list of emerging pathogens for preparation for epidemic, emphasizing the need for further monitoring.
As governments and health officials focus on preventing future epidemic, the discovery underlines the importance of studying the zoonotic virus, especially in high -risk species such as bats, which go to harass many coronavirus Go While the accurate risk of HKU5-Cov-2 in the human population is not clear, conclusions remind them of the dangers arising by emerging infectious diseases.
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For now, researchers ask their transmission dynamics and factors for intensive monitoring and deep study of the virus, which can allow it to cross into the human population more easily.
