A new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, has been discovered in China, posing a potential risk for animal-to-human transmission similar to SARS-CoV-2, which caused the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers, led by Shi Zhengli from the Wuhan Institute, found that HKU5-CoV-2 can bind to human ACE2 cells, indicating potential for infection. While some experts express concern over possible zoonotic risks, Dr. Michael Osterholm downplays the immediate pandemic threat, citing existing immunity to SARS viruses. The study highlights that HKU5-CoV-2 may adapt to humans but emphasizes that the risk of a significant emergence should not be overstated.
A newly identified bat coronavirus that poses a potential risk of animal-to-human transmission, akin to the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, has been uncovered in China. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reports that this novel virus, named HKU5-CoV-2, was discovered by a team of virologists led by Shi Zhengli, famously referred to as “Batwoman” for her extensive research on coronaviruses, particularly at the Wuhan Institute, which has been at the center of theories alleging that COVID-19 originated from a lab leak—claims that China has consistently denied.
The research team in China noted that the new virus shares characteristics with SARS-CoV-2—the virus responsible for the COVID pandemic—since it too can enter human cells known as ACE2 in a manner similar to COVID, as reported by the outlet.
What is HKU5-CoV-2?
HKU5-CoV-2 is classified as a coronavirus within the merbecovirus subgenus, which also encompasses the virus responsible for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Researchers found that the new virus can attach to human ACE2, showing similarities to both SARS-CoV-2 and NL63 (a virus associated with the common cold).
Through laboratory testing, the research team found that HKU5-CoV-2 could infect human cell cultures using mini-human organ models.
The study stated, “Bat merbecoviruses, which are phylogenetically related to MERS-CoV, pose a high risk of spillover to humans, either through direct transmission or facilitated by intermediate hosts,” according to Newsweek. However, it cautioned that the possibility of the virus transmitting to humans “remains to be investigated.”
“Structural and functional analyses suggest that HKU5-CoV-2 demonstrates a superior adaptation to human ACE2 compared to lineage 1 HKU5-CoV,” the Chinese research group noted in their publication.
“Authentic HKU5-CoV-2 infected human ACE2-expressing cell lines and human respiratory and enteric organoids. This research reveals a distinct lineage of HKU5-CoVs in bats that effectively utilize human ACE2 and highlights their potential zoonotic risk,” they concluded.
It is still uncertain whether this discovery could lead to any diseases in humans.
Could we be facing another pandemic?
In response to concerns about the possibility of another pandemic stemming from this new virus, Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, described the reaction to the study as “overblown.” He emphasized that there is a considerable amount of immunity in the population against similar SARS viruses compared to 2019, which might mitigate the risk of a pandemic.
Importantly, the study itself indicated that the virus exhibits considerably lower binding affinity to human ACE2 than SARS-CoV-2, and other less favorable factors for human adaptation suggest that the “risk of emergence in human populations should not be exaggerated.”