A recent discovery by a team of Chinese scientists has unveiled a new bat coronavirus named HKU5-CoV-2, which possesses the potential for animal-to-human transmission, raising alarms similar to concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell, was conducted by a team led by renowned virologist Shi Zhengli, often referred to as "batwoman" due to her extensive work on coronaviruses.

The research team, which included experts from the Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Academy of Sciences, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology, discovered that HKU5-CoV-2 can bind to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, a mechanism similar to that of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.

The new lineage of HKU5 was identified in Japanese pipistrelle bats, and its structure suggests a higher potential for infecting humans compared to many other coronaviruses. According to the study, “bat merbecoviruses… pose a high risk of spillover to humans,” either through direct transmission or via intermediate hosts.

Although there are legitimate concerns regarding the spillover potential, the researchers cautioned against overstating the current risk. They noted that while HKU5-CoV-2 binds effectively to human ACE2, its efficiency is "significantly lower" than that of SARS-CoV-2. They advised the need for continued monitoring and vigilance, highlighting that the “risk of [HKU5-CoV-2] emergence in human populations should not be exaggerated,” as quoted from the research findings.

This discovery adds another dimension to the ongoing dialogue regarding viral emergence and pandemic preparedness, as the World Health Organization has recently included merbecoviruses on its list of emerging pathogens.

The research serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between humans and pathogens emerging from wildlife, further underscored by the ongoing conversation surrounding the origins of COVID-19. Shi Zhengli has previously rejected claims that the coronavirus was a result of a laboratory accident, and the origins of COVID-19 remain a topic of scientific inquiry and debate.

For more details, visit the original articles from South China Morning Post, India Times, and Newsweek.