A new bat Koronwirus that carries the risk of animal-to-human transmission is similar to the Kovid-19 epidemic, discovered in China. As South China Morning Post (SCMP)The new virus named HKU5-Cov-2 was found by a team of Virologists led by Shi Zhengli, which is a famous scientist known as “Batvoman” for his lifetime work in Koronwirus, especially in the Wuhan Institute, Which is in the center. The principle suggesting the Covid -19 came from a laboratory leak -some China has repeatedly denied.
Chinese researchers found that the new virus has Sars Cov -2 -Virus similarities, causing Kovid epidemic – because it could also infiltrate human cells called Ace2, the way Kovid did the way Kovid told.
What is HKU5-Cov-2?
HKU5-Cov-2 is a Koronvirus belonging to the Merbecovirus subgenus, including the virus that causes the Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers). Scientists found that the new virus could bind the human Ace2, making it similar to Sars-Cov-2 and NL63 (a common cold virus).
During a laboratory testing, the team found that HKU5-Cov-2 was able to infect human cell cultures in the mini-human organ model used by scientists.
The study stated, “Bat Merbecovirus, which belong to Mers-Cov, which induces a high risk of spillover for humans, either through direct transmission or by intermediate hosts,” stated in, ” NewsweekHowever, it was noted that the virus should be “investigated” the possibility of spreading into humans.
“Structural and functional analyzes indicate that HKU5-Cov-2 has a better adaptation for human Ace2, compared to Lineage 1 HKU5-Cov,” Chinese research team has written in the study.
“Authentic HKU5-COV-2 infected human Ace2-expressed cell lines and human respiratory and acute orgenoids. This study reveals a separate lineage of HKU5-Covs in bats that detect a different lineage that efficiently uses human acha2 and their potential zoonotic Underlines the risk, “he concluded.
It is unknown whether this discovery will cause any disease in humans.
Can we face another epidemic?
Asked about the concerns raised by the report of another epidemic generated from this new virus, Dr., an infectious pathologist at the University of Minnesota. Michael Oosterhom called the study response as “overblown”. He said that there is a lot of immunity in the population for the same SARS virus compared to 2019, which can reduce the epidemic risk.
In particular, the study has stated that the virus has much less binding affinity for human Ace2 compared to Sars-Cov-2, and other sub-ropic factors for human adaptation suggests that “emergence in human population The risk should not be exaggerated “.
