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Wednesday, Feb 26, 2025
Outside the box.
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The identification of a new bat coronavirus has sparked worries about the possibility of human transmission.
Chinese researchers have identified a new lineage of coronavirus that may use the same receptor as the virus that causes COVID-19, which poses potential risks for human infection.
A group of virologists in China has discovered a new bat coronavirus that could present risks of transmission from animals to humans.
The research demonstrates that this novel virus can utilize the human angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE2) receptor, the same entry point used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that leads to COVID-19. This study was led by Shi Zhengli, a well-known virologist affiliated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).
Shi, recognized for her in-depth studies on bat viruses, has attracted significant attention, particularly due to the institute's contentious links to the origins of COVID-19.
The recently identified virus belongs to a new lineage within the HKU5 coronavirus group, which was first identified in the population of Japanese pipistrelle bats in Hong Kong.
This group falls under the merbecovirus subgenus, which includes other pathogens such as the one causing Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
In a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell, the virology team stated, "We report the discovery and isolation of a distinct lineage (lineage 2) of HKU5-CoV, which can utilize not only bat ACE2 but also human ACE2 and various mammalian ACE2 orthologs." This indicates the potential of the virus to infect human cells and possibly replicate in structured tissues that mimic miniature respiratory or intestinal organs, suggesting a significant biological function.
The implications of this finding are part of larger discussions on gain-of-function research.
With increased scrutiny, the Chinese government has reiterated that the WIV has not participated in gain-of-function studies concerning coronaviruses.
This response comes after U.S. officials alleged that funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) may have been allocated to such studies, which could have influenced the emergence of COVID-19. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun has consistently asserted, "Never has it designed, made or leaked COVID-19," positioning the investigations into the virus's origins as politically driven.
The Wuhan lab has faced intensified scrutiny and speculation, especially during the Trump administration, which highlighted the possibility of a lab-related incident as a source of the pandemic.
The latest findings about the new coronavirus necessitate continuous investigation of zoonotic transmission routes and the health implications of emerging viral discoveries.
Guo has previously remarked that it is "extremely unlikely" for the COVID-19 pandemic to have originated from a laboratory accident, reflecting comments from experts involved in the World Health Organization's investigations in China.
The research demonstrates that this novel virus can utilize the human angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE2) receptor, the same entry point used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that leads to COVID-19. This study was led by Shi Zhengli, a well-known virologist affiliated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).
Shi, recognized for her in-depth studies on bat viruses, has attracted significant attention, particularly due to the institute's contentious links to the origins of COVID-19.
The recently identified virus belongs to a new lineage within the HKU5 coronavirus group, which was first identified in the population of Japanese pipistrelle bats in Hong Kong.
This group falls under the merbecovirus subgenus, which includes other pathogens such as the one causing Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
In a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell, the virology team stated, "We report the discovery and isolation of a distinct lineage (lineage 2) of HKU5-CoV, which can utilize not only bat ACE2 but also human ACE2 and various mammalian ACE2 orthologs." This indicates the potential of the virus to infect human cells and possibly replicate in structured tissues that mimic miniature respiratory or intestinal organs, suggesting a significant biological function.
The implications of this finding are part of larger discussions on gain-of-function research.
With increased scrutiny, the Chinese government has reiterated that the WIV has not participated in gain-of-function studies concerning coronaviruses.
This response comes after U.S. officials alleged that funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) may have been allocated to such studies, which could have influenced the emergence of COVID-19. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun has consistently asserted, "Never has it designed, made or leaked COVID-19," positioning the investigations into the virus's origins as politically driven.
The Wuhan lab has faced intensified scrutiny and speculation, especially during the Trump administration, which highlighted the possibility of a lab-related incident as a source of the pandemic.
The latest findings about the new coronavirus necessitate continuous investigation of zoonotic transmission routes and the health implications of emerging viral discoveries.
Guo has previously remarked that it is "extremely unlikely" for the COVID-19 pandemic to have originated from a laboratory accident, reflecting comments from experts involved in the World Health Organization's investigations in China.
