Chinese scientists have identified a new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, which has the potential to infect humans, raising fresh concerns about zoonotic diseases.
The study, conducted by a team led by renowned virologist Shi Zhengli at the Guangzhou Laboratory, was published in the scientific journal Cell.
Findings of the Study
The virus, found in bats in China, shares similarities with SARS-CoV-2, particularly in its ability to use the ACE2 receptor to enter human cells. However, researchers have stated that its ability to infect humans remains limited.
HKU5-CoV-2 is a descendant of HKU5, first identified in the Japanese pipistrelle bat in Hong Kong. It belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, which includes the MERS virus.
Like SARS-CoV-2, the new virus contains a furin cleavage site, which helps the virus enter human cells.
Should This Virus Be a Cause for Concern?
Laboratory experiments revealed that HKU5-CoV-2 can infect human cells with high ACE2 expression, particularly in intestinal and airway models.
However, Chinese scientists have downplayed its threat, stating that it does not bind as effectively to human ACE2 receptors as SARS-CoV-2.
Renowned infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm dismissed fears about the study, calling the reaction “overblown”. He pointed out that global immunity to SARS-like viruses has improved since the Covid-19 pandemic, reducing the risk of another major outbreak.
A separate study by researchers from the University of Washington (Seattle) and Wuhan University found that while HKU5-CoV-2 can bind to bat and mammalian ACE2 receptors, it does not exhibit “efficient” human binding.
Potential Treatment and Immunity
Researchers have identified monoclonal antibodies and antiviral drugs that could target the virus, indicating possible treatment options if it were to spread.
Shi Zhengli – China’s ‘Batwoman’
The study was led by Shi Zhengli, a top virologist at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, often referred to as “Batwoman” for her extensive research on bat coronaviruses.
She was at the center of global scrutiny during the Covid-19 pandemic, as the Wuhan institute was widely speculated to be the virus’s origin. However, Shi has denied all lab leak theories, and the origins of the Covid-19 virus remain unresolved.
Covid-19 Pandemic Background
The Covid-19 pandemic originated in late 2019 in China and led to a global health crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a pandemic in early 2020.
As of February 2025, Covid-19 has caused over 7 million confirmed deaths worldwide, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in history.
