Latest news with #MichaelLetko
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A potentially mutating bat virus has some scientists worried about the next pandemic
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Five years removed from the onset of Covid-19's global sweep, research into another subset of the coronavirus has scientists worried about another possible pandemic. This virus originated in bats, as most scientists believe Covid-19 did, and for now, the research has stressed that it is unable to do much damage to humans. But a potential viral mutation may change that. The pathogen in question is HKU5, which is naturally found in the Japanese house bat. HKU5 is a subgroup of the merbecovirus, which is itself a subcategory of the coronavirus that causes diseases like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). A recent study published in the journal Nature Communications examined a "scalable approach to assess novel merbecovirus cell entry across the entire merbecovirus subgenus," said the study's publication. This marks a ramping up of research into HKU5, and what type of threat viruses like it could pose. In the "past two decades, scientists have cataloged the genetic sequences of thousands of viruses in wild animals," but in "most cases, little is known about whether these viruses pose a threat to humans," said the University of Washington, which helped spearhead the study. While HKU5 in its current form is unlikely to infect humans, scientists say this could change if it were to mutate. Even though most merbecoviruses are "unlikely to have the capacity to infect humans, the HKU5 subgroup can," said Newsweek. The study found that HKU5 is able to "latch onto the ACE2 receptor on target cells." This is the same method that the coronavirus strain identified in 2019 uses to transmit Covid-19. At the moment, HKU5 viruses are "only able to adequately exploit the ACE2 receptor in bats — and are far less proficient at latching onto those found on human cells," said Newsweek. Still, scientists have already identified potential mutations that "might allow the viruses to bind to the ACE2 receptors in other species, including humans." HKU5 is similar to the type of merbecovirus that has caused a MERS outbreak since 2012, so there is legitimate cause for concern. HKU5 "may be only a small step away from being able to spill over into humans," Michael Letko, a virologist at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and author of the study, said in the university's press release. While there is "no evidence they've crossed into people yet, the potential is there — and that makes them worth watching," Letko said of these viruses. This is why the study was "offering insights into mutations and potential treatments," and this "research highlights the importance of monitoring these viruses closely," said KAYU-TV Spokane. Other researchers have downplayed the idea that HKU5 could ever make its way into humans. Chinese scientists first identified the strain in early 2025, and "there is no reason to believe it currently poses a concern to public health," a spokesperson for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told CNN at the time. Even the "researchers themselves point out that this should not cause panic," Dr. Amira Roess, a global health professor at George Mason University, said to the outlet. Research "helps us understand what happens in the event that this does spill over and pose a risk. It's good to get ahead of that."
Newsweek
12-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Overlooked Bat Viruses May Be 'Small Step' From Causing Next Pandemic
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An overlooked subgroup of bat viruses may be just one minor mutation away from being able to infect humans and potentially set off the next pandemic. This is the warning of a team of U.S.-based researchers who have been studying "merbecoviruses," a coronavirus subgenus that also includes the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus. Investigating how these merbecoviruses operate, the scientists found that while most likely pose no direct threat, the "HKU5" subgroup, which can be found across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East, do possess traits that raise concerns. "Merbecoviruses—and HKU5 viruses in particular—really hadn't been looked at much, but our study shows how these viruses infect cells," said paper author and virologist Michael Letko of the Washington State University in a statement. "What we also found is HKU5 viruses may be only a small step away from being able to spill over into humans." Stock image of a Japanese house bat, Pipistrellus abramus, mid-flight Stock image of a Japanese house bat, Pipistrellus abramus, mid-flight Russell Jenkins/iStock / Getty Images Plus Even though thousands of viruses that infect wild animals have had their genomes sequences over the last couple of decades, it is typical that we have little information on the potential risk these agents pose to humans. And little attention has been given to date to the merbecoviruses, with the notable exception of MERS-CoV. First detected in 2012, this zoonotic coronavirus—which can be transmitted to us from dromedary camels—causes severe respiratory disease in humans and has a mortality rate of around 34 percent. Like SARS-CoV-2 (the virus behind COVID-19), merbecoviruses attack host cells by binding to them using a so-called spike protein. In their study, Letko and colleagues conducted experiments involving virus-like particles that sported only the binding part of the spike, allowing them to study the ability of merbecoviruses to infect human cells. Although the team found that most merbecoviruses are unlikely to have the capacity to infect humans, the HKU5 subgroup can; in fact, its members latch onto the ACE2 receptor on target cells just like SARS-CoV-2 does. At present, HKU5 viruses are only able to adequately exploit the ACE2 receptor in bats—and are far less proficient at latching onto those found on human cells. However, when the researchers analyzed HKU5 viruses from Asia (where their natural host is the Japanese house bat, Pipistrellus abramus), the researchers identified mutations that might allow the viruses to bind to the ACE2 receptors in other species, including humans. In fact, a study published in 2024 found a HKU5 virus that had spilled over into mink. "These viruses are so closely related to MERS, so we have to be concerned if they ever infect humans," explained Letko. "While there's no evidence they've crossed into people yet, the potential is there—and that makes them worth watching." Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about exoplanets? Let us know via science@ References Catanzaro, N. J., Wu, Z., Fan, C., Jefferson, V., Abdelgadir, A., Schäfer, A., Yount, B. L., Bjorkman, P. J., Baric, R., & Letko, M. (2025). ACE2 from Pipistrellus abramus bats is a receptor for HKU5 coronaviruses. Nature Communications, 16(1), 4932. Zhao, J., Wan, W., Yu, K., Lemey, P., Pettersson, J. H.-O., Bi, Y., Lu, M., Li, X., Chen, Z., Zheng, M., Yan, G., Dai, J., Li, Y., Haerheng, A., He, N., Tu, C., Suchard, M. A., Holmes, E. C., He, W.-T., & Su, S. (2024). Farmed fur animals harbour viruses with zoonotic spillover potential. Nature, 634(8032), 228–233.
The Irish Sun
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
New coronavirus only ‘one small step from spilling over into humans' and sparking widespread outbreak, say scientists
A NEW coronavirus may only be "a small step away from spilling over into humans", scientists have warned - sparking fears of another pandemic. Scientists believe the variant, called 1 Dr Michael Letko, a molecular virologist at WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine, is leading the research into the concerning variant Credit: Ted S. Warren/College of Veterinary Medicine/WSU American scientists fear the virus - found in China - may be one small mutation away from also being able to infect humans, which could lead to a widespread outbreak. The new study, published in , looked at a lesser-known group of coronaviruses called merbecoviruses. It includes HKU5 and MERS-CoV, which is responsible for the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. First noted in 2012, the virus typically spreads from infected camels to humans and causes severe respiratory disease, which can be fatal to 34 per cent of its victims. Read more on pandemics The research team, which included scientists at Washington State University (WSU), the California Institute of Technology and the University of North Carolina, sought to understand how merbecoviruses infiltrate the cells of their hosts. While most bugs in the group seemed to pose little threat to people, scientists said one subgroup, HKU5, has concerning traits. Michael Letko, a virologist at WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine, said: "Merbecoviruses – and HKU5 viruses in particular – really hadn't been looked at much, but our study shows how these viruses infect cells. "What we also found is HKU5 viruses may be only a small step away from being able to spill over into humans." Most read in Health Like other coronaviruses, merbecoviruses rely on a spike protein to bind to receptors and invade host cells. Dr Letko's team used virus-like particles containing the part of the spike protein responsible for binding to receptors and tested their ability to infect cells in their lab. World is not prepared for looming Disease X pandemic says Doctor Tedros Ghebreyesus While most merbecoviruses appeared unlikely to be able to infect humans, HKU5 viruses — which have been found across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East — were shown to use a host receptor known as ACE2, the same used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19. But for now HKU5 viruses can only use the ACE2 gene in bats and can't deploy it on humans nearly as well. Examining HKU5 viruses found in Asia - where their host is the Japanese house bat - the researchers demonstrated some mutations in the spike protein that may allow the viruses to bind to ACE2 receptors in other species, including humans. 'These viruses are so closely related to MERS, so we have to be concerned if they ever infect humans,' Dr Letko said. 'While there's no evidence they've crossed into people yet, the potential is there — and that makes them worth watching.' Dr Letko said the study and its methods could be used for future research projects and to help the development of new vaccines and treatments. What is the new Covid variant confirmed in the UK? The new strain - called NB.1.8.1 - has been spotted in the parts of the UK, such as Ireland and Wales. It's also cropped up in Europe, the US and Australia, as well as Egypt, the Maldives, Thailand, China and Hong Kong. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently issued a warning over NB.1.8.1, designating it as a "variant under monitoring" due to its global spread and key mutations. 'Despite a concurrent increase in cases and hospitalisations in some countries where NB.1.8.1 is widespread, current data do not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness than other variants in circulation,' the WHO said. But while it may not be particularly severe, it may infect people more easily than previous variants, with some evidence suggesting that the variant binds more tightly to human cells. The WHO stressed that, based on available evidence, the variant's risk to public health was "low at the global level". "Currently approved Covid-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective to this variant against symptomatic and severe disease," it added. Symptoms include sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and a blocked nose. Some people may also get gastrointestinal symptoms. It's not the first time concerns have been raised over HKU5. Earlier this year, Chinese scientists warned that This suggests a higher potential for zoonotic spillover - when a disease spreads from animal to human. If there is no 'intermediate middle animal', it becomes harder to predict and prevent spillover events through interactions such as wildlife trading or hunting. "There is the potential for this new virus to spillover to humans, like previous coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2," said Dr Gary R McLean, a research fellow at the Imperial College London, who was not involved in the study. But he noted that, so far, there is no "evidence" that HKU5-CoV-2 can infect people – the paper is based on tests in a laboratory, showing the bug's "potential". "Hopefully the Chinese authorities now have good surveillance systems in place and the laboratories work to rigid safety standards that minimise the risk of spillover occurring," he said. The WHO has previously listed MERS and Covid as two of several diseases - alongside the mysterious disease X - that could spark a pandemic, but for which there is no specific treatment or vaccine.
Scottish Sun
09-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
New coronavirus only ‘one small step from spilling over into humans' and sparking widespread outbreak, say scientists
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A NEW coronavirus may only be "a small step away from spilling over into humans", scientists have warned - sparking fears of another pandemic. Scientists believe the variant, called HKU5-CoV-2, may infect a broader range of animals than Covid-19 and may have more potential for jumping between species. 1 Dr Michael Letko, a molecular virologist at WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine, lead the research into the concerning variant Credit: Ted S. Warren/College of Veterinary Medicine/WSU American scientists fear the virus - found in China - may be one small mutation away from also being able to infect humans, which could lead to a widespread outbreak. The new study, published in Nature Communications, looked at a lesser-known group of coronaviruses called merbecoviruses. It includes HKU5 and MERS-CoV, which is responsible for the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. First noted in 2012, the virus typically spreads from infected camels to humans causes severe respiratory disease, which can be fatal to 34 per cent of its victims. The research team, which included scientists at Washington State University (WSU), the California Institute of Technology and the University of North Carolina, sought to understand how merbecoviruses infiltrate the cells of their hosts. While most bugs in the group seemed to pose little threat to people, scientists said one subgroup, HKU5, has concerning traits. Michael Letko, a virologist at WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine, said: "Merbecoviruses – and HKU5 viruses in particular – really hadn't been looked at much, but our study shows how these viruses infect cells. "What we also found is HKU5 viruses may be only a small step away from being able to spill over into humans." Like other coronaviruses, merbecoviruses rely on a spike protein to bind to receptors and invade host cells. Dr Letko's team used virus-like particles containing the part of the spike protein responsible for binding to receptors and tested their ability to infect cells in their lab. World is not prepared for looming Disease X pandemic says Doctor Tedros Ghebreyesus While most merbecoviruses appeared unlikely to be able to infect humans, HKU5 viruses — which have been found across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East — were shown to use a host receptor known as ACE2, the same used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19. But for now HKU5 viruses can only use the ACE2 gene in bats and can't deploy it on humans nearly as well. Examining HKU5 viruses found in Asia - where their host is the Japanese house bat - the researchers demonstrated some mutations in the spike protein that may allow the viruses to bind to ACE2 receptors in other species, including humans. 'These viruses are so closely related to MERS, so we have to be concerned if they ever infect humans,' Dr Letko said. 'While there's no evidence they've crossed into people yet, the potential is there — and that makes them worth watching.' Dr Letko said the study and its methods could be used for future research projects and to help the development of new vaccines and treatments. What is the new Covid variant confirmed in the UK? The new strain - called NB.1.8.1 - has been spotted in the parts of the UK, such as Ireland and Wales. It's also cropped up in Europe, the US and Australia, as well as Egypt, the Maldives, Thailand, China and Hong Kong. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently issued a warning over NB.1.8.1, designating it as a "variant under monitoring" due to its global spread and key mutations. 'Despite a concurrent increase in cases and hospitalisations in some countries where NB.1.8.1 is widespread, current data do not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness than other variants in circulation,' the WHO said. But while it may not be particularly severe, it may infect people more easily than previous variants, with some evidence suggesting that the variant binds more tightly to human cells. A recent study that has not yet been peer reviewed suggests that a person infected with NB.1.8.1 may be more likely to pass the virus on to someone else, compared to earlier variants. The WHO stressed that, based on available evidence, the variant's risk to public health was "low at the global level". "Currently approved Covid-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective to this variant against symptomatic and severe disease," it added. Symptoms include sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and a blocked nose. Some people may also get gastrointestinal symptoms. It's not the first time concerns have been raised over HKU5. Earlier this year, Chinese scientists warned that HKU5-CoV-2 may be able to jump straight from bats to humans without another animal in between. This suggests a higher potential for zoonotic spillover - when a disease spreads from animal to human. If there is no 'intermediate 'middle animal', it becomes harder to predict and prevent spillover events through interactions such as wildlife trading or hunting. "There is the potential for this new virus to spillover to human, like previous coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2," said Dr Gary R McLean, a research fellow at the Imperial College London, who was not involved in the study. But he noted that, so far, there is no "evidence" that HKU5-CoV-2 can infect people – the paper is based on tests in a laboratory, showing the bug's "potential". "Hopefully the Chinese authorities now have good surveillance systems in place and the laboratories work to rigid safety standards that minimise the risk of spillover occurring," he said. The WHO has previously listed MERS and Covid as two of several diseases - alongside the mysterious disease X - that could spark a pandemic, but for which there is no specific treatment or vaccine.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New coronavirus discovered in China ‘only small step' from infecting humans
A new coronavirus discovered in China is only a small step from mutating and causing another global pandemic, experts have warned. Scientists believe the variant, called HKU5-CoV-2, may infect a broader range of animals than Covid-19 – which caused millions of deaths – and may have more potential for jumping between species. US researchers fear that HKU5-CoV-2, found in China, in February, could also infect humans, leading to a widespread outbreak. The new study, published in Nature Communications, looked at a lesser-known group of coronaviruses called merbecoviruses, which includes HKU5 and MERS-CoV, which is responsible for the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. The team from Washington State University looked at how the new pathogen interacts with human cells. They found that a small change in the virus's spike protein could allow it to attach to human ACE2 cells in people's throats, mouths and noses. HKU5-CoV-2 can infect and replicate inside human cells in both the airways and gut. According to the World Health Organisation, about 35 per cent of people infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome die. Since 2012, some 27 countries have reported cases, leading to 858 known deaths due to the infection, which spread from camels. But when HKU5 was discovered in February, scientists warned against exaggerating the risks because it does not enter human cells as readily as Sars-CoV-2, which caused Covid-19. HKU5 was first detected in bats by scientists from the Chinese laboratory where some say Covid originated in 2019. Prof Michael Letko, a virologist who co-led the study, said: 'HKU5 viruses in particular really hadn't been looked at much, but our study shows how these viruses infect cells. 'What we also found is HKU5 viruses may be only a small step away from being able to spill over into humans.' When Covid-19 emerged it was widely blamed on markets in China where different breeds of wild animal are kept caged and often slaughtered close to other animals. Meat is sold at the open-air stalls. Critics said the markets were the perfect breeding ground for new zoonotic diseases – those that spread to humans – to emerge. The scientists, whose experiments studied how the new pathogen interacts with human cells, believe the virus would have to carry certain mutations if it were to infect humans. 'These viruses are closely related to MERS, so we have to be concerned if they ever infect humans,' Prof Letko said. 'While there's no evidence they've crossed into people yet, the potential is there and that makes them worth watching.'
