2 days ago
New coronavirus in China shows pandemic-like threat, scientists warn
A group of mysterious bat viruses might be just one tiny mutation away from becoming a serious problem for humans, warn US researchers in a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature viruses belong to the same family as MERS-CoV, a dangerous coronavirus that emerged in 2012 and causes severe respiratory a death rate of around 34%, MERS-CoV has already shown the world what these viruses are capable
Now, scientists from Washington State University, Caltech, and the University of North Carolina have turned their focus to a lesser-known subgroup called these, one subgroup in particular, called the HKU5 viruses, is raising red flags."HKU5 viruses haven't been studied much, but our research shows they have the machinery to infect cells. In fact, they might be only a single step away from being able to infect humans,' said Dr. Michael Letko, a virologist and lead author of the IS THIS WORRYING?Like the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19, these bat viruses use a spike protein to latch onto cells and infect them.
With a death rate of around 34%, MERS-CoV has already shown the world what these viruses are capable of. ()
advertisementThis study showed that HKU5 viruses can bind to a receptor called ACE2, the same one used by Covid-19, but currently only in bats, not that line is thinner than it just a small genetic tweak, these viruses could potentially start binding to human cells. In fact, some versions have already been spotted infecting minks in China, a sign that they can jump across if that mutation happens in just the right way, the next big spillover could be on the horizon."These viruses are very close relatives of MERS. That alone should make us pay attention," Letko said in a take the research a step further, scientists also used AI, specifically a tool called AlphaFold 3, to simulate how the spike protein would interact with ACE2 receptors.
This study showed that HKU5 viruses can bind to a receptor called ACE2, the same one used by Covid-19, but currently only in bats, not humans.()
This software predicted virus behaviour in minutes, a process that would usually take months of lab work. The AI's findings closely matched results from traditional lab researchers had earlier shared findings of the new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2 in study led by virologist Shi Zhengli, who is also known as the 'batwoman".Zhengli found that in lab experiments, HKU5-CoV-2 infected human cells with high ACE2 levels in test tubes and in models of human intestines and researchers also identified monoclonal antibodies and antiviral drugs that target the bat DOES THIS STUDY MATTER?The study's findings matter because, as we've learned from Covid-19, viruses don't need a passport to go global. If we ignore the warning signs, we risk another pandemic blindsiding an eye on viruses like HKU5 gives scientists a head start in developing vaccines, treatments, and public health strategies, before it's too Dr. Letko put it, there's no need to panic, but there is every reason to prepare.
