EBN- After Chinese scientists were able to identify a new coronavirus that infects bats , HKU5-CoV-2, that is capable of infecting humans, which raised new concerns about future outbreaks of the disease, should we worry about this new virus and could it lead to another pandemic? .. This is what we will learn the answer to in the following lines..
What is the new coronavirus HKU5-CoV-2?
According to scientists, HKU5-CoV-2 is part of the Mersaviva virus family – which also includes the MERS virus. It was first found in bats in Hong Kong and has now been identified as a new strain that can bind to human cells.
The virus can also bind to cells in different animals, increasing its chances of being transmitted between species. However, according to scientists, the virus’s ability to infect humans is much weaker than that of Covid-19, according to a report in the South China Morning Post.
There are several hundred coronaviruses of several classes. Only a few, including SARS, SARS-CoV-2, MERS, and a few others , infect humans.
Could the new virus lead to another pandemic??
According to experts around the world, as it is a new virus that can infect human cells there is a need to remain alert, despite claims that it does not appear to be as dangerous as the novel coronavirus.
Researchers say that although the risk of its spread is considered low, viruses like this can evolve over time.
“Despite the potential risk, there is no need to panic,” the study said. “Structural and functional analyses suggest that HKU5-CoV-2 has better adaptation to human ACE2 than HKU5-CoV strain 1. ACE2-expressing human cell lines infected with HKU5-CoV-2 and human respiratory and intestinal organs.
This study reveals a distinct lineage of HKU5-CoVs in bats that efficiently uses human ACE2 and underscores its potential zoonotic risk.
