A team of researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China has recently identified a new bat-borne coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, that enters human cells using the same gateway as the virus responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic. While the virus has not yet infected humans, scientists have raised concerns about its potential to spread to people in the future, prompting global attention.
The announcement of this discovery led to a surge in the stock prices of vaccine manufacturers. On Friday, shares of Moderna Inc. rose by 6.6%, while Novavax Inc. saw an increase of 7.8%. BioNTech SE’s American depositary receipts climbed by 5.1%, and Pfizer gained 2.6%, according to a Bloomberg report.
The Discovery of HKU5-CoV-2
The new bat coronavirus, identified as HKU5-CoV-2, has the potential to infect humans due to its ability to bind to the same receptor used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which caused the Covid-19 pandemic. This discovery was led by Shi Zhengli, a prominent virologist often referred to as “Batwoman” for her extensive work on bat coronaviruses. Her findings have raised concerns worldwide, though researchers have noted that the risk of this new virus spreading to humans is lower than that of SARS-CoV-2.
What is HKU5-CoV-2?
HKU5-CoV-2 is closely related to the virus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and is a member of the merbecovirus subgenus. It was initially detected in the Japanese pipistrelle bat species in Hong Kong and has since been shown to have the ability to bind to human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, the same receptors SARS-CoV-2 uses for infection. In addition to humans, HKU5-CoV-2 can bind to ACE2 receptors in other mammals, raising concerns about cross-species transmission.
How Does HKU5-CoV-2 Compare to SARS-CoV-2?
Despite HKU5-CoV-2’s ability to bind to ACE2 receptors, it does so less efficiently than SARS-CoV-2. This means that while it can infect human cells and lung tissue in laboratory conditions, its ability to spread quickly among humans is much weaker. Scientists believe the likelihood of HKU5-CoV-2 causing a widespread epidemic is currently low, though it remains a subject of continued surveillance.
Could This Lead to Another Pandemic?
Although researchers acknowledge that HKU5-CoV-2 can infect human cells, they caution against overreacting. The likelihood of the virus triggering a pandemic is considered much lower than that of Covid-19. While some bat coronaviruses have spilled over to humans in the past, such as SARS and MERS, the ability of HKU5-CoV-2 to spread among humans is not as efficient as these earlier viruses.
Experts from the Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Academy of Sciences, Wuhan University, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology emphasize the need for continued monitoring of emerging coronaviruses. The World Health Organization (WHO) has already prioritized merbecoviruses in their pandemic preparedness efforts. Although the origin of Covid-19 remains debated, the discovery of HKU5-CoV-2 highlights the ongoing importance of tracking zoonotic diseases to prevent future outbreaks.