HKU5-CoV-2:
A newly discovered bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, similar to the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic, has been identified in China.
- AKU5-CoV-2 is a newly discovered Bat Coronavirus.
- It Closely Resembles The SARS-Cov-2, The Virus Behind COVID-19 Pandemic.
- It Belongs To The Merbecovirus Subgenus, Which Also Includes The Virus Responsible For Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
- It Can Bind To Human ACE2 Receptors, Similar To SARS-Cov-2.
- This Suggests It Has The Potential For Animal-To-Human Transmission.
- HKU5-Cov-2 Has A Lower Binding Affinity To Human ACE2 Than SARS-Cov-2, And Its Ability To Infect Humans On A Large Scale Remains Uncertain.
- The Virus Binds Not Just To Human ACE2 But Also To Multiple Mammalian Species, Meaning It Could Spread Through An Intermediate Animal Before Reaching Humans.
- There Are No Confirmed Cases Of HKU5-Cov-2 In Humans Yet, So Its Symptoms Are Unknown.
- The Discovery Was Made By A Team Of Virologists Led By Shi Zhengli, Often Referred To As “Batwoman” For Her Extensive Research On Coronaviruses At The Wuhan Institute, China.
