Breaking News: Discovery of Novel Bat Coronavirus Underscores Zoonotic Spillover Risk
Virologist Shi Zhengli, left, works with a colleague at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, China, on February 23, 2017. AP
A new bat coronavirus, designated HKU5-CoV-2, has been identified by a Chinese research team, raising concerns about its potential to infect humans. The discovery, published in the scientific journal Cell, highlights the ongoing threat of zoonotic spillover events – the transmission of viruses from animals to humans – and underscores the need for continued surveillance and research.
The research, led by virologist Shi Zhengli of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, revealed that HKU5-CoV-2, a member of the merbecovirus group (which also includes the virus responsible for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS), utilizes the ACE2 receptor to gain entry into cells. This is the same receptor used by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employed cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) to analyze the virus's structure and its interaction with human cells.
Experiments demonstrated HKU5-CoV-2's ability to infect human cell cultures, including mini-human organ models, indicating a higher potential for human infection compared to other coronaviruses.
The researchers' findings emphasize the efficient binding of HKU5-CoV-2 to human ACE2, a characteristic shared with SARS-CoV-2 and the NL63 common cold virus.
The study states that "Bat merbecoviruses, which are phylogenetically related to MERS-CoV, pose a high risk of spillover to humans, either through direct transmission or facilitated by intermediate hosts."
While the potential for HKU5-CoV-2 to cause disease in humans remains to be investigated, the research team's conclusion underscores the significance of this discovery. The study explicitly notes that "Authentic HKU5-CoV-2 infected human ACE2-expressing cell lines and human respiratory and enteric organoids. This study reveals a distinct lineage of HKU5-CoVs in bats that efficiently use human ACE2 and underscores their potential zoonotic risk."
The research collaboration involved the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the Guangzhou Laboratory, and the Guangzhou Academy of Sciences. While the study itself acknowledges the potential for spillover, further investigation is needed to fully assess the risk posed by HKU5-CoV-2 to human health. The discovery serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for global collaboration in virology research and pandemic preparedness. Further studies will be crucial in determining the actual threat this novel coronavirus poses to human populations.
Media outlets have reached out to both Dr. Shi Zhengli and the United States Department of Health and Human Services for further comment.
References:
Chen, J., Zhang, W., Li, Y., Liu, C., Dong, T., Chen, H., ... & Shi, Z. (2025). Merbecovirus HKU5 Lineage 2 Discovered in Bats Utilizes Human ACE2 as Cell Receptor. Cell.
Newsweek: New Coronavirus Discovered in Chinese Bats Sparks Alarm by Jordan King.
South China Morning Post: Chinese team finds new bat coronavirus that could infect humans via same route as Covid-19 by Victoria Bela