Sat Feb 22 19:11:30 UTC 2025: ## New Bat Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential Discovered in Hong Kong
**Hong Kong/Beijing –** A team of Chinese researchers, led by renowned virologist Shi Zhengli, have identified a new coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, capable of infecting humans. The virus, discovered in Japanese pipistrelle bats in Hong Kong, shares a key characteristic with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic: it binds to the same human ACE2 receptor.
This finding, published in a recent study, highlights the potential for zoonotic spillover from bats to humans. HKU5-CoV-2 belongs to the same merbecovirus subgenus as the virus responsible for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), further emphasizing the risk posed by bat coronaviruses. The research team, including scientists from several prominent Chinese institutions, demonstrated that the virus can bind to ACE2 receptors in not only humans, but also several other mammals, increasing the risk of transmission.
Dr. Shi Zhengli, known for her extensive work on bat coronaviruses, emphasized the high risk of spillover from bat merbecoviruses, potentially through direct transmission or via intermediate animal hosts. This discovery underscores the ongoing need for surveillance and research into bat coronaviruses to prevent future outbreaks. The research also suggests the potential development of new antiviral drugs based on the virus’s receptor binding mechanism. The study’s publication comes amidst continued debate surrounding the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
First Piper 