HKU5-CoV-2: The new bat virus – symptoms, spread and potential threats

Why in the NEWS?

• A newly discovered bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, has been identified in China, which bears resemblance to the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Points:

• HKU5-CoV-2, a new bat coronavirus, has become a topic of discussion among scientists and health organisations given its potential global threat like COVID-19.
• The discovery was made by a team of virologists led by Shi Zhengli.
• She is often referred to as "Batwoman" for her extensive research on coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute.

What will you read next in this topic?

1. What is HKU5-CoV-2 or bat virus?
2. How can it affect humans?
3. Symptoms of HKU5-CoV-2 or bat virus
4. How can HKU5-CoV-2 or bat virus spread?

What is HKU5-CoV-2 or bat virus?

• HKU5-CoV-2 is a newly discovered bat coronavirus, belonging to the Merbecovirus subgenus and linked to deadly viruses such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
• Scientists have found that it can bind to human ACE2 receptors like SARS-CoV-2, increasing the risk of infection.
• However, according to experts, its ability to bind to ACE2 appears to be less than that of SARS-CoV-2.
• It is currently unclear how easily this virus can infect humans and how serious a threat it can pose.
• More research is needed to understand the potential infectivity and impact of HKU5-CoV-2.

How can it affect humans?

Binds to human ACE2 receptors:

• The HKU5-CoV-2 virus can bind to human ACE2 receptors, which is the same receptor that SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) uses to infect human cells. 
• This ability may enable it to enter the human body and spread the infection.

Potential for spread: 

• Researchers have found that when HKU5-CoV-2 was isolated from bats, it was able to infect human cells and small lung or intestinal tissues grown in the laboratory. 
• This indicates that the virus may have the potential to reach humans.

Intermediate host: 

• HKU5-CoV-2 can bind not only to human ACE2 receptors but also to many other mammalian species. 
• This means that it may spread through another animal (intermediate host) before reaching humans, as was seen in SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV.

Less efficient than COVID-19: 

• According to scientists, while this virus can infect human cells, its ability to do so is much weaker than SARS-CoV-2. 
• This could mean that it is currently not as big a threat as COVID-19 was.

Monitoring needed: 

• Researchers led by Shi Zhengli, a leading virologist at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, have reported that although HKU5-CoV-2 shows greater adaptation to human ACE2 than its earlier versions, it still does not pose an immediate pandemic threat. But continued monitoring is needed to track any potential mutations that increase its infectivity.

Symptoms of HKU5-CoV-2 or bat virus

• There are no confirmed cases of HKU5-CoV-2 infection in humans yet, so its symptoms are unknown. 
• But since it belongs to the same subspecies as MERS and COVID-19, it may cause similar respiratory symptoms, such as:
  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sore throat
  • Fatigue
  • Body aches
• If HKU5-CoV-2 spreads to humans in the future, more studies will be necessary to understand its symptoms and effects.

How can HKU5-CoV-2 or bat virus spread?

• HKU5-CoV-2 can spread to humans in two possible ways:

Direct infection from bats: 

• If people come into contact with infected bats or their bodily fluids (such as saliva, urine or feces), they may be infected with this virus. 
• This virus may cause direct animal-to-human transmission, as seen in some previous coronavirus infections.

Through an intermediate host: 

• HKU5-CoV-2 may infect another animal (such as a mammal) before reaching humans. 
• This may cause mutations in the virus, making it more infectious or dangerous. 
• A similar intermediate host was seen in the cases of SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV.