Image credit: Hitchhike, Pexels
On nearly the 5 year anniversary when the US shutdown from the global COVID-19 pandemic, a report comes out of China that a bat coronavirus has the potential to be transmitted to humans.
The news comes from the lab of Shi Zhengli, PhD, the Chinese scientist infamous for research with bats and previous coronaviruses such as COVID-19. In a study published in Cell journal this week, Zhengli and her colleagues discovered HKU5-CoV lineage 2 (HKU5-CoV-2) in bats. This bat merbecovirus, HKU5-CoV-2, can use human ACE2 as a cell entry receptor to infect organisms.1-2
“This study reveals a distinct lineage of HKU5-CoVs in bats that efficiently use human ACE2 and underscores their potential zoonotic risk,” they wrote.2
What You Need to Know
Shi Zhengli’s team identified a new bat merbecovirus, HKU5-CoV lineage 2 (HKU5-CoV-2), that can use the human ACE2 receptor to infect cells — the same entry point used by SARS-CoV-2. This raises concerns about its zoonotic potential and the risk of transmission to humans.
The study emphasizes the virus’s efficient binding to human ACE2, suggesting a “high risk of spillover” either directly from bats or through an intermediate host. This virus shows a better adaptation to human ACE2 compared to its lineage 1 counterpart, increasing concerns about its potential to infect humans.
While the study underscores the zoonotic risk, researchers note that more investigation is needed to fully understand HKU5-CoV-2’s spillover potential. The virus is related to MERS-CoV, known for severe respiratory illness, making continued surveillance and research critical to prevent future outbreaks.
“A high risk of spillover to humans, either through direct transmission or facilitated by intermediate hosts.”2
It is important to note, the investigators said the potential to have human spillover needed to be studied.
“Merbecoviruses comprise four viral species with remarkable genetic diversity: MERS-related coronavirus, Tylonycterisbat coronavirus HKU4, Pipistrellusbat coronavirus HKU5, and Hedgehog coronavirus 1. However, the potential human spillover risk of animal merbecoviruses remains to be investigated,” the authors wrote.
Essentially, HKU5-CoV-2 is related to the pathogen that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).3
Still, the investigators showed concern over the potential of this virus to adapt compared to the first lineage of the virus.
“Structural and functional analyses indicate that HKU5-CoV-2 has a better adaptation to human ACE2 than lineage 1 HKU5-CoV. 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,” noted the researchers.2
Zhengli is the director of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).4 Shi Zhengli and colleagues found that bats are the natural reservoir of SARS-like coronaviruses, and she has been involved with COVID-19 research.4
