Chinese scientists discover new bat coronavirus

Chinese scientists on Saturday identified a new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, that has the potential to infect humans.

The study was conducted by a team led by renowned virologist Shi Zhengli at the Guangzhou Laboratory. The findings were published in the scientific journal Cell.

According to the study, the virus detected in Chinese bats shares similarities with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that caused the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in its ability to use the ACE2 receptor to enter human cells.

Researches, however, are optimistic that its ability to infect humans remains limited.

HKU5-CoV-2 is a descendant of the HKU5 virus, which was first detected in the Japanese pipistrelle bat in Hong Kong,

It belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, which includes the virus responsible for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The study found that, like SARS-CoV-2, the new virus contains a furin cleavage site—a feature that facilitates viral entry into human cells.

Experiments show that it was capable of infecting human cells with high ACE2 expression, particularly in models of the intestines and airways.

Researchers have also identified monoclonal antibodies and antiviral drugs that target the virus, indicating potential avenues for treatment if it were to spread.

It is worth mentioning here that, the Covid-19 pandemic, which originated in China in late 2019, led to a global health crisis, with the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring it a pandemic in early 2020.

As of February 2025, the virus has caused over 7 million confirmed deaths worldwide, ranking among the deadliest pandemics in history.