Scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China have discovered a new lineage of a coronavirus in bats that can enter human cells in a similar fashion as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, according to a recently published study. But there are no reported infections in humans, and experts say it’s not currently a threat to public health.
Like SARS-CoV-2, HKU5-CoV-2 can enter cells via the human ACE2 receptor protein on cell surfaces. The newly identified coronavirus is a part of the same family as the virus that causes deadly Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS.
According to the study, published last week in the journal Cell, scientists found the coronavirus in anal swab samples taken from a bat of the genus Pipistrellus. A lab experiment showed that the virus could infect human cells.
HKU5-CoV-2 can already infect human cells and is related to a virus with a 30% fatality rate. Now, researchers want to test it on humanized mice – because that worked out so well last time.
Dr. Alina Chan, a molecular biologist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, called the plans “ominous,” warning that WIV’s biosafety measures are a joke, yet, here they are, playing with fire again. What could possibly go wrong? This just needs to stop!
Um … what?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 27, 2025
Is this definitely real? If so, very concerning. https://t.co/YRmRBDUkdR
