A Chinese research team has identified a new bat coronavirus capable of animal-to-human transmission, as it utilizes the same human receptor as the virus responsible for COVID-19.
The study, led by renowned virologist Shi Zhengli—often referred to as “batwoman” for her extensive work on bat coronaviruses—was conducted by researchers from the Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Academy of Sciences, Wuhan University, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Shi, who gained prominence for her research at the Wuhan Institute, has been at the center of debates surrounding the origins of COVID-19, including the controversial lab leak theory. While the exact origin of the virus remains unconfirmed, some studies suggest it originated in bats and spread to humans via an intermediate animal host. Shi has consistently denied any involvement of her institute in the outbreak.
The newly discovered virus belongs to a distinct lineage of the HKU5 coronavirus, initially identified in Japanese pipistrelle bats in Hong Kong. It falls under the merbecovirus subgenus, which also includes the virus causing Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers). This virus can bind to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2), the same receptor used by SARS-CoV-2 to infect cells.
In a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal *Cell*, the researchers stated, “We report the discovery and isolation of a distinct lineage (lineage 2) of HKU5-CoV, which can utilize not only bat ACE2 but also human ACE2 and various mammalian ACE2 orthologs.” The team found that the virus, when isolated from bat samples, could infect human cells and artificially grown organoids mimicking respiratory or intestinal tissues.
The researchers warned, “Bat merbecoviruses … pose a high risk of spillover to humans, either through direct transmission or facilitated by intermediate hosts.” HKU5-CoV-2 binds not only to human ACE2 receptors but also to those of multiple other species, increasing the likelihood of transmission through intermediate hosts.
Merbecovirus, which includes four species—Mers coronavirus, two bat coronaviruses, and one hedgehog coronavirus—was added to the World Health Organization’s list of emerging pathogens for pandemic preparedness last year. Notably, a separate study published in *Cell* by a team from the University of Washington and Wuhan University concluded that while the HKU5 strain could bind to bat and other mammalian ACE2 receptors, it did not exhibit “efficient” human binding.
