HKU5-CoV-2: All About New Bat Virus
By: EjazUlHaqBhat
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A newly discovered bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, similar to the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic, has been identified in China
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It belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, which also includes the virus responsible for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)
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Scientists found that it can bind to human ACE2 receptors, similar to SARS-CoV-2 (the virus behind COVID-19)
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This suggests it has the potential for animal-to-human transmission
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Researchers found that when HKU5-CoV-2 was taken from bats, it could infect human cells and lab-grown tiny lung or gut tissues
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The virus binds not just to human ACE2 but also to multiple mammalian species, meaning it could spread through an intermediate animal before reaching humans
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While it can infect human cells, scientists say its ability to do so is significantly weaker than SARS-CoV-2
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There are no confirmed cases of HKU5-CoV-2 in humans yet, so its symptoms are unknown
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But since it belongs to the same subgenus, it might cause similar respiratory symptoms, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, fatigue, and body aches
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