Chinese researchers have discovered a new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, which shares the same human receptor as COVID-19, raising concerns about potential animal-to-human transmission.
A Chinese research team has identified a new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, that could pose a potential risk for animal-to-human transmission. The study, published in Cell and conducted by the Guangzhou Laboratory in collaboration with Wuhan University and the Wuhan Institute of Virology, reveals that the virus shares the same human receptor—ACE2—used by both the COVID-19 and SARS viruses.
HKU5-CoV-2 was discovered in Japanese pipistrelle bats in Hong Kong. Laboratory tests show that it can infect human cells and bind to ACE2 receptors in humans, bats, and other animals, increasing the likelihood of cross-species transmission. While it has a stronger binding ability and broader host range compared to its predecessor, researchers stress that the virus is less potent than SARS-CoV-2, and the risk of widespread human transmission remains low.
Shi Zhengli, the study’s lead scientist, is renowned for her work at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has faced scrutiny over theories that COVID-19 may have originated from a lab leak—a claim that China has rejected. Despite the ongoing investigation into the origins of the pandemic, the discovery of HKU5-CoV-2 highlights the continuing need for vigilance in monitoring emerging viruses.
When U.S. President Donald Trump phoned Norway’s finance minister, Jens Stoltenberg, last month to discuss trade tariffs, he also inquired about the...
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte discussed on Thursday, the Russia-Ukraine war and global issues in a pho...
...
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to make a deal, suggesting that the threa...
China and India are cautiously rebuilding ties with plans for direct flights, trade revival, and high-level meetings, signaling a thaw in relations af...
China and India are cautiously rebuilding ties with plans for direct flights, trade revival, and high-level meetings, signaling a thaw in relations after years of tension. The moves come as both nations face shifting dynamics with the United States.
Tropical storm Podul on Thursday dumped torrential rain on southern China, still reeling from record downpours last week, and disrupted hospitals, schools and courts in Hong Kong after tearing through Taiwan and leaving at least 143 people injured.
Chinese companies are ramping up investment in Indonesia to avoid steep U.S. import tariffs and tap into Southeast Asia’s largest consumer market.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Wednesday that the Trump administration has unveiled a nearly $1 billion funding plan to boost U.S. production of critical minerals and materials, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, particularly China.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
A resumption of Iraq’s Kurdish oil exports is not expected in the near term, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, despite an announcement by Iraq’s federal government a day earlier stating that shipments would resume immediately.
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck 56 kilometres east of Gorgan in northern Iran early Sunday morning, according to preliminary seismic data.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A scientist in the US revealed the pioneering device which works alongside artificial intelligence to monitor the body's vital signs and alert in case of danger.
Dubai has launched its first-ever 'Mallathon,' a month-long event turning shopping centres into indoor running tracks to offer residents a safe way to exercise during peak summer heat, that started 1 August.
Tech giant Google has announced a $1 billion investment to support Artificial Intelligence (AI) education and research at universities across the United States.
What shapes human nature? Why do some people act with compassion while others turn cruel? For centuries, thinkers — from philosophers and playwrights to theologians and psychologists — have grappled with these timeless questions, searching for what lies at the heart of good and evil.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment