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.
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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed bilateral cooperation and regional connectivity in a phone call on June 4, ahead of Eid al-Adha.
NATO defence ministers are set to meet in Brussels this week to tackle Donald Trump’s call for a major military spending boost, just weeks before the alliance’s key summit.
Proliferating conflict zones are an increasing burden on airline operations and profitability, executives say, as carriers grapple with missiles and drones, airspace closures, location spoofing and the shoot-down of another passenger flight.
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation banning citizens of 12 countries from entering the U.S., citing security threats. The order takes effect on June 9 and will not affect visas issued before that date.
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