Beijing, February 24, 2025 – A newly identified bat coronavirus, designated HKU5-CoV-2, has been found to enter human cells using the same cell-surface protein as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, according to a study published in the journal Cell.
While the virus possesses key features such as a furin cleavage site that facilitates entry via the ACE2 receptor, researchers noted that it does not infect human cells as efficiently as SARS-CoV-2.
In laboratory experiments, HKU5-CoV-2 successfully infected human cells with high ACE2 levels in both test tube assays and in models simulating human intestinal and airway tissues. The study further identified several monoclonal antibodies and antiviral drugs capable of targeting the bat virus, offering potential avenues for preemptive therapeutic strategies.
The research has attracted significant market attention; Bloomberg reported that news of the study influenced a modest rise in shares of several COVID vaccine manufacturers, including Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax. However, infectious disease expert Dr. Michael Osterholm from the University of Minnesota cautioned that the reaction might be “overblown.” He pointed to the extensive preexisting immunity in the global population against similar SARS viruses and the markedly lower binding affinity of HKU5-CoV-2 to human ACE2 compared with SARS-CoV-2, factors that could mitigate the pandemic risk.
While the discovery highlights a potential pathway for zoonotic spillover, the authors of the study stressed that several suboptimal factors for human adaptation suggest that the risk of this bat virus emerging as a human pathogen should not be exaggerated. The findings add to the growing body of research on coronaviruses and underscore the importance of continued surveillance of wildlife pathogens.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Afghanistan is facing a worsening humanitarian and health crisis in 2025, with millions of returning refugees expected to stretch the country’s already fragile health system.
Qantas Airways has been fined A$90 million ($58.64 million) for illegally firing 1,800 ground staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and replacing them with contractors, the Federal Court of Australia said on Monday (August 18).
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep flaws in how the world prepares for and responds to global health threats. From overwhelmed hospitals to fragmented international coordination, the crisis revealed that preparedness goes beyond stockpiles. It requires trust, transparency, and global cooperation.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Iranian civilian and military officials have pledged their obedience to the new leader, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, with President Masoud Pezeshkian saying his leadership “will herald a new era of dignity and authority for the Iranian nation.”.
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British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
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