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.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they l...
Five Azerbaijani crew members were killed, and three others were injured after two cargo vessels were hit in a drone attack in the Sea of Azov, Azerba...
The United States has approved the possible sale of five Seahawk maritime helicopters to New Zealand in a deal valued at $1.5 billion, as Wellington m...
The United States has announced an additional $38 million to support efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as hea...
Armenians will vote on Sunday in a parliamentary election that will determine whether Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan secures a new mandate to pursue ...
Countries worldwide sought to prevent the further spread of the hantavirus on Thursday, after an outbreak on a cruise ship, by tracking those who had disembarked before the virus was detected and anyone who had close contact with them since.
The global health crisis gave one of the world’s most secretive states cover to intensify a lethal domestic crackdown.
The United States officially left the World Health Organization on 22 January, triggering a financial and operational crisis at the United Nations health agency. The move follows a year of warnings from global health experts that a U.S. exit could undermine public health at home and abroad.
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.
Five Azerbaijani crew members were killed, and three others were injured after two cargo vessels were hit in a drone attack in the Sea of Azov, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said on Friday, as Russia blamed Ukraine for the strike.
The new AnewZ documentary, TARGET: Yerevan, builds its explosive case on exclusive, secret recordings originally published by Minval Politika.
Azerbaijan has strongly rejected allegations published by CNN claiming that its territory was used for Israeli military and intelligence operations against Iran, describing the report as entirely baseless and demanding a retraction.
Armenia will hold parliamentary elections on 7 June 2026, a vote that will shape the country’s political direction for the next five years. Understanding how the electoral system converts votes into parliamentary power is key to following the outcome and its wider regional implications.
Armenia’s National Assembly election on 7 June is increasingly being viewed not only as a domestic political contest, but also as a vote that could shape the future direction of the South Caucasus.
People across Gaza are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with millions struggling to access food, clean water, shelter and medical care as the conflict continues.
The United States has approved the possible sale of five Seahawk maritime helicopters to New Zealand in a deal valued at $1.5 billion, as Wellington moves to strengthen its armed forces.
The United States has announced an additional $38 million to support efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as health officials warn that the virus could spread further without stronger action.
More than 6,000 people gathered outside a vote-counting centre in Seoul on Friday night, demanding this week’s local elections be repeated after ballot shortages left some voters unable to cast their ballots.
The next time a goal goes in during a Champions League final, fans around the world could watch it from every angle at once — frozen, rotated and replayed in ways that were impossible only a few years ago.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment