Chinese virologists discover new bat Covid-19
The study was conducted by Shi Zhengli, a Chinese virologist from the controversial Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), where COVID-19 was alleged to have arisen.
New Findings from Wuhan Virologists
A Chinese team of virologists has discovered a new bat coronavirus that carries the risk of animal-to-human transmission. This virus uses the same human receptor (ACE2) as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, raising concerns about its potential to infect humans, according to a report from the South China Morning Post.
The study was led by Shi Zhengli, a renowned virologist from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), a research facility that has faced global scrutiny over its alleged links to the origin of COVID-19. Shi, often referred to as the “Bat Woman” due to her extensive research on bat-borne viruses, has consistently denied claims that the COVID-19 virus leaked from the WIV lab.
A New Lineage of the HKU5 Coronavirus
The newly discovered virus belongs to the HKU5 coronavirus lineage, initially identified in Japanese pipistrelle bats in Hong Kong. It falls under the merbecovirus subgenus, which also includes the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) virus.
According to the research published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell, the new virus is capable of binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, the same pathway used by SARS-CoV-2 to infect cells.
Human Transmission Possibilities
The study found that when the virus was isolated from bat samples, it successfully infected human cells in laboratory conditions. The virus was also able to infect lab-grown miniature human respiratory and intestinal organoids, further indicating its potential for human transmission.
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The research team stated, “We report the discovery and isolation of a distinct lineage (lineage 2) of HKU5-CoV, which can utilize not only bat ACE2 but also human ACE2 and various mammalian ACE2 orthologs.”
China Denies Lab Leak Allegations
The discovery comes amid renewed discussions about the origins of COVID-19. Earlier this month, China reaffirmed that the Wuhan Institute of Virology had never engaged in “gain-of-function” research on coronaviruses.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated, “The Wuhan Institute of Virology has never engaged in gain-of-function studies of coronavirus, nor has it designed, made, or leaked COVID-19. China firmly opposes all forms of political manipulation regarding virus origins.”
His comments were made in response to allegations that USAID-funded research at the Wuhan lab may have contributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Global Concerns Over Virus Research
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has faced scrutiny over its reported funding of gain-of-function studies at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which some claim could have contributed to the outbreak of COVID-19. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously shut down USAID-funded projects that were not aligned with American strategic interests.
Despite the controversy, a WHO-China joint study concluded that a lab leak was “extremely unlikely” as the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, debates over the origin of the virus and the risks posed by new bat coronaviruses continue to be a global concern.