The virus belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, which includes the MERS-CoV virus responsible for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). MERS, first detected in 2012, spreads from camels to humans and has a high fatality rate.

Chinese scientists have discovered a new coronavirus in bats called HKU5-CoV-2. It shares similarities with SARS-CoV-2 and can infect human cells. Researchers are investigating its potential to spill over to humans.

Experts note that HKU5-CoV-2 has a lower binding affinity to human ACE2 than SARS-CoV-2, and its ability to infect humans on a large scale remains uncertain. More research is needed to determine if it poses a serious health threat.

The study found that HKU5-CoV-2 contains a furin cleavage site, a feature that enhances viral entry into cells via the ACE2 receptor. In laboratory experiments, the virus was able to infect human cells with high ACE2 levels, including models of human intestines and airways.

Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology have discovered a new coronavirus in bats named HKU5-CoV-2, which closely resembles the Covid-19 strain

Researchers at Wuhan lab discovered a new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, which shares entry pathways with SARS-CoV-2 but poses limited risk to humans.