Chinese researchers have discovered a new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, which uses the same ACE2 receptor as SARS-CoV-2 to enter human cells. The virus contains a furin cleavage site, a key feature that enhances infection. In laboratory experiments, it was able to infect human cells with high ACE2 levels, including models of the intestines and airways. However, the virus does not infect human cells as efficiently as SARS-CoV-2, according to a study published in Cell.
Further experiments identified monoclonal antibodies and antiviral drugs that could target the virus, offering potential treatment options. The findings, reported by Bloomberg, impacted vaccine stocks, with Pfizer shares rising 1.5%, Moderna climbing 5.3% and Novavax increasing by 1% despite a broader market decline.
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Amid concerns about another potential pandemic, Dr. Michael Osterholm from the University of Minnesota called the reaction “overblown.” He noted that the population now has greater immunity to SARS-like viruses than in 2019, reducing the pandemic threat.
The study itself emphasised that HKU5-CoV-2 has significantly lower binding affinity to human ACE2 than SARS-CoV-2 and lacks other factors necessary for human adaptation. Researchers concluded that the risk of the virus emerging in human populations should not be exaggerated.
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