A newly discovered coronavirus in China, named HKU5-CoV-2, could be just one mutation away from infecting humans, scientists from Washington State University have warned.
Professor Michael Letko, co-lead of the study, said, “HKU5 viruses may be only a small step away from being able to spill over into humans.” The virus is closely related to MERS, which has a fatality rate of 34%.
Researchers used lab experiments to show the virus can infect bat cells easily, and might infect human cells if it mutates further. They created pseudoviruses and tested them on both bat and human ACE2 cells.
Letko added, “These viruses are so closely related to MERS, so we have to be concerned if they ever infect humans.”
The virus was first found in bats in China, and scientists fear unregulated wildlife trade could speed up its transmission.
The findings were published in Nature Communications.