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Brazil: New HKU5-CoV-2 coronavirus discovered in bats
Researchers have identified a new coronavirus strain, HKU5-CoV-2, in bats in Brazil. The virus possesses a furin cleavage site (FCS) on its spike proteins, a characteristic shared with SARS-CoV-2 that contributed to the high transmissibility of COVID-19.
Laboratory tests indicate that HKU5-CoV-2 is capable of infecting human lungs and intestines through a mechanism similar to COVID-19. While the virus shows high zoonotic potential due to its ability to bind to various mammalian species and potentially mutate for human transmission, experts note it is currently much less effective than SARS-CoV-2.
Dr. Gareth Nye of the University of Salford stated that the immediate risk is currently low, as no human-to-human transmission cases have been recorded. Furthermore, the discovery of this natural strain in bats provides evidence that challenges theories suggesting COVID-19 was engineered in a laboratory.
Entities
Brazil · Gareth Nye · HKU5-CoV-2 · SARS-CoV-2 · University of Salford
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The discovery of the HKU5-CoV-2 coronavirus in Brazil challenges the theory that COVID-19 was laboratory-created. cretaone.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · www.newsbomb.gr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Laboratory tests show the virus can infect human lungs and intestines via the same mechanism as COVID-19. cretaone.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · www.newsbomb.gr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The virus is currently much less effective than COVID-19, making the immediate risk low. cretaone.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · www.newsbomb.gr
- [● 3 SOURCES] No cases of human-to-human transmission of the HKU5-CoV-2 virus have been recorded to date. cretaone.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · www.newsbomb.gr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The virus has high zoonotic potential because it can bind to various mammalian species and potentially mutate for human transmission. cretaone.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · www.newsbomb.gr
- [● 3 SOURCES] HKU5-CoV-2 possesses a furin cleavage site (FCS) on its spike proteins, similar to SARS-CoV-2. cretaone.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · www.newsbomb.gr