HKU5-CoV-2

HKU5-CoV-2 Latest News

A newly discovered bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, similar to the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic, has been identified in China.

About HKU5-CoV-2

• It is a newly discovered bat coronavirus.
• It closely resembles the SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19 pandemic.
• It belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, which also includes the virus responsible for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). 
• It can bind to human ACE2 receptors, similar to SARS-CoV-2. This suggests it has the potential for animal-to-human transmission.
• 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.
• The virus binds not just to human ACE2 but also to multiple mammalian species, meaning it could spread through an intermediate animal before reaching humans.
• There are no confirmed cases of HKU5-CoV-2 in humans yet, so its symptoms are unknown. 
• The discovery was made by a team of virologists led by Shi Zhengli, often referred to as "Batwoman" for her extensive research on coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute, China.

HKU5-CoV-2 FAQs

Q1. What is a coronavirus?

Ans. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses in humans.

Q2. How long can COVID last?

Ans. COVID-19 lasts anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. 

Q3. Do viruses have DNA?

Ans. Viruses can have either DNA or RNA, but not both. 

Source: NDTV