NeoCov coronavirus found in bats may pose threat to humans in future, scientists caution
PTI, Jan 28, 2022, 4:52 PM IST
Beijing: A type of coronavirus, NeoCov, that spreads among bats in South Africa may pose a threat to humans in future if it mutates further, according to a study by Chinese researchers.
The yet-to-be peer-reviewed study recently posted on the preprint repository BioRxiv, shows that NeoCov is closely related to the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), a viral disease first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
Researchers from Chinese Academy of Sciences and Wuhan University noted that NeoCov is found in a population of bats in South Africa and to date spreads exclusively among these animals.
In its current form, NeoCov does not infect humans but further mutations may make it potentially harmful, the researchers noted. ”In this study, we unexpectedly found that NeoCoV and its close relative, PDF-2180-CoV, can efficiently use some types of bat Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and, less favourably, human ACE2 for entry,” the authors of the study noted.
ACE2 is a receptor protein on cells that provides the entry point for the coronavirus to hook into and infect a wide range of cells.
”Our study demonstrates the first case of ACE2 usage in MERS-related viruses, shedding light on a potential bio-safety threat of the human emergence of an ACE2 using ”MERS-CoV-2” with both high fatality and transmission rate,” they said.
The researchers further noted that infection with NeoCov could not be cross-neutralised by antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 or MERS-CoV.
”Considering the extensive mutations in the RBD regions of the SARS-CoV-2 variants, especially the heavily mutated Omicron variant, these viruses may hold a latent potential to infect humans through further adaptation,” the authors of the study added.
A receptor-binding domain (RBD) is a key part of a virus that allows it to dock to body receptors to gain entry into cells and lead to infection.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Four strange COVID symptoms you might not have heard about
Govt to launch prog for adopting, providing nutritional, treatment support to TB patients
Stem cell therapy offers a new hope to repair brain damage in newborns
Eating out? Watch out, bacteria on the loose
Govt may not allow mixing of Covid vaccines for booster shots
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Indian-American boy bullied at Texas school, then suspended for 3 days
Grappler Satender Malik gets life ban for assaulting referee during CWG 2022 wrestling trials
Clash during Irani’s program in Pune: case filed against BJP workers, party cries foul
Haridwar Dharma Sansad case: SC grants three months interim bail to hate speech accused
Deepika Padukone opts for Sabyasachi Mukherjee dress for Cannes photocall