5 years after the pandemic, a new coronavirus has been detected in China.
On February 18, 2025, researchers from the Wuhan Virology Institute, a Chinese city where the pandemic had emerged, highlighted a new distinct line from Coronavirus, called “HKU5-COV-2” detected on bats- mouse. In other words, it is not a variant of the COVID-19. Should we fear a new pandemic?
How did he appear?
To understand this discovery, you must first know that there are hundreds of coronaviruses, but very few are contagious for humans. Sras-COV-2 and the Merscov are notably concerned. In the case of COVID-19, the virus crossed the inter-species barrier. “To initiate the infection of a cell, the wrapped virus needs a surface protein that recognizes a particular protein on the surface of the cell, the receptor”explains the INRAE in a press release. “These interactions between proteins are specific, as a key would recognize a lock, and allow the virus to merge with the host cell. Once the fusion has taken place, the virus can introduce its genetic equipment to multiply later. “” This new virus is therefore able to use a human ACE2 receiver to enter cells. It is the same receiver used by the SARS-COV-2, the infamous COVID-19. This study “Underline their potential zoonotic risk”assert researchers in the scientific journal Cell.
Can he contaminate man?
No case of infection in humans has been identified for the moment. On the other hand, as for the COVID-19, such a virus could theoretically cross the inter-species barrier, using the ACE2 receptors of other species. In their study, the virus was isolated in the laboratory by researchers. The latter were able to show that the virus was able to infect human cells as well as organoids imitating human respiratory and intestinal tissues. “However, the potential risk of human propagation of animal merBecovirus remains to be studied”nuance scientists.
What treatment to treat him?
Potential treatments have been tested by Chinese scientists. Antibodies and an inhibitor called EK1C4 prevented the virus from entering cells. Drugs such as nirmarelvir, remdsivir and GC376 blocked the multiplication of the virus in the laboratory. On the other hand, antibodies designed against SARS-COV-2 failed to effectively neutralize HKU5-COV-2. “We must continue to study itdeclares Christian Jacob, ex-president of the Association of Microbiologists of Quebec, in an interview with Montreal Journal. Maybe he’s not the one going to be [d’une grande] Importance, but if one finds one in 5 years which has the same mechanism of action, having studied this one, we will already have avenues of solutions. “