Beijing, Feb. 22 -- A team of Chinese virologists has identified a new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, that could potentially infect humans. Led by Shi Zhengli, a renowned scientist known as "Batwoman" for her extensive research on coronaviruses, the discovery raises concerns about the possibility of another zoonotic spillover. According to the South China Morning Post, researchers found that HKU5-CoV-2 can bind to human ACE2 receptors, the same entryway used by SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.

This similarity suggests a potential risk of human transmission, though further research is needed to determine its real-world impact. HKU5-CoV-2 belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, which includes the MERS-CoV virus that caused the M...