Chinese scientists, led by Shi Zhengli, have discovered a novel coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, that can infect humans and other mammals. Isolated from the Japanese pipistrelle bat, this virus shares the same receptor as SARS-CoV-2.

Researchers dismissed the risk of HKU5 coronavirus spreading among human populations on a large scale, pointing out that its efficiency is lower than the Covid-19 virus

On the other hand, this new found bat virus is initially found in bats in Hing Kong. Because HKU5-CoV-2 is member of Merbecovirus of beacoronaviruses unlike SARS-CoV2 which belongs to Sarbecovirus subgenus, it is genetically different from Covid-19, reported Etimes.

Another coronavirus with a higher potential to infect humans than other coronaviruses has been discovered in bats by scientists in China - it is understood to be related to MERS

CoV-2, found in China has sparked concerns among health officials and has triggered panic. HKU5-CoV-2 has similarities to the virus responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a study published in Cell.

A Chinese research team has discovered a new bat coronavirus which uses the same receptor as Covid-19 to infect humans. The study shows the need to monitor the pathogen to prevent it from spreading, Reuters reported on Saturday.

Researchers have discovered a new coronavirus in Chinese bats. HKU5-CoV-2 is a coronavirus belonging to the merbecovirusgroup, which also includes the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) virus. RELATED: Another US agency assesses COVID-19 origin likely a Chinese 'lab leak': report

Experts note that 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. More research is needed to determine if it poses a serious health threat.

A new bat coronavirus that has the capacity to spread to humans, similar to the one that caused the COVID-19 pandemic, has been discovered. HKU5-CoV-2 was found by a Chinese research team led by virologist Shi Zhengli,

A team led by virologist Shi Zhengli, known as 'Batwoman' for her work on coronaviruses, detected a new virus, HKU5-CoV-2, in bats in China.

Chinese researchers have discovered a new bat coronavirus that poses a potential risk of animal-to-human transmission. The virus uses the same cell-surface protein as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19,