Scientists from Australia and China have discovered five new viruses in bats that can potentially be transmitted to humans, one of which is closely related to the novel coronavirus responsible for the pandemic. The Telegraph reports that the infected bats live in Yunnan province in southern China, near the borders with Laos and Myanmar. Researchers collected these viruses from 149 bats between 2015 and 2019.
The researchers explain that "among these viruses is one that is closely related to the coronavirus and the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV, with five differences in the genetic material compared to the novel coronavirus." The virus BtSY2, which is the closest to the novel coronavirus, has a receptor-binding area similar to that of SARS-CoV-2, which it uses to attach to human cells.
According to virology professor Eddie Holmes from the University of Sydney, coronaviruses similar to the novel coronavirus are widespread in bats living in China, and there are risks of their spreading. Researchers have demonstrated that bats are regularly infected with multiple viruses simultaneously. This shows the ability of these viruses to exchange parts of their genetic code, forming new disease-causing agents.
Virology professor Jonathan Ball from the University of Nottingham, who did not participate in this study, commented on its findings, stating: "The main conclusion is that some bats can harbor different types of viruses at the same time."
