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Researchers in Spain have identified eight genomes of coronavirus in bats collected from different parts in the country. Three of these could be new viral species.
SARS-CoV-2 is one of the genes that caused the Covid-19 pandemic.
Alphacoronavirus, a new genus of coronavirus, is believed to be the source of three new species.
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This genus contains a significant portion of coronaviruses. These include viruses responsible for common colds as well as viruses found in pigs.
Rafael Sanjuan said, “The similarities between the viruses indicate that they are recent and have been transmitted widely in bat populations.”
Researchers sequenced samples of faeces from hundreds bats, including 23 species.
This study represents the most comprehensive study to date of the diversity and distribution of coronaviruses among Spanish fauna.
One of the viruses identified, RhBetaCoV-Murcia2022, belongs to the genus of Betacoronaviruses, like SARS-CoV-2.
In addition, this new virus showed the ability to use the human ACE2 receptor – the same one used by SARS-CoV-2 – although with a significantly lower affinity.
Viral receptors, which are proteins that lie on the surface of cells and act as a portal for viruses, are most often found.
This discovery suggests that a virus can be transmitted from animals to people.
This also highlights the need for more research on bats in order to prevent any possible outbreak of zoonotic disease.
Jeremy Dufloo is a researcher who said that “although the new virus shares a receptor with SARS-CoV-2, there are many other factors to consider before a viral can be classified as infectious or potentially harmful.”
“It should be able to reproduce its genome, express genes, evade an immune response and transmit efficiently between humans,” he said.
Dufloo concluded, “At present it is not feasible to isolate and cultivate the entire virus. Therefore we lack the instruments for a deeper study.”
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