MERS-CoV: Scientists have found a new coronavirus in Brazilan bats that exhibits striking resemblances to the lethal MERS-CoV.
Although how dangerous the virus is for people is not known, the results have sparked more research on the possible risk.
Working with colleagues from Hong Kong University (HKU), São Paulo, and Ceará, researchers found the new coronavirus to share approximately 72 percent of its genetic sequence with the MersCoV genome.
At 71.74 per cent similarity, the spike protein lets the virus connect to host cells, which is identical to that of the Mers virus.
The study’s author, Bruna Stefanie Silvério, a PhD student, said, “We found parts of the spike protein of the virus (which binds to mammalian cells to start an infection) indicating possible interaction with the receptor used by MersCoV; at present we are not sure it can infect humans.”
As published in the Journal of Medical Virology, the research included testing 423 oral and rectal swabs from 16 bat species. From five separate bat species in Fortaleza, a city in northeast Brazil, the scientists found seven coronaviruses.
The new virus showed close parallels to Mers-related coronaviruses found in humans and camels.
Another study coauthor, Ricardo Durães Carvalho, noted, “This monitoring assists to find circulating viruses and risks of transmitting to other animals, including people.”
There was also proof of genetic recombination, therefore the virus could be mutating quickly.
The results emphasize the great genetic variability of coronaviruses and draw attention to the current recombination events among Brazilian bat viruses.
Further underscoring the need of continuous monitoring, Dr Durães Carvalho said, “Bats are crucial viral reservoirs and should therefore be regularly subjected to epidemiological surveillance.”
