Chinese scientists have discovered a new coronavirus in bats called HKU5-CoV-2. It shares similarities with SARS-CoV-2 and can infect human cells. Researchers are investigating its potential to spill over to humans.

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.

A newly discovered bat coronavirus uses the same cell-surface protein to gain entry into human cells as the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, raising the possibility that it could someday spread to humans,

A newly discovered bat coronavirus uses the same cell-surface protein to gain entry into human cells as the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19, raising

Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China said they discovered a new coronavirus in bats that enters cells using the same gateway as the virus that causes Covid-19.

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

Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology have discovered a new coronavirus in bats named HKU5-CoV-2, which closely resembles the Covid-19 strain