PULLMAN, Wash. — A study by Washington State University and collaborators revealed that a group of bat viruses, closely related to the MERS-CoV, could potentially mutate to infect humans and cause a pandemic.
Michael Letko, a virologist at WSU, emphasized the risks associated with the HKU5 subgroup of merbecoviruses. “HKU5 viruses may be only a small step away from being able to spill over into humans,” Letko said in a release.
The study, published in Nature Communications, focused on how these viruses infect host cells. While most merbecoviruses don’t pose a direct threat, HKU5 viruses have shown the ability to use the ACE2 receptor, similar to the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19, said the study.
The research team demonstrated that mutations in the HKU5 spike protein could allow these viruses to potentially infect humans. Letko added, “These viruses are so closely related to MERS, so we have to be concerned if they ever infect humans.”
The study utilized artificial intelligence to model virus interactions, offering insights into mutations and potential treatments. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the research highlights the importance of monitoring these viruses closely.
