Health
HKU5 virus: The bat coronavirus that could infect humans next
HKU5 viruses were able to use a receptor called ACE2—the same one SARS-CoV-2 uses to cause COVID-19
A new study has revealed that a group of bat viruses—closely related to the deadly MERS coronavirus—could be just one small mutation away from infecting humans and possibly triggering the next pandemic. HKU5 viruses were able to use a receptor called ACE2—the same one SARS-CoV-2 uses to cause COVID-19.