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| NeoCov: a new strain of coronavirus detected in bats in South Africa by Wuhan research team |
NeoCov, which is a new strain of coronavirus detected in a population of bats in South Africa. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics and Wuhan University claimed that NeoCov could pose a danger to humans if it mutates further.
The study, available on preprint repository BioRxiv, has found that NeoCov resembles the virus that caused the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) similar type of virus-like SARS-CoV-2, a viral disease first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
Since first originating in 2012, the MERS cases have been reported from 27 countries leading to a total 858 deaths, as per the World Health Organization.
This newly emerged strain of coronavirus called 'Neo-Cov' has a close relation to the Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome or MERS-coronavirus. Combined with the high mortality rate of MERS-coronavirus, Neo-Cov has the potential to kill one of every three infected people.
Researchers of the study said: "In its current form, NeoCov does not infect humans but further mutations may make it potentially harmful. In this study, we unexpectedly found that NeoCoV and its close relative, PDF-2180-CoV, can efficiently use some types of bat Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and, less favourably, human ACE2 for entry."
The researchers further noted that infection with NeoCov could not be cross-neutralised by antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 or MERS-CoV.
"Considering the extensive mutations in the RBD regions of the SARS-CoV-2 variants, especially the heavily mutated Omicron variant, these viruses may hold a latent potential to infect humans through further adaptation,"
A receptor-binding domain (RBD) is a key part of a virus that allows it to dock to body receptors to gain entry into cells and lead to infection.
What WHO said on NeoCov strain of Coronavirus,
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that,"NeoCov is not a new virus, most viruses enter the human body through the nose and mouth. Further studies are needed to ascertain whether the NeoCov will pose a risk to humans. Animals, particularly wild animals, are the source of more than 75% of all emerging infectious diseases in humans, many of which are caused by novel viruses. Coronaviruses are often found in animals, including in bats which have been identified as a natural reservoir of many of these viruses," WHO said to Russian news agency Tass.
WHO added that it works closely with other agencies like the World Organization for Animal Health to respond to the dangers of “emerging zoonotic viruses”, according to TASS.
Indian COVID experts on NeoCov,
Maharashtra COVID taskforce say that there is lesser risk of NeoCov jumping from animals to humans.
Dr Shashank Joshi, member of Maharashtra State Covid-19 Task Force and chair of International Diabetes Federation, said in a tweet,
“NeoCov demystified: 1. NeoCov is an old virus closely related to MERS Cov which enters cells via DPP4 receptors 2. What’s new: NeoCov can use ACE2 receptors of bats but they can’t use human ACE2 receptors unless a new mutation occurs. Everything else is hype,”
Dr Amit Singh, associate professor, Centre for Infectious Disease at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, said, “This particular virus has as much chance of jumping to humans as other bat viruses like Nipah did, there is nothing special about it. There are many infections in animals, not all jump to humans and there is no way of predicting anything. We know that there will be more infections in the future with an increase in human-animal contact.”
Dr Jayprakash Muliyil, chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the National Institute of Epidemiology, said, “The chances of it jumping I would say is 0.001, which statistically means unlikely. We live with so many pathogens; there is no need to worry about it. It is good for those who want to scare people.”
Watch: NeoCov's potential danger to humans need further study: saysWHO
(courtesy: India Today)
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