Across the channel, researchers have discovered a coronavirus similar to SARS-CoV-2 in a bat, a first in Europe. Fortunately, this virus is not capable of infecting humans. On the other hand, it may be possible, if in future, this agent undergoes mutation.

SARS-CoV-2 . a coronavirus close to

Since the appearance of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, various animals have took responsibility for the broadcast to humans These include pangolins, minks and the inevitable bat. genus bat species rhinophus Asia is still believed to be the reservoir of the coronavirus at the core of the current health situation. As a reminder, this virus has mutated and finally adapted to man.

In addition, the fact remains that this type of bat also exists elsewhere in the world, such as in Europe. If in the past species of this genus were found in abundance on the continent, this seems to be the case now. low horseshoe talk (Rhinolophus hipposideros) There is such a species, which researchers from the University of East Anglia (UK) have uncovered in a study published in the journal scientific report 19 July 2021.

Study leaders were the first to remember what these bats wear subgenus of coronavirus sarbecovirus, to which the SARS-CoV (2003) and SARS-CoV-2 (2019) coronaviruses belong. In the British counties of Monmouthshire and Somerset, scientists collected the droppings of about 50 mammals and discovered a new coronavirus: RHGB01. This is the first time that we have discovered a coronavirus close to SARS-CoV-2 on the old continent.

No health risk for now

after a coronavirus sequencing, the researchers claimed that RhGB01 predates SARS, which is an acronym that, to remember, stands for “severe acute respiratory syndrome.” However, the famous S protein of this new coronavirus is 77% SARS-CoV-2 . similar to But also of SARS-CoV (81%). Another very important data: the structure of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of RhGB01 is incompatible with that of the human ACE2 receptor. In this way this new coronavirus is not capable of infecting humans. So there is no health hazard.

However, this lack of danger is not a fixed condition. Andrew Cunningham of the Zoological Society of London – one of the study’s authors – discusses The Notion of the “Crucible of Mutations” Which could be related to any of the bats carrying the coronavirus near SARS. Unfortunately, one case is of particular concern. What if one of the animals carrying RhGB01 is also infected with SARS-CoV-2? According to the expert, the risk of hybridization – and therefore of mutation – would then be very high and this could be a question emergence of a new virus capable of infecting humans.