Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Coronavirus-Like Virus Discovered in South American Bats, Researchers Say

COVID-19, a pandemic that shook the world, and its variant, still continues to be around, especially the new 'Frankenstein' strain, that is said to be the contagious of all. However, the answer to what really was the source of the virus has not been found. Though there are certain theories that associate bats with it. While researchers have time and again said that more research is needed in this. A <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> carrying a genetic feature was found in the viruses that cause COVID-19 and MERS. This has been discovered in bats in Brazil. This may put some light back into the global range of bat-borne viruses that are capable of jumping to other species.

The virus is called the BRZ batCoV. It was detected in Pteronotus parnellii, a small insect-eating 'mustached' bat, which is common across Latin America, The samples were collected in the states of Maranhao and Sao Paulo and the findings were released in a study as a preprint ahead of peer review publication. The study can be accessed at bioRXiv, and is titled: A Divergent Betacoronavirus With A Functional Furin Cleavage Site In South American Bats.

The study, released Monday as a preprint pending peer review and publication, identifies the virus as part of the betacoronavirus family, the same group that includes SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and the original SARS virus. Genetic sequencing revealed a small segment of the virus’s spike protein that can be cleaved by enzymes in both animal and human cells, a trait that allows certain coronaviruses to infect cells more efficiently.

Interestingly, such furin cleavage sites have not been observed before in bat coronaviruses from the Americas, suggesting that these features may have evolved independently within South American bat populations.

The discovery is significant because a similar cleavage site in SARS-CoV-2’s spike protein sparked widespread debate during the pandemic, with some alleging it was evidence of laboratory engineering. However, subsequent research has demonstrated that comparable sites occur naturally in several coronaviruses, including this newly identified Brazilian strain, underscoring that such adaptations can emerge through normal viral evolution.

The new study is led by scientists from the University of Osaka. They had identified a previously unknown coronavirus in bats from South America, the first of its kind detected in the Western Hemisphere. The research, conducted by Kosuke Takada and Tokiko Watanabe in collaboration with teams from the University of São Paulo, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and several international laboratories, found that the virus is related to MERS-like coronaviruses but distinct enough to form its own lineage.

Until now, similar viruses have only been found in bats across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The discovery marks a major step in understanding the global diversity and evolution of coronaviruses, particularly those circulating among wildlife.

Importantly, researchers emphasize there is no evidence that the newly detected virus infects humans. However, they note that such discoveries highlight the urgent need for continued monitoring of animal populations that could harbor viruses capable of crossing into humans.

Experts say the finding reinforces the value of global wildlife surveillance programs, which serve as an early warning system for potential zoonotic threats. Tracking these viruses before they spill over into human populations remains a critical step in preventing future pandemics.

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COVID-19, a pandemic that shook the world, and its variant, still continues to be around, especially the new 'Frankenstein' strain, that is said to be the contagious of all. However, the answer to what really was the source of the virus has not been found. Though there are certain theories that associate bats with it. While researchers have time and again said that more research is needed in this. A coronavirus carrying a genetic feature was found in the viruses that cause COVID-19 and MERS. This has been discovered in bats in Brazil. This may put some light back into the global range of bat-borne viruses that are capable of jumping to other species. What Is The Virus Called?The virus is called the BRZ batCoV. It was detected in Pteronotus parnellii, a small insect-eating 'mustached' bat, which is common across Latin America, The samples were collected in the states of Maranhao and Sao Paulo and the findings were released in a study as a preprint ahead of peer review publication. The study can be accessed at bioRXiv, and is titled: A Divergent Betacoronavirus With A Functional Furin Cleavage Site In South American Bats. What Did The study Find?The study, released Monday as a preprint pending peer review and publication, identifies the virus as part of the betacoronavirus family, the same group that includes SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and the original SARS virus. Genetic sequencing revealed a small segment of the virus’s spike protein that can be cleaved by enzymes in both animal and human cells, a trait that allows certain coronaviruses to infect cells more efficiently.Interestingly, such furin cleavage sites have not been observed before in bat coronaviruses from the Americas, suggesting that these features may have evolved independently within South American bat populations.The discovery is significant because a similar cleavage site in SARS-CoV-2’s spike protein sparked widespread debate during the pandemic, with some alleging it was evidence of laboratory engineering. However, subsequent research has demonstrated that comparable sites occur naturally in several coronaviruses, including this newly identified Brazilian strain, underscoring that such adaptations can emerge through normal viral evolution.The new study is led by scientists from the University of Osaka. They had identified a previously unknown coronavirus in bats from South America, the first of its kind detected in the Western Hemisphere. The research, conducted by Kosuke Takada and Tokiko Watanabe in collaboration with teams from the University of São Paulo, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and several international laboratories, found that the virus is related to MERS-like coronaviruses but distinct enough to form its own lineage.Until now, similar viruses have only been found in bats across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The discovery marks a major step in understanding the global diversity and evolution of coronaviruses, particularly those circulating among wildlife.Importantly, researchers emphasize there is no evidence that the newly detected virus infects humans. However, they note that such discoveries highlight the urgent need for continued monitoring of animal populations that could harbor viruses capable of crossing into humans.Experts say the finding reinforces the value of global wildlife surveillance programs, which serve as an early warning system for potential zoonotic threats. Tracking these viruses before they spill over into human populations remains a critical step in preventing future pandemics.