February 22nd 2025.
According to a recent media report, a team of virologists from China has made a significant discovery regarding a new bat coronavirus. This virus has the potential to spread from animals to humans, as it targets the same receptor used by the virus responsible for causing Covid-19. The study was led by Shi Zhengli, a well-known virologist from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has been under scrutiny for its alleged involvement in the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite being nicknamed the "Bat Woman" for her research on bat viruses, Shi and the Chinese government have denied any connection between the Wuhan lab and the outbreak of Covid-19. However, this new finding adds to the growing evidence that the virus may have originated from a bat population, specifically the Japanese pipistrelle bat in Hong Kong. This new coronavirus belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, which also includes the virus responsible for Middle East respiratory syndrome.
What makes this new virus concerning is its ability to bind to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2), the same receptor used by the Sars-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19. This means that it has the potential to infect human cells and cause illness. In a recent paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell, the team of virologists led by Shi wrote about their discovery and isolation of this new coronavirus.
Their research also showed that the virus could infect not only human cells, but also artificially grown masses of cells and tissues that resembled miniature respiratory or intestinal organs. This suggests that the virus may be able to cause respiratory or intestinal illness in humans. However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential impact of this new virus on human health.
In response to allegations that the Wuhan lab was involved in "gain-of-function" studies on coronaviruses, the Chinese government has denied any involvement and stated that the lab has never engaged in such research. Gain-of-function research involves genetically altering organisms to enhance their biological functions, potentially making them more dangerous. The lab has also been cleared of any involvement in the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a joint mission by experts from the World Health Organization and China.
Despite these findings, the lab has been under constant scrutiny, especially during the previous Trump presidency. However, the Chinese government has firmly stated that the lab has never designed, made, or leaked Covid-19. They also oppose any attempts to manipulate the origins of the virus for political gain. The lab's work has also been shut down by the current US administration, as it was not aligned with American strategic interests and was seen as a waste of money.
In conclusion, this new discovery by the Chinese team of virologists sheds more light on the potential origins of the Covid-19 pandemic and the role of bats in its transmission. Further research is needed to fully understand the impact of this new virus on human health. Meanwhile, the Wuhan Institute of Virology continues to deny any involvement in the pandemic and opposes any attempts to politicize the origins of the virus.
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