Novel coronavirusScientists have called for urgent efforts to develop generalized vaccines after discovering them in Russian bats. They warn that if this happens, there will be another. pandemicA deadly animal might trigger it. ViralSpreading to other people.
Similar to SARS-CoV-2Khosta-2, a new virus that causes respiratory problems in bats, is covered with spike proteins. Humans can also be infected by the same entry points.
More problematic is the apparent resistance it has to monoclonal antibodiesRecipients of the medication are inoculated with serum COVID-19 vaccine.
Also, the new respiratory virus can’t be treated with current medicines.
Despite the fact that the two pathogens are in the same group of acute respiratory coronaviruses (known as sarbecoviruses), none of the antibodies made from the omicron version were effective against the bat viruses.
The authors stated that their findings “Critically, they highlight the urgent need for continued development of new, more broadly-protecting, sarbecovirus vaccinations.” Write.
Khosta-2 was discovered by Russian researchers along with Khosta-1. In 2020, neither of these pathogens looked particularly dangerous.
They were not closely related to SARS/CoV-2. Both were actually from a separate lineage, which was devoid of certain genes that researchers believed would antagonize human immune system.
Experts have discovered some troubling traits in Khosta-2.
In the lab, this bat pathogen was able to use the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors on human liver cells to infect tissue in much the same way as SARS-CoV-2. It also had complete resistance to monoclonal antibodies that were triggered by COVID-19 vaccine.
“Genetically these strange Russians Viral infectionsThey looked a lot like the other ones that were discovered around the globe, but they didn’t look like SARS CoV-2 so no one was excited about them.” explainsMichael Letko, virologist at Washington State University
“But we were surprised when they infected human cells after we examined them more closely. This changes our understanding of the virus, their origins and whereabouts.
Khosta-2 was discovered in Russia’s Sochi National ParkAmong Horseshoe bats are less common (Rhinolophus hipposideros), which is a species also found in Europe and North Africa.
Although it is not clear whether the virus infecting these bats can spread to humans, initial laboratory findings suggest that it could.
There is a possibility that the Khosta-2 virus may co-infect a host with another coronavirus.
Khosta-1 could not infect human cells in the laboratory, but when a protein-eating enzyme were added to the mix, the virus was suddenly capable of infecting human cells via a different gate.
“[T]The authors conclude that the findings all suggest that coronaviruses might infect human cells using a still unknown receptor. Write.
“Sarbecoviruses were found to co-circulate with bats. This may indicate that the variation in receptor use among closely related viruses might be an evolutionary strategy for viral persistence within a reservoir host population.”
That’s obviously not a positive thing. Our current coronavirus vaccines, which mainly target the ACE2 receptor, may not be able to protect against infection if this virus reservoir spreads to humans.
The lab experiment showed that serum from individuals vaccinated was less effective in neutralizing the pseudovirus when the receptor binding areas of the SARS-CoV-2 viruses were replaced by Khosta-2 domains.
Letko stated, “Right now there are groups trying out to develop a vaccine that not only protects against the next variant SARS-2, but also protects us from the sarbecoviruses generally.” Says.
“Unfortunately many of our vaccines currently available are designed to target specific viruses or ones that pose the greatest risk to human health. However, this is a constantly changing list. We must broaden the range of vaccines available to protect against all forms of sarbecoviruses.
The sooner we can do this, the greater our chances of avoiding another coronavirus-related outbreak.
The study was published by PLoS Pathogens.
