HKU5-CoV-2

25.02.2025

HKU5-CoV-2

Why in the news?   

             A newly discovered bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, similar to the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic, has been identified in China.

About AKU5-CoV-2:

• It is a newly discovered Bat Coronavirus.
• It Closely Resembles The SARS-Cov-2, The Virus Behind COVID-19 Pandemic.
• It Belongs To The Merbecovirus Subgenus, Which Also Includes The Virus Responsible For Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
• It Can Bind To Human ACE2 Receptors, Similar To SARS-Cov-2. This Suggests It Has The Potential For Animal-To-Human Transmission.
• HKU5-Cov-2 Has A Lower Binding Affinity To Human ACE2 Than SARS-Cov-2, And Its Ability To Infect Humans On A Large Scale Remains Uncertain.
• The Virus Binds Not Just To Human ACE2 But Also To Multiple Mammalian Species, Meaning It Could Spread Through An Intermediate Animal Before Reaching Humans.
• There Are No Confirmed Cases Of HKU5-Cov-2 In Humans Yet, So Its Symptoms Are Unknown.
• The Discovery Was Made By A Team Of Virologists Led By Shi Zhengli, Often Referred To As "Batwoman" For Her Extensive Research On Coronaviruses At The Wuhan Institute, China.

                                                         Source: NDTV World

Consider the following statements regarding HKU5-CoV-2, recently seen in the news:

Statement-I: It is a newly discovered bat coronavirus.

Statement-II:It has a lower binding affinity to human ACE2 than SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19 pandemic.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

C.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.

D.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Answer  C