NeoCov, deadlier type of Coronavirus in the wild

Chinese researchers have detected a new type of coronavirus called NeoCov. NeoCov,was detected among bats in South Africa. Scientists from the Wuhan University in China said NeoCov can penetrate human cells in the same way as SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19. NeoCoV, a mutation related to the Middle East respiratory syndrome MERS-CoV that is linked to outbreaks in the Middle East in 2012 and 2015. While research claims it has latent ability to mutate, the World Health Organisation has said its potential needs further clarity.

Scientists warned that the new coronavirus could bind to the ACE2 receptor in a different way than the COVID-19 pathogen does. The Chinese scientists said that they “unexpectedly found that NeoCoV and its close relative, PDF-2180-CoV, can efficiently use some types of bat Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and, less favourably, human ACE2 for entry” Till now, it has not been detected in humans, however, scientists said it “is only one mutation away from becoming dangerous for humans”. Russian scientists that noted the discovery of this variety – SARS-CoV-2 – shows that the variants of viruses capable of binding to human receptors without any adaptation are already circulating directly in the wild, TASS reported.