According to recent research, a virus discovered in a Russian bat is similar to Covid-19 and may infect humans. Human cells may contract the bat virus Khosta-2's spike proteins.
and serum, but not to Sars-CoV-2 antibodies. Both Khosta-2 and Covid are members of the coronavirus family known as sarbecoviruses.
Our study shows that sarbecoviruses are also present in wildlife outside of Asia, including in western Russia, where the Khosta-2 virus was discovered.
represent a risk to ongoing vaccination campaigns against Sars-CoV-2 and to world health, according to a report released on Thursday in PLOS Pathogens.
Researchers advocate for sarbecovirus immunizations against all strains, not just Sars-CoV-2.
Khosta-1 and Khosta-2 were discovered in Russian bats in 2020, but experts did not believe they posed a threat to people.