Novel coronavirus discovered in British bats

Date:
July 19, 2021
Source:
University of East Anglia
Summary:
A coronavirus related to the virus that causes Covid-19 in humans
has been found in UK horseshoe bats. However, there is no evidence
that this novel virus has been transmitted to humans, or that it
could in future, unless it mutates.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A coronavirus related to the virus that causes Covid-19 in humans has
been found in UK horseshoe bats, according to new collaborative research
from the University of East Anglia, ZSL (Zoological Society of London),
and Public Health England (PHE).


========================================================================== However, there is no evidence that this novel virus has been transmitted
to humans, or that it could in future, unless it mutates.

UEA researchers collected faecal samples from more than 50 lesser
horseshoe bats in Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wales and sent them for
viral analysis at Public Health England.

Genome sequencing found a novel coronavirus in one of the bat samples,
which the team have named 'RhGB01'.

It is the first time that a sarbecovirus (SARS-related coronavirus) has
been found in a lesser horseshoe bat and the first to be discovered in
the UK.

The research team say that these bats will almost certainly have harboured
the virus for a very long time. And it has been found now, because this
is the first time that they have been tested.



========================================================================== Importantly, this novel virus is unlikely to pose a direct risk to humans, unless it mutates.

A mutation could happen if a human infected with Covid-19 passes it
to an infected bat, so anyone coming into contact with bats or their
droppings, for example those engaged in caving or bat protection, should
wear appropriate PPE.

Prof Diana Bell, an expert in emerging zoonotic diseases from UEA's School
of Biological Sciences, said: "Horseshoe bats are found across Europe,
Africa, Asia and Australia and the bats we tested lie at the western
extreme of their range.

"Similar viruses have been found in other horseshoe bat species in China,
South East Asia and Eastern Europe.

"Our research extends both the geographic and species ranges of these
types of viruses and suggests their more widespread presence across more
than 90 species of horseshoe bats.



========================================================================== "These bats will almost certainly have harboured this virus for a very
long time -- probably many thousands of years. We didn't know about it
before because this is the first time that such tests have been carried
out in UK bats.

"We already know that there are different coronaviruses in many other
mammal species too," she said. "This is a case of 'seek and you will
find'.

"Research into the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19
in humans, has focussed on horseshoe bats -- but there are some 1,400
other bat species and they comprise 20 per cent of known mammals.

"Our findings highlight the need for robust genotype testing for these
types of viruses in bat populations around the world. And it raises an important question about what other animals carry these types of viruses."
Prof Andrew Cunningham, from the Zoological Society of London, said:
"Our findings highlight that the natural distribution of sarbecoviruses
and opportunities for recombination through intermediate host co-infection
have been underestimated.

"This UK virus is not a threat to humans because the receptor binding
domain (RBD) -- the part of the virus that attaches to host cells to
infect them -- is not compatible with being able to infect human cells.

"But the problem is that any bat harbouring a SARS-like coronavirus can
act as a melting pot for virus mutation. So if a bat with the RhGB01
infection we found were to become infected with SARS-CoV-2, there is a
risk that these viruses would hybridise and a new virus emerge with the
RBD of SARS-CoV-2, and so be able to infect people.

"Preventing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to bats, and hence
reducing opportunities for virus mutation, is critical with the current
global mass vaccination campaign against this virus." Prof Bell added:
"The main risks would be for example a bat rehabilitator looking after a rescued animal and infecting it with SARS-CoV2 -- which would provide an opportunity for genetic recombination if it is already carrying another sarbecovirus.

"Anyone coming into contact with bats or their droppings, such as bat
rescuers or cavers, should wear appropriate PPE -- in order to reduce
the risk of a mutation occurring.

"We need to apply stringent regulations globally for anyone handling
bats and other wild animals," she added.

The new virus falls within the subgroup of coronaviruses called
sarbecoviruses which contains both SARS-CoV-2 (responsible for the current pandemic) and SARS- CoV (responsible for the initial 2003 SARS outbreak
in humans).

Further analysis compared the virus with those found in other horseshoe
bat species in China, South East Asia and Europe and showed that its
closest relative was discovered in a Blasius's bat from Bulgaria in 2008.

The UK discovery was made by undergraduate ecology student Ivana Murphy,
from UEA's School of Biological Sciences, who collected bat droppings
as part of her final year research dissertation. Jack Crook conducted
the genetic analyses in partnership with other researchers at PHE.

A total of 53 bats were captured, and their faeces collected in sterile
bags.

The research was conducted under strict Health and Safety protocols. Full
PPE was worn and Ivana was regularly tested for Covid-19 to avoid any
chance of cross contamination. The bats were released immediately after
their droppings had been collected.

Ivana said: "More than anything, I'm worried that people
may suddenly start fearing and persecuting bats, which is
the last thing I would want and would be unnecessary. As
like all wildlife, if left alone they do not pose any threat." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_East_Anglia. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Jack M. Crook, Ivana Murphy, Daniel P. Carter, Steven T. Pullan,
Miles
Carroll, Richard Vipond, Andrew A. Cunningham, Diana
Bell. Metagenomic identification of a new sarbecovirus from
horseshoe bats in Europe.

Scientific Reports, 2021; 11 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94011-z ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210719103112.htm

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