Similar viruses
“Three viruses show genomic similarities with Sars-Cov-2, in particular in a key domain of the Spike protein, which allows the virus to bind to host cells”, write the scientists from the Institut Pasteur. “Researchers have demonstrated a similar affinity of these three bat coronaviruses and the Sars-Cov-2 virus for a human receptor, as well as an ability to enter human cells,” they continue, indicating that the one of these three strains is even “capable of multiplying in human cells”.
“The existence of these viruses discovered in the bat animal reservoir supports the hypothesis that Sars-Cov-2 could originate from bats living in the reliefs. […] shared by Laos, Vietnam and China”, explains virologist Marc Eloit, head of the “Discovery of pathogens” laboratory at the Institut Pasteur and who led the study. “Our results tend to prove that other related viruses could pose a risk to human health,” he adds.