The identification of a new wild Coronavirus with a similar unusual mutation to Covid-19 is being regarded by some scientists as evidence that Sars-CoV-2 did not originate in a laboratory.
Chinese researchers have discovered another bat coronavirus containing a furin cleavage site, the feature that contributed to Covid-19’s heightened ability to infect humans. The furin cleavage site has been a point of contention in discussions about the origin of Covid-19, with some experts suggesting it could only have arisen through laboratory experiments.
Coronavirus
Subsequent studies have demonstrated that wild coronaviruses can naturally acquire this structure. The recently uncovered virus, named TyRo-CoV-162275, is up to 98 percent identical to coronaviruses found in pangolins, animals previously suspected of transmitting Covid-19 to humans.
In a study published between 2016 and 2017, researchers collected samples from 20 different bat species in the Yunnan and Guangdong provinces, located 994 miles and 620 miles away, respectively, from the Wuhan epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Critics of the ‘lab leak theory’ view this discovery as evidence supporting the idea that Covid-19-like viruses can emerge naturally in the wild and transfer between species. Dr. Kristian Andersen, a Danish infectious disease expert, shared the study, stating that the scientific evidence will strengthen over time.
Despite acknowledging the potential for a lab leak in private messages, Dr. Andersen publicly opposed the theory. He faced accusations of misleading the public and covering up information about practices at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) during a congressional hearing in July.
The debate over Covid-19’s origin centers on two main theories. Some, including the FBI and the Department of Energy, believe the virus accidentally escaped from the WIV. Others, like Dr. Anthony Fauci, posit that the virus originated in bats, transferred to an intermediate animal—possibly pangolins—and then transmitted to humans.
The study reveals that the newly identified coronavirus in bats shares genetic similarities with strains found in pangolins. While some scientists believe this adds to the evidence supporting a natural origin of Covid-19, skeptics argue that the newly detected virus is not closely related to SARS viruses, including Covid-19.
Dr. Richard Ebright, a chemical biologist at Rutgers University, dismissed the study’s relevance to the origin of SARS-CoV-2, emphasizing that the sequenced viruses are not SARS-related coronaviruses. He also questioned why hundreds of Covid-like viruses are found miles away from Wuhan, suggesting a possible link to experiments conducted at the WIV.
The ongoing mystery pneumonia outbreak in Chinese schools, reminiscent of early Covid symptoms, has intensified calls for transparency from China regarding the new illness.
-
-
-
-
