Virus Found in Laos Bats Shows 96.8% Similarity to COVID-19

A bat is flying. The photo is not directly related to a specific part of the article. [Image source=Getty Images]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] A virus found in bats living in Laos has been discovered to have a 96.8% match with the COVID-19 virus. This is the closest known coronavirus to the COVID-19 virus to date.

According to Nature.com on the 25th, a research team from the Pasteur Institute in France collected and analyzed saliva and fecal samples from 645 bats in caves in northern Laos.

The study found coronaviruses with over 95% similarity to the COVID-19 virus in three species of horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus). In particular, among the newly discovered viruses, BANAL-52 was found to have a 96.8% match with the COVID-19 virus.

Regarding this, Edward Holmes, a virologist at the University of Sydney, Australia, said, "The receptor-binding domain of the COVID-19 virus was something never seen before, leading some to speculate that it might have been created in a laboratory. However, the virus found in bats in Laos confirms that such a binding domain exists in nature."

The research team published the related study on 'Research Square,' a platform for preprints before formal publication. Peer review of this study has not yet been conducted.

Meanwhile, although this research has provided more insight into the origin of the COVID-19 virus, it has been pointed out that some links are still missing.

The newly discovered virus does not have the 'furin-cleavage site' within the spike protein that helps the COVID-19 virus or other coronaviruses invade human cells. Additionally, the process of how the virus moved to Wuhan, central China, where COVID-19 was first identified, and the existence of an intermediate host have not been clearly established.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.