New Strains of Coronavirus

 As of March 16, 2025, several new strains and variants of coronaviruses have been identified, prompting attention from the global health community.

SARS-CoV-2 Variants:

• BA.2.86 and JN.1: The Omicron subvariant BA.2.86, first detected in July 2023, has accumulated over thirty mutations on its spike protein compared to its predecessor, BA.2. Its descendant, JN.1 (also referred to as "Pirola"), emerged in August 2023 and became the dominant strain during the winter of 2023–2024. The World Health Organization (WHO) designated JN.1 as a variant of interest in December 2023, noting its widespread prevalence across multiple regions. 

Novel Coronavirus Discoveries:

• HKU5-CoV-2: Researchers in China have identified a new bat coronavirus named HKU5-CoV-2. This virus can utilize the human ACE2 receptor for cell entry, similar to SARS-CoV-2, suggesting potential for cross-species transmission. While no human infections have been reported to date, its genetic similarity to the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) virus—which has a higher mortality rate—raises concerns. Ongoing surveillance and stringent laboratory safety protocols are recommended to monitor and mitigate any potential risks associated with this virus. Continued vigilance and research are essential to understand the implications of these new strains and to develop appropriate public health responses.

Reference links:

https://www.news.com.au/world/asia/chinese-researchers-discover-new-bat-coronavirus/news-story/43e6cbf5c68c0c7e82bedc9b8ed15b7e?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/health/14400894/coronavirus-pandemic-fears-bat-bug-new-virus/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/chinese-researchers-find-bat-virus-enters-human-cells-via-same-pathway-covid-2025-02-21/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

The newly identified HKU5-CoV-2 is a bat coronavirus closely related to MERS-CoV. While its exact structure hasn't been fully published, it is expected to share key features with other coronaviruses:

1. Spherical or pleomorphic viral envelope
2. Spike (S) protein – responsible for binding to human ACE2 receptors
   
3. Membrane (M) and Envelope (E) proteins – crucial for viral assembly
4. Nucleocapsid (N) protein – protects the viral RNA genome

                    

below the structure comparison with SARS-CoV-2, BA.2.86, JN.1

Feature	SARS-CoV-2 (Original Strain)	BA.2.86 (Pirola Variant)	JN.1 Variant
Structure	Spherical with uniform spike proteins	Spherical with altered spike proteins	Similar to BA.2.86 but with refined spike mutations
Spike (S) Protein	Fewer mutations, allowing strong ACE2 binding	Over 30 mutations in the spike protein	Contains additional L455S mutation
Mutation Impact	Basic transmission, lower immune evasion	Increased immune evasion but slightly reduced receptor binding	Higher immune escape, better adaptation
Transmissibility	Moderate	High due to immune evasion	Very high, dominant in 2024
Immune Evasion	Lower; vaccines provide strong protection	Higher, raising concerns about vaccine escape	Even higher, making reinfections more common
Dominance Period	2020	Late 2023	Late 2023 – Early 2024