The world has just begun to fully recover from the wounds of COVID-19, and in the meantime, Brazilian scientists have made a new discovery that has once again brought the natural world of viruses into the spotlight. A completely new coronavirus-related virus has been found in the intestines of a mustached bat living in the forests of Brazil. Researchers have named it BRZ batCoV. This virus is so interesting because its genetic structure contains elements that closely resemble SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus.
How the virus was identified
The virus was not identified in a laboratory, but in samples from bats living naturally in the wild. Scientists found fragments of the virus’s genes during gene sequencing of more than 70 bat samples in the Brazilian states of Maranhao and São Paulo. This means the virus was not directly isolated, but rather its presence was detected based on genetic identification, such as its DNA.
Why the resemblance to coronavirus is special
The most notable feature of BRZ batCoV is its furin cleavage site—the same structure that helps the COVID-19 virus enter human cells. Many experts previously believed this feature could only exist in lab-created viruses, but this discovery has weakened that belief. Scientists say such structures can also emerge naturally, as viruses constantly change and evolve.
What scientists are saying:
Dr. Kosuke Takada of Osaka University in Japan says that this discovery reminds us that viruses evolve over time – they don’t need to be artificially created. Professor Stuart Neal of King’s College London explains that structures like furin sites form spontaneously in many viruses, a natural process of evolution.
Professor David Robertson of the University of Glasgow also described the discovery as an example of the “natural dynamics of genomic changes in viruses.” He said that some genetic parts change so rapidly that similar structures can appear repeatedly in different viruses.
No threat to humans yet:
Currently, scientists say there is no evidence of BRZ batCoV spreading to humans or other animals. It has only been found in the intestines of bats. This means the virus is currently confined to its natural habitat.
Why surveillance is needed
Experts believe this discovery is both a warning and an opportunity. A warning because it shows that such viruses may be active not just in Asia or Africa, but also in the jungles of South America. And an opportunity because scientists now know the wide variety of naturally evolving viruses that exist. In Dr. Takada’s words, “If we continue to identify such viruses in time, it may be possible to prevent the next pandemic.”