Novel Coronavirus Identified as SARS Cause, Prompting Global Health Response

Scientists have identified a novel coronavirus named BRZ batCoV in Pteronotus parnellii bats in Brazil, which carries a furin cleavage site, a genetic feature also found in the viruses responsible for Covid-19 and MERS. This discovery, marking the first such finding in American bat coronaviruses, suggests that the furin cleavage site may have independently evolved in South American bat populations, highlighting the global reach of batborne viruses with pandemic potential. BRZ batCoV is a betacoronavirus related to MERS-like viruses but forms a distinct lineage separate from previously known Asian and Middle Eastern strains. Genetic sequencing and international collaboration underpin the research, expanding understanding of coronavirus diversity and zoonotic risks in the Western Hemisphere. The furin cleavage site, previously debated during the Covid-19 pandemic, is now recognized as a naturally occurring feature in coronaviruses, underscoring the evolutionary complexity of these pathogens.