The debate continues whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing the Covid-19 disease is natural, or manufactured in a laboratory. Were it to be natural, then scientific opinion believes it crossed over from another mammal. On May 24, 2020 Medical News announced a SARS-CoV-2 look-alike found in a bat is closely related to the human version.
Genome Similarities in SARS-CoV-2 Look-Alike Found in Bat
Scientists call an organism’s complete DNA, including all its genes, its “genome”. Most of the two genomes in the study are remarkably similar given the infinite variety of life. The spike protein binding to the host cell’s receptors is of particular interest, because that’s where the infection occurs.
There are four extra amino acids in the human version at this point in the chain. This distinguishes SARS-CoV-2 from other human coronaviruses, and fuels the idea of laboratory manufacture. However, the research report confirms the SARS-CoV-2 look-alike found in a bat has similar amino acids in its spike protein. This in turn suggests the phenomenon does occur naturally in wildlife.
More about the Malayan Horseshoe Bat Used in the Study
The rhinolophus malayanus malayan horseshoe bat occurs naturally in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. There are numerous species in the rhinolophus bat strain, and malayanus has not attracted much interest until now.
However, we did manage to discover it lives in tropical / subtropical dry, broad leaf forests, and there are two subspecies with high and low calls. Nowadays, the timid creature is thrust into the limelight thanks to the study of viruses in 227 different bats.
Those bats all came from Yunnan Province in southwest China. There’s a tantalizing theory the original SARS virus spread from bats in an anonymous cave somewhere out there. However, that location remains a secret as do many aspects of the early Covid-19 outbreak.
Despite this, the pieces of the puzzle are slowly emerging. Someday we may know the whole truth of the SARS-CoV-2 look-alike that was found in a bat in the Chinese study and perhaps from the same cave.
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Preview Image: A Similar Horseshoe Bat
