China's Wuhan lab sparks new coronavirus fears as it plans 'ominous' experiments

The Chinese lab located just eight miles from the first known cases of coronavirus has published new research which included an "ominous note", an expert said.

Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology identified a new strain of coronavirus in bats that can infiltrate human cells similarly to SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19.

The newly discovered coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, like SARS-CoV-2, can penetrate cells via the human ACE2 receptor protein found on cell surfaces. It belongs to the same family as the virus causing the lethal Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

The paper calls for “further investigation” into strains with more infectious spike proteins, as well as testing in human transgenic mice.

Dr Alina Chan, a biosecurity expert, claimed the experiments described in the research paper should not be conducted in Wuhan as it does not have an appropriate level of biosecurity.

She told The Telegraph: "The paper ends on an ominous note describing a set of future experiments similar to what might've led to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"They're going to test more of such viruses with different-looking spike proteins. They're going to study cleavage sites and how they activate the spike in these viruses. They're going to study the viruses' ability to cause disease in humanised mice.

"After what we experienced with Covid-19, I believe there is no biosafety level adequate for such experiments in the city of Wuhan. If such work has to be done, it should be done at a biosafety level four far away from any city centre."

The study, published last week in the journal Cell, revealed that the coronavirus was detected in anal swab samples from a bat of the Pipistrellus genus. Laboratory tests confirmed the virus's ability to infect human cells.

However, there have been no reported cases in humans and experts maintain it does not currently pose a threat to public health.

Despite its similarities, scientists assert that the newly identified coronavirus does not infect cells as effectively as the virus causing Covid-19.

Dr Amira Roess, global health and epidemiology professor at George Mason University, told CNN: "Even the researchers themselves point out that this should not cause panic.

"It helps us understand what happens in the event that this does spill over and pose a risk. It’s good to get ahead of that. The more we know about these viruses, the better."