Researchers funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) have identified a new bat coronavirus in East Africa that can enter human cells, sharpening concerns about how future outbreaks may emerge.
The study, led by The Pirbright Institute and published in Nature, focuses on viruses circulating in bat populations and their potential to cross into humans.
The international collaboration, bringing together the University of Cambridge, the University of York, the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, and the National Museums of Kenya, identified a virus in the heart-nosed bat that can bind to a human receptor known as CEACAM6. This interaction is a necessary step for viral entry into human cells.
The result does not indicate human infection has occurred. Preliminary testing in Kenya found no evidence of spread among local populations.
However, the virus’s ability to attach to human cells establishes a plausible pathway for spillover, highlighting a new coronavirus risk that researchers say should be closely monitored.
Coronavirus background and the lasting impact of the 2019 outbreak
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, many of which circulate in animals such as bats. Infection depends on a virus successfully binding to receptors on host cells, a process that determines whether it can cross species barriers.
The 2019 outbreak fundamentally changed how scientists assess these risks. It showed how quickly a coronavirus can scale once it becomes transmissible between humans, and how limited early visibility into animal viruses can delay response efforts.
As a result, research has shifted upstream. The emphasis is now on identifying potential threats before they spread. In that context, detecting a bat coronavirus that can interact with human cell receptors represents an early-stage warning signal – well before any confirmed human transmission.
A bat coronavirus that binds to human cells
At the centre of the study is a virus discovered in East African heart-nosed bats. Researchers found it can bind to the human CEACAM6 receptor, a protein on the surface of certain cells.
This is a significant development because receptor binding is one of the core requirements for infection. Without it, a virus cannot enter and replicate inside human cells. The discovery, therefore, marks a critical step in understanding how animal viruses might adapt to humans.
Importantly, this does not mean the virus is currently infecting people. It does, however, demonstrate compatibility at a cellular level – something that was previously unconfirmed for this group of viruses.
No evidence of human spread at this stage
Field studies conducted in Kenya indicate that the virus has not crossed into human populations. Researchers found no signs of infection among people in areas where the bats were sampled.
That distinction matters. The presence of a new coronavirus with the ability to bind to human cells signals potential risk, not active transmission. Many viruses exhibit partial compatibility with human biology without ever causing outbreaks.
Still, scientists stress that this is the point at which vigilance is most effective. Monitoring viruses at this stage allows for early detection if conditions change.
Expanding the model of how coronaviruses infect cells
The findings challenge existing assumptions about alphacoronaviruses. Previously, these viruses were thought to rely on a narrow set of receptors, limiting their ability to infect different species.
This study suggests a broader mechanism. According to Dr Dalan Bailey of The Pirbright Institute, alphacoronaviruses may be capable of using a wider range of receptors than previously understood.
That shift has implications for risk assessment. If receptor usage is more flexible, the boundary between animal and human infection may be less rigid than models have assumed.
Implications for surveillance and global health strategy
The research sits within a wider effort by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to understand the origins of infectious diseases better. By focusing on viruses in animal reservoirs, scientists aim to identify threats before they emerge.
Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, BBSRC Executive Chair, commented: “This discovery shows that with the right investment in fundamental science and strong international partnerships, we can stay one step ahead.
“By bringing together world-leading scientists from the UK and Kenya, this team has found a smarter, safer way to identify viruses with the potential to infect humans before they do.
“Understanding how animal viruses can cross into human cells is vital if we are to be better prepared for future health threats.”
Bats remain a key area of focus due to the diversity of coronaviruses they host. Studies like this help map which viruses have traits associated with human infection, including receptor binding.
The identification of a bat coronavirus with this capability does not signal an imminent outbreak. It does, however, provide a clearer view of how a new coronavirus could begin the transition into humans – offering a narrow but valuable window for pandemic preparedness.
Team Health Accessible
Health & Wellness Editorial Team
HealthAccessible editorial team delivers trusted, accessible, and evidence-based health information for everyone.
