China has made an interesting discovery regarding two new coronaviruses found in bats, which they claim supports the theory that Covid-19 did not leak from a lab. These viruses possess a genetic characteristic that is believed to contribute to the infectiousness of the strain responsible for the pandemic. Prior to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, no sarbecoviruses, the virus family to which it belongs, had been found to have a “furin cleavage site.” This led experts to speculate about the possibility of a man-made origin, contrary to Beijing’s insistence on a natural origin.
Researchers backed by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention have deepened our understanding of coronaviruses by studying 112 bats captured in abandoned caves in Southern China. The study revealed the presence of CD35 and CD36 in great roundleaf bats, also known as the great Himalayan leaf-nosed bat. These discoveries led the researchers to conclude that the furin cleavage site of SARS-CoV-2 likely has a natural origin.
However, independent experts argue that this study cannot support the claim that Covid-19 emerged naturally, as the newly discovered viruses are not closely related to Covid-19. There is also no evidence yet that CD35 and CD36 can infect humans, requiring further investigation. Scientists like Dr. Richard Ebright and Professor Francois Balloux assert that the furin cleavage site in SARS-CoV-2 remains unique among sarbecoviruses.
The study, published in Virologica Sinica, a scientific journal affiliated with the Chinese Society for Microbiology, has drawn attention for its funding sources and affiliations with the Chinese CDC and the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Notably, British zoologist Dr. Peter Daszak, who has been involved in funding research at the Wuhan lab, expressed support for the study’s findings. Dr. Daszak has been a prominent defender of the natural origin theory and has been accused of attempting to suppress alternative hypotheses.
It is important to note that the genetic similarity between CD35 and CD36 and Covid-19 is only around 54%, whereas another virus collected in China in 2013, RaTG13, has a 96% match but lacks the furin cleavage site.
In conclusion, while this study provides additional insights into the diversity of coronaviruses, it does not definitively explain the origin of Covid-19. The debate continues, and further research and investigation are needed to uncover the true source of the pandemic.
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