A new coronavirus discovered in China is only a small step from mutating and causing another global pandemic, experts have warned, reports The Independent.

Scientists believe the variant, called HKU5-CoV-2, may infect a broader range of animals than Covid-19—which caused millions of deaths—and may have more potential for jumping between species

US researchers fear that HKU5-CoV-2, found in China, in February, could also infect humans, leading to a widespread outbreak.

The new study, published in Nature Communications, looked at a lesser-known group of coronaviruses called merbecoviruses, which includes HKU5 and MERS-CoV, which is responsible for the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.

The team from Washington State University looked at how the new pathogen interacts with human cells.

They found that a small change in the virus's spike protein could allow it to attach to human ACE2 cells in people's throats, mouths and noses.

HKU5-CoV-2 can infect and replicate inside human cells in both the airways and gut.

"HKU5 viruses in particular really hadn't been looked at much, but our study shows how these viruses infect cells,” said Prof. Michael Letko, a virologist who co-led the study. “What we also found is HKU5 viruses may be only a small step away from being able to spill over into humans."

The scientists, whose experiments studied how the new pathogen interacts with human cells, believe the virus would have to carry certain mutations if it were to infect humans.

“These viruses are closely related to MERS, so we have to be concerned if they ever infect humans,” Prof. Letko said. “While there's no evidence they've crossed into people yet, the potential is there and that makes them worth watching.”

During the study of this virus, scientists used genetically modified pseudoviruses containing the HKU5 spike protein. They were introduced into cells with ACE2 receptors from both bats and humans. The study noted that after introducing certain mutations, the virus began to penetrate human cells.

Earlier, scientists from Wuhan, China had reported that one of the HKU5 variants had already acquired the ability to bind to human ACE2 cells, which suggests the possibility of direct infection of humans without an intermediate animal carrier.

However, scientists have noted that there is currently no evidence that the virus is already spreading among humans. Monitoring is needed, especially given the active trade in wild animals in some regions of China, which increases the risk of this virus being transmitted to humans.