India, May 10 -- Japanese and Thai scientists from the Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo in Japan and Chulalongkorn University in Thailand respectively have identified a novel group of coronaviruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2 circulating in horseshoe bats in Thailand. These viruses have the potential to infect humans, according to a statement by the University of Tokyo.

Horseshoe bats are the main host of coronaviruses related to SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the diversity and properties of bat SARS-CoV-2-related viruses remain unexplored, especially in Southeast Asia that harbours the largest number of horseshoe bat species.

The international team of researchers led by Japa...