--- title: I2SysBio and ICBiBE discover new coronavirus in bats from Spain, some similar to SARS-CoV-2 description: A team led by the Institute of Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio) together with the Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (ICBiBE), both research centers of the University of Valencia Science Park, identifies eight coronavirus genomes in bats from different regions of Spain, three of which could represent new viral species image: https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/murcielagos%20i2sysbio.jpg --- [Contact](https://www.pcuv.es/en/contacto) ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/icons/location.svg)[How to get to the Park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/contacto) [Intranet](https://portalcliente.pcuv.es/) - [Castellano](https://news.pcuv.es/) - [Valencià](https://news.pcuv.es/va/) - [English](https://news.pcuv.es/en/) ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/icons/search.svg) [![PCUV](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/logo_pcuv.svg)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/) - [Who we are](https://www.pcuv.es/en/conocenos) - 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News # I2SysBio and ICBiBE discover new coronavirus in bats from Spain, some similar to SARS-CoV-2 19/11/2025 Share this news: - ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/Blog/images/share.svg) - ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/Blog/images/printer.svg) ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/murcielagos%20i2sysbio.jpg) ## A team led by the Institute of Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio) together with the Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (ICBiBE), both research centers of the University of Valencia Science Park, identifies eight coronavirus genomes in bats from different regions of Spain, three of which could represent new viral species A multidisciplinary research team led by the Institute of [Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/i2sysbio), located in the scientific-academic area of the [University of Valencia Science Park (PCUV](https://www.pcuv.es/en/home)) and joint center of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) and the University of Valencia (UV), together with the [Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (ICBiBE)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/icbibe), also belonging to the PCUV, has identified eight coronavirus genomes in bats from different regions of Spain, three of which could represent new viral species. The findings have been published in the journal PLoS Pathogens. The study is based on the sequencing of faecal samples from hundreds of bats collected in various parts of Spain, belonging to 23 different species. This research represents the largest effort to date to study the diversity of coronavirus in the Iberian fauna. > "The strong similarities between these viruses would indicate a fairly recent common origin and an important transmission of these viruses in bat populations", Rafael Sanjuán, researcher at I2SysBio Thanks to this research, the team has been able to identify eight complete coronavirus genomes, of which three correspond to potentially new coronavirus species belonging to the genus *Alphacoronavirus*. This genus encompasses a large part of the known coronaviruses and includes various common colds, as well as important swine viruses and other species. ## World viral reservoir Phylogenetic analyses revealed evolutionary connections with coronavirus described above in bats from other countries in Asia and Europe, suggesting that the viral reservoirs of these regions share many elements in common. "The strong similarities between these viruses would indicate a fairly recent common origin and an important transmission of these viruses in bat populations," explains Rafael Sanjuán, researcher at I2SysBio and one of the main authors of the study. ## Ability to infect human cells One of the identified viruses, RhBetaCoV-Murcia2022, belongs to the genus *Betacoronavirus*, as does SARS-CoV-2. In addition, this new virus showed ability to use the human receptor ACE2 (the same one that uses SARS-CoV-2), although with a significantly lower affinity. Viral receptors are usually cell surface proteins used by viruses as a gateway. Thus, this finding suggests a zoonotic potential (ability to transmit from animals to humans), but underlines the importance of further investigating viral diversity in bats to prevent possible zoonotic viral outbreaks. > "Although the new virus and SARS-CoV-2 share a receptor, there are other factors that a virus needs to be considered infectious or potentially dangerous, because in addition to entering the cell, it must be able to replicate its genome, express its genes, avoid the immune response and be transmitted efficiently between people", Jérémy Dufloo, I2SysBio researcher "Although the new virus and SARS-CoV-2 share a receptor, there are other factors that a virus needs to be considered infectious or potentially dangerous, because in addition to entering the cell, it must be able to replicate its genome, express its genes, avoid the immune response and be transmitted efficiently between people", says Jérémy Dufloo, I2SysBio researcher and author of the study. In this sense, the researcher explains: "For the moment it has not been possible to isolate and grow the entire virus, so we lack the tools for a more detailed study of the virus". ## Prevention work These findings underline the importance of conducting field studies to detect the presence of these viruses and understand their behavior in nature. Their monitoring (analyzing their abundance, contact with humans or their evolution) is key to preventing future viral outbreaks. In addition, the identification of receptors (such as ACE2) used by viruses to infect cells allows the design of new antivirals that inhibit their uptake. Thus, this type of research contributes to the development of new antivirals that could be used in case of future viral outbreaks. This research has been funded by the European Research Council (ERC), the Council of Science and Innovation, the Generalitat Valenciana, the European Organisation for Molecular Biology (EMBO) and the Skłodowska-Curie Actions. *Source: Delegation CSIC Comunitat Valenciana *   ### Recent Posts   [![PCUV](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/icons/logo.svg)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/home) ## Subscribe to our **newsletter** - Get to know us - [Parc Científic](https://www.pcuv.es/en/conocenos) - [FPCUV](https://www.pcuv.es/en/fpcuv/) - [Transparency Portal](https://www.pcuv.es/en/portal-de-transparencia) - --- Services - [Infrastructures and spaces](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/espacios-para-empresas) - [Support for companies and startups](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/apoyo-a-emprededor-empresas) - [Networking](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/networking-empresas/) - [UV services](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/servicios-uv) - [Training](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/formacion/) - [Networks](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/redes/) - Establishing in the park - [Establishing in the park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/instalarse-en-el-parc/) - --- Companies - [The park's companies](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas) - [Company directory and search engine](https://www.pcuv.es/en/directorio-buscador-empresas) - Sectors - [Biotechnology, agrifood, medicine and health](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas-biotecnologia-medicina-salud) - [Information and communication technologies ICT](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas-tecnologias-informacion-comunicacion-tic) - [Energy and environment](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas-energia-y-medio-ambiente) - [Advanced services](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas-servicios-avanzados) - [Industry, materials and nanotechnology](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas-industrial-materiales-nanotecnologia) - [Research Institutes](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion) - PCUV News - [News](https://news.pcuv.es/en/) - [Calendar](https://www.pcuv.es/en/agenda-eventos/) - [Park projects](https://www.pcuv.es/en/proyectos-del-parc/) - [Publications](https://www.pcuv.es/en/publicaciones/) - [Ebooks](https://www.pcuv.es/en/ebooks/) - [Podcasts](https://www.pcuv.es/en/podcasts/) - ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/icons/location-f.svg)[How to get to the park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/contacto#map) - --- [Contact](https://www.pcuv.es/en/contacto) - --- [Internal information channel](https://pcuv.es/en/canal-interno-de-informacion) - - - - - - --- ©2026 Parc Científic de la Universitat de València - [Cookies policy](https://www.pcuv.es/en/politica-cookies) - [Privacy policy](https://www.pcuv.es/en/politica-privacidad) - [Legal notice](https://www.pcuv.es/en/aviso-legal-web)