Tokyo, Jan 23 (AFP/APP): A new strain of coronavirus that emerged may have originated in bats or snakes, according to genetic analysis of the virus that has so far killed 17 people. The theories are based on examination of the genome sequence of the virus released by authorities in the wake of the outbreak, with two studies pointing to the likely role of bats in the outbreak. One study, published Tuesday in the journal Science China Life Sciences, which is sponsored by Beijing’s Chinese Academy of Sciences, looked at the relations between the new strain and other viruses. It found the coronavirus that was closely related to a strain that exists in bats. That study did not speculate about which animal could have been an “intermediate host,” but a second study published Wednesday in the Journal of Medical Virology identifies snakes as the possible culprit. “To search for (a) potential virus reservoir, we have carried out a comprehensive sequence analysis and comparison. Results from our analysis suggest that snake is the most probable wildlife animal reservoir,” the paper says. The researchers caution that their conclusions require “further validation by experimental studies in animal models”. Neither study explained how the virus … Continue reading Studies suggest role of bats, snakes in outbreak of China virus