Overview
- The peer‑reviewed paper published Wednesday in Nature identifies CEACAM6 as the human receptor that CcCoV‑KY43 uses to gain entry into cells.
- Researchers screened synthetic alphacoronavirus spike proteins from GenBank against a library of human receptors using safe pseudotyped systems instead of live virus.
- The team solved the spike–CEACAM6 contact by crystallography and showed the receptor is common in lung cell types, suggesting a plausible route for respiratory entry.
- Field work in Kenya detected the virus in heart‑nosed bats and local human sera showed only limited reactivity, providing no clear evidence of recent spillover.
- The study expands the known range of alphacoronavirus receptors and the authors urge targeted surveillance in East Africa and follow‑up tests to assess replication and transmission potential.