The family Hepeviridae has seen an explosive expansion in its host range in recent years,yet the evolutionary trajectory of this zoonotic pathogen remains largely unknown.The emergence of rat hepatitis E virus(HEV)has...The family Hepeviridae has seen an explosive expansion in its host range in recent years,yet the evolutionary trajectory of this zoonotic pathogen remains largely unknown.The emergence of rat hepatitis E virus(HEV)has introduced a new public health threat due to its potential for zoonotic transmission.This study investigated2?464 wild small mammals spanning four animal orders,eight families,21 genera,and 37 species in Yunnan Province,China.Using broadly reactive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),we systematically screened the presence and prevalence of Orthohepevirus and identified 192 positive specimens from10 species,corresponding to an overall detection rate of7.79%.Next-generation sequencing enabled the recovery of 24 full-length genomic sequences from eight host species,including Bandicota bengalensis,Eothenomys eleusis,and Episoriculus caudatus,representing newly reported host species for Orthohepevirus strains.Phylogenetic and sequence analyses revealed extensive genetic diversity within orthohepeviruses infecting rodents and shrews.Notably,among the identified strains,20 were classified as Rocahepevirus ratti C1,two as C3,and one as Rocahepevirus eothenomi,while the remaining strain exhibited significant divergence,precluding classification.Evolutionary analyses highlighted close associations between orthohepeviruses and their respective host taxa,with distinct phylogenetic clustering patterns observed across different host orders.These findings emphasize the critical roles of co-speciation and cross-species transmission in shaping the evolutionary trajectories of the genera Paslahepevirus and Rocahepevirus.展开更多
Ebola virus(EBOV)and Marburg virus(MARV),members of the Filoviridae family,are highly pathogenic and can cause hemorrhagic fevers,significantly impacting human society.Bats are considered reservoirs of these viruses b...Ebola virus(EBOV)and Marburg virus(MARV),members of the Filoviridae family,are highly pathogenic and can cause hemorrhagic fevers,significantly impacting human society.Bats are considered reservoirs of these viruses because related filoviruses have been discovered in bats.However,due to the requirement for maximum containment laboratories when studying infectious viruses,the characterization of bat filoviruses often relies on pseudoviruses and minigenome systems.In this study,we used RACE technology to sequence the 30-leader and 50-trailer of Mengla virus(MLAV)and constructed a minigenome.Similar to MARV,the transcription activities of the MLAV minigenome are independent of VP30.We further assessed the effects of polymorphisms at the 50 end on MLAV minigenome activity and identified certain mutations that decrease minigenome reporter efficiency,probably due to alterations in the RNA secondary structure.The reporter activity upon recombination of the 30-leaders and 50-trailers of MLAV,MARV,and EBOV with those of the homologous or heterologous minigenomes was compared and it was found that the polymerase complex and leader and trailer sequences exhibit intrinsic specificities.Additionally,we investigated whether the polymerase complex proteins from EBOV and MARV support MLAV minigenome RNA synthesis and found that the homologous system is more efficient than the heterologous system.Remdesivir efficiently inhibited MLAV as well as EBOV replication.In summary,this study provides new information on bat filoviruses and the minigenome will be a useful tool for high-throughput antiviral drug screening.展开更多
Dear Editor,Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARSCo V)is the causative agent of the 2002–2003 SARS pandemic,which resulted in more than 8000 human infections worldwide and an approximately 10%fatality ra...Dear Editor,Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARSCo V)is the causative agent of the 2002–2003 SARS pandemic,which resulted in more than 8000 human infections worldwide and an approximately 10%fatality rate(Ksiazek et al.2003;Peiris et al.2004).The virus infects both upper airway and alveolar epithelial cells,resulting in mild to severe lung injury in展开更多
Diverse species of rodents and shrews, which are abundant worldwide, harbor a variety of viruses;some of these are closely related to human viruses and possess zoonotic potential. Previously studies have demonstrated ...Diverse species of rodents and shrews, which are abundant worldwide, harbor a variety of viruses;some of these are closely related to human viruses and possess zoonotic potential. Previously studies have demonstrated that the mammarenavirus and hantavirus carried by rodents or shrews could cause diseases in human population. To determine the distribution of zoonotic viruses in Shenzhen city, the major city in southern China with a high population density, we analyzed 225 rodents(Rattus norvegicus and Rattus flavipectus) and 196 shrews(Suncus murinus) from urban and rural districts for the presence of mammarenavirus, hantavirus, and hepatitis E virus(HEV) by RT-PCR targeting the conserved regions. The infection rates for mammarenavirus, hantaviruses,and HEV in rodents and shrews were 3.56%, 6.89%, and 1.66%, respectively. Partial genome fragment analysis indicated that mammarenavirus and hantavirus strains had more than 90% and 99% nucleic acid identity with Cardamones virus and Seoul virus, respectively, which cause diseases in humans. Although the present HEV strains identified are typically found worldwide,phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a divergence of 16%. To our knowledge, the present work is the first report of the prevalence of mammarenavirus, hantaviruses, and rat HEV strains in rodents and shrews from Shenzhen city, China. Our findings highlight the zoonotic potential of rodent-and shrew-borne mammarenavirus and hantavirus, and the biodiversity of rat HEV isolates in Shenzhen city. The present work suggests that utilization of good hygiene habits is important to minimize the risk of zoonosis.展开更多
The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic caused more than 96 million infections and over 2 million deaths worldwide so far.However,there is no approved vaccine available for severe acute respiratory synd...The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic caused more than 96 million infections and over 2 million deaths worldwide so far.However,there is no approved vaccine available for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),the disease causative agent.Vaccine is the most effective approach to eradicate a pathogen.The tests of safety and efficacy in animals are pivotal for developing a vaccine and before the vaccine is applied to human populations.Here we evaluated the safety,immunogenicity,and efficacy of an inactivated vaccine based on the whole viral particles in human ACE2 transgenic mouse and in non-human primates.Our data showed that the inactivated vaccine successfully induced SARS-CoV-2-specific neutralizing antibodies in mice and non-human primates,and subsequently provided partial(in low dose)or full(in high dose)protection of challenge in the tested animals.In addition,passive serum transferred from vaccine-immunized mice could also provide full protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice.These results warranted positive outcomes in future clinical trials in humans.展开更多
Dear Editor,The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic presents a severe threat to public health and the global economy and the direct origin of the causative agent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(...Dear Editor,The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic presents a severe threat to public health and the global economy and the direct origin of the causative agent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-Co V-2)remains unresolved(WHO 2020).The outbreak in China was successfully contained by the implementation of a strict quarantine strategy,however sporadic outbreaks still occurred and were associated with trade markets in Beijing and Dalian cities.The COVID-19 outbreak in Beijing was traced to contaminated salmon meat sold at the Xinfadi market,Beijing,China(Chinese CDC 2020)。展开更多
Hepatitis E virus(HEV)is the prototype of the family Hepeviridae and the causative agent of common acute viral hepatitis.Genetically diverse HEV-related viruses have been detected in a variety of mammals and some of t...Hepatitis E virus(HEV)is the prototype of the family Hepeviridae and the causative agent of common acute viral hepatitis.Genetically diverse HEV-related viruses have been detected in a variety of mammals and some of them may have zoonotic potential.In this study,we tested 278 specimens collected from seven wild small mammal species in Yunnan province,China,for the presence and prevalence of orthohepevirus by broad-spectrum reverse transcription(RT)-PCR.HEV-related sequences were detected in two rodent species,including Chevrier’s field mouse(Apodemus chevrieri,family Muridae)and Père David’s vole(Eothenomys melanogaster,family Cricetidae),with the infection rates of 29.20%(59/202)and 7.27%(4/55),respectively.Further four representative full-length genomes were generated:two each from Chevrier’s field mouse(named Rd HEVAc14 and Rd HEVAc86)and Père David’s vole(Rd HEVEm40 and Rd HEVEm67).Phylogenetic analyses and pairwise distance comparisons of whole genome sequences and amino acid sequences of the gene coding regions showed that orthohepeviruses identified in Chinese Chevrier’s field mouse and Père David’s vole belonged to the species Orthohepevirus C but were highly divergent from the two assigned genotypes:HEV-C1 derived from rat and shrew,and HEV-C2 derived from ferret and possibly mink.Quantitative real-time RT-PCR demonstrated that these newly discovered orthohepeviruses had hepatic tropism.In summary,our work discovered two putative novel genotypes orthohepeviruses preliminarily named HEVC3 and HEV-C4 within the species Orthohepevirus C,which expands our understanding of orthohepevirus infection in the order Rodentia and gives new insights into the origin,evolution,and host range of orthohepevirus.展开更多
Phytoplankton viruses are important components of aquatic ecosystems. However, their prevalence and genetic diversity in marine and freshwater systems are largely under estimated owing to the immense size of water bod...Phytoplankton viruses are important components of aquatic ecosystems. However, their prevalence and genetic diversity in marine and freshwater systems are largely under estimated owing to the immense size of water bodies and limitations in virus discovery techniques. In this study, we conducted a 1-year survey of phytoplankton virus communities by collecting surface water monthly from an inland lake(East Lake) in China between May 2012 and April 2013. We examined four phytoplankton viruses, i.e., myoviruses, podoviruses, siphoviruses, and phycodnaviruses, and seven sets of primers were used to target conserved genes within these four species. In this year-long investigation, a total of 358 different virus-related sequences from four virus families were obtained. All virus families were detected in all months, except for cyanopodoviruses, which were only identified during eight of the 12 months surveyed. Moreover, virus abundance and diversity changed dynamically over time. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the majority of viral sequences from East Lake, China displayed distinct clustering patterns compared with published sequences. These results supported the existence of a highly diverse and unique phytoplankton virus community in East Lake, China.展开更多
Previous studies indicated that fruit bats carry two betacoronaviruses,BatCoV HKU9 and BatCoV GCCDC1.To investigate the epidemiology and genetic diversity of these coronaviruses,we conducted a longitudinal surveillanc...Previous studies indicated that fruit bats carry two betacoronaviruses,BatCoV HKU9 and BatCoV GCCDC1.To investigate the epidemiology and genetic diversity of these coronaviruses,we conducted a longitudinal surveillance in fruit bats in Yunnan province,China during 2009–2016.A total of 59(10.63%)bat samples were positive for the two betacorona-viruses,46(8.29%)for HKU9 and 13(2.34%)for GCCDC1,or closely related viruses.We identified a novel HKU9 strain,tentatively designated as BatCoV HKU9-2202,by sequencing the full-length genome.The BatCoV HKU9-2202 shared 83%nucleotide identity with other BatCoV HKU9 stains based on whole genome sequences.The most divergent region is in the spike protein,which only shares 68%amino acid identity with BatCoV HKU9.Quantitative PCR revealed that the intestine was the primary infection organ of BatCoV HKU9 and GCCDC1,but some HKU9 was also detected in the heart,kidney,and lung tissues of bats.This study highlights the importance of virus surveillance in natural reservoirs and emphasizes the need for preparedness against the potential spill-over of these viruses to local residents living near bat caves.展开更多
Dear Editor,Swine acute diarrhoea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-Co V)is a novel swine enteric coronavirus belonged to the Coronaviridae family,Alphacoronavirus genus (Zhou P et al.2018).The clinical signs of SADS include...Dear Editor,Swine acute diarrhoea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-Co V)is a novel swine enteric coronavirus belonged to the Coronaviridae family,Alphacoronavirus genus (Zhou P et al.2018).The clinical signs of SADS include acute diarrhoea and vomiting,which was similar with the infection of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCo V)(Wang et al.2019).展开更多
Emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases of wildlife origin have led pre-emptive pathogen surveillances in animals to be a public health priority.Rodents and shrews are among the most numerically abundant ver...Emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases of wildlife origin have led pre-emptive pathogen surveillances in animals to be a public health priority.Rodents and shrews are among the most numerically abundant vertebrate taxa and are known as natural hosts of important zoonotic viruses.Many surveillance programs focused more on RNA viruses.In comparison,much less is known about DNA viruses harbored by these small mammals.To fill this knowledge gap,tissue specimens of 232 animals including 226 rodents,five shrews and one hedgehog were collected from 5 counties in Kenya and tested for the presence of DNA viruses belonging to 7 viral families by PCR.Diverse DNA sequences of adenoviruses,adeno-associated viruses,herpesviruses and polyomaviruses were detected.Phylogenetic analyses revealed that most of these viruses showed distinction from previously described viruses and formed new clusters.Furthermore,this is the first report of the discovery and full-length genome characterization of a polyomavirus in Lemniscomys species.This novel polyomavirus,named Ls Py V KY187,has less than 60%amino acid sequence identity to the most related Glis glis polyomavirus 1 and Sciurus carolinensis polyomavirus 1 in both large and small T-antigen proteins and thus can be putatively allocated to a novel species within Betapolyomavirus.Our findings help us better understand the genetic diversity of DNA viruses in rodent and shrew populations in Kenya and provide new insights into the evolution of those DNA viruses in their small mammal reservoirs.It demonstrates the necessity of ongoing pathogen discovery studies targeting rodent-borne viruses in East Africa.展开更多
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a zoonotic pathogen capable of causing severe respiratory disease in humans. Although dromedary camels are considered as a major reservoir host, the MERS-CoV ...Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a zoonotic pathogen capable of causing severe respiratory disease in humans. Although dromedary camels are considered as a major reservoir host, the MERS-CoV infection dynamics in camels are not fully understood. Through surveillance in Pakistan, nasal (n = 776) and serum (n = 1050)samples were collected from camels between November 2015 and February 2018. Samples were collected from animal markets, free-roaming herds and abattoirs. An in-house ELISA was developed to detect IgG against MERS-CoV. A total of 794 camels were found seropositive for MERS-CoV. Prevalence increased with the age and the highest seroprevalence was recorded in camels aged [ 10 years (81.37%) followed by those aged 3.1–10 years (78.65%) and B 3 years (58.19%).Higher prevalence was observed in female (78.13%) as compared to male (70.70%). Of the camel nasal swabs, 22 were found to be positive by RT-qPCR though with high Ct values. Moreover, 2,409 human serum samples were also collected from four provinces of Pakistan during 2016–2017. Among the sampled population, 840 humans were camel herders.Although we found a high rate of MERS-CoV antibody positive dromedaries (75.62%) in Pakistan, no neutralizing antibodies were detected in humans with and without contact to camels.展开更多
Since the 2002–2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS) outbreak prompted a search for the natural reservoir of the SARS coronavirus, numerous alpha- and betacoronaviruses have been discovered in bats around the ...Since the 2002–2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS) outbreak prompted a search for the natural reservoir of the SARS coronavirus, numerous alpha- and betacoronaviruses have been discovered in bats around the world. Bats are likely the natural reservoir of alpha- and betacoronaviruses, and due to the rich diversity and global distribution of bats, the number of bat coronaviruses will likely increase. We conducted a surveillance of coronaviruses in bats in an abandoned mineshaft in Mojiang County, Yunnan Province, China, from 2012–2013. Six bat species were frequently detected in the cave: Rhinolophus sinicus, Rhinolophus affinis, Hipposideros pomona, Miniopterus schreibersii, Miniopterus fuliginosus, and Miniopterus fuscus. By sequencing PCR products of the coronavirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene(Rd Rp), we found a high frequency of infection by a diverse group of coronaviruses in different bat species in the mineshaft. Sequenced partial Rd Rp fragments had 80%–99% nucleic acid sequence identity with well-characterized Alphacoronavirus species, including Bt CoV HKU2, Bt CoV HKU8, and Bt CoV1,and unassigned species Bt CoV HKU7 and Bt CoV HKU10. Additionally, the surveillance identified two unclassified betacoronaviruses, one new strain of SARS-like coronavirus, and one potentially new betacoronavirus species. Furthermore, coronavirus co-infection was detected in all six bat species, a phenomenon that fosters recombination and promotes the emergence of novel virus strains. Our findings highlight the importance of bats as natural reservoirs of coronaviruses and the potentially zoonotic source of viral pathogens.展开更多
We describe the first genome isolation of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV) in Kenya. This fatal zoonotic pathogen was first described in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2012. Epidemiological and m...We describe the first genome isolation of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV) in Kenya. This fatal zoonotic pathogen was first described in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2012. Epidemiological and molecular evidence revealed zoonotic transmission from camels to humans and between humans. Currently, MERS-CoV is classified by the WHO as having high pandemic potential requiring greater surveillance. Previous studies of MERS-CoV in Kenya mainly focused on site-specific and archived camel and human serum samples for antibodies. We conducted active nationwide cross-sectional surveillance of camels and humans in Kenya, targeting both nasal swabs and plasma samples from 1,163 camels and 486 humans collected from January 2016 to June 2018. A total of 792 camel plasma samples were positive by ELISA. Seroprevalence increased with age, and the highest prevalence was observed in adult camels(82.37%, 95%confidence interval(CI) 79.50–84.91). More female camels were significantly seropositive(74.28%, 95% CI 71.14–77.19)than male camels(P \ 0.001)(53.74%, 95% CI 48.48–58.90). Only 11 camel nasal swabs were positive for MERS-CoV by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of whole genome sequences showed that Kenyan MERSCoV clustered within sub-clade C2, which is associated with the African clade, but did not contain signature deletions of orf4 b in African viruses. None of the human plasma screened contained neutralizing antibodies against MERS-CoV. This study confirms the geographically widespread occurrence of MERS-CoV in Kenyan camels. Further one-health surveillance approaches in camels, wildlife, and human populations are needed.展开更多
Bats are natural reservoir hosts for many viruses that produce no clinical symptoms in bats.Therefore, bats may have evolved effective mechanisms to control viral replication. However, little information is available ...Bats are natural reservoir hosts for many viruses that produce no clinical symptoms in bats.Therefore, bats may have evolved effective mechanisms to control viral replication. However, little information is available on bat immune responses to viral infection. Type I interferon(IFN) plays a key role in controlling viral infections. In this study, we report the cloning, expression, and biological activity of interferon β(IFNβ) from the Chinese microbat species, Myotis davidii. We demonstrated the upregulation of IFNB and IFN-stimulated genes in a kidney cell line derived from M. davidii after treatment with poly I:C or infection with Sendai virus. Furthermore, the recombinant IFNβ inhibited vesicular stomatitis virus and bat adenovirus replication in cell lines from two bat species, M. davidii and Rhinolophus sinicus. We provide the first in vitro evidence of IFNβ antiviral activity in microbats, which has important implications for virus interactions with these hosts.展开更多
This is the first country-wide surveillance of bat-borne viruses in Kenya spanning from 2012-2015 covering sites perceived to have medium to high level bat-human interaction. The objective of this surveillance study w...This is the first country-wide surveillance of bat-borne viruses in Kenya spanning from 2012-2015 covering sites perceived to have medium to high level bat-human interaction. The objective of this surveillance study was to apply a non-invasive approach using fresh feces to detect viruses circulating within the diverse species of Kenyan bats. We screened for both DNA and RNA viruses; specifically, astroviruses （AstVs）, adenoviruses （ADVs）, caliciviruses （CalVs）, coronaviruses （CoVs）, flaviviruses, filoviruses, paramyxoviruses （PMVs）, polyomaviruses （PYVs） and rotaviruses. We used family-specific primers, amplicon sequencing and further characterization by phyloge- netic analysis. Except for filoviruses, eight virus families were detected with varying distributions and positive rates across the five regions （former provinces） studied. AstVs （12.83%）, CoVs （3.97%）, PMV （2.4%）, ADV （2.26%）, PYV （1.65%）, CalVs （0.29%）, rotavirus （0.19%） and flavivirus （0.19%）. Novel CalVs were detected in Rousettus aegyptiacus and Mops condylurus while novel Rotavirus-A-related viruses were detected in Taphozous bats and R. aegyptiacus. The two Rotavirus A （RVA） strains detected were highly related to human strains with VP6 genotypes 12 and 116. Genotype 116 has previously been assigned to human RVA-strain B10 from Kenya only, which raises public health concern, particularly considering increased human-bat interaction. Additionally, 229E-like bat CoVs were detected in samples originating from Hipposideros bats roosting in sites with high human activity. Our findings confirm the presence of diverse viruses in Kenyan bats while providing extended knowledge on bat virus distribution. The detection of viruses highly related to human strains and hence of public health concern, underscores the importance of continuous surveillance.展开更多
Dear Editor,The 2002–2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus（SARS-CoV）（Drosten et al.,2003）caused human pandemics that began in China and spread globally.Subsequently,
Bats carry a variety of viruses, and some of them cause public health problems. Macao, which is famous for its gambling industry, has a complex population structure. The globalization in such an international metropol...Bats carry a variety of viruses, and some of them cause public health problems. Macao, which is famous for its gambling industry, has a complex population structure. The globalization in such an international metropolis has enhanced the chance of disease transmission. Therefore, surveillance of zoonotic viruses is necessary for the early warning of potential emerging infectious diseases.Here, we report the first surveillance of bat viruses in Macao. In this study, we collected 1004 samples involving 10 bat species from 7 sites from April 2015 to May 2016, and examined the presence of viruses using nucleic acid-based methods. Coronaviruses, adenoviruses and paramyxoviruses were detected in these samples, with a high prevalence of coronaviruses. While,none was positive for hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus or hantavirus. Co-infections are not common in those bat species, but coronavirus HKU6 and adenovirus can be found commonly occurred in Myotis ricketti.展开更多
Dear Editor,The hepatitis A virus(HAV)is a common agent causing acute liver disease worldwide,with approximately 11,000deaths annually(WHO 2017).The virus is transmitted primarily by the fecal-oral route and it normal...Dear Editor,The hepatitis A virus(HAV)is a common agent causing acute liver disease worldwide,with approximately 11,000deaths annually(WHO 2017).The virus is transmitted primarily by the fecal-oral route and it normally infects people living in high-density and resource-poor展开更多
Bats are reservoirs of various viruses.The widely distributed cave nectar bat(Eonycteris spelaea)is known to carry both filoviruses and coronaviruses.However,the potential transmission of theses bat viruses to humans ...Bats are reservoirs of various viruses.The widely distributed cave nectar bat(Eonycteris spelaea)is known to carry both filoviruses and coronaviruses.However,the potential transmission of theses bat viruses to humans is not fully understood.In this study,we tracked 16 E.spelaea bats in Mengla County,Yunnan Province,China,using miniaturized GPS devices to investigate their movements and potential contact with humans.Furthermore,to determine the prevalence of coronavirus and filovirus infections,we screened for the nucleic acids of the Měnglàvirus(MLAV)and two coronaviruses(GCCDC1-CoV and HKU9-CoV)in anal swab samples taken from bats and for antibodies against these viruses in human serum samples.None of the serum samples were found to contain antibodies against the bat viruses.The GPS tracking results showed that the bats did not fly during the daytime and rarely flew to residential areas.The foraging range of individual bats also varied,with a mean cumulative nightly flight distance of 25.50 km and flight speed of up to 57.4 km/h.Taken together,these results suggest that the risk of direct transmission of GCCDC1-CoV,HKU9-CoV,and MLAV from E.spelaea bats to humans is very low under natural conditions.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U2002218,81874274)Yunnan Health Training Project of High Level Talents (L-2017027)+3 种基金Project of Cross-border Control and Quarantine Innovation Group of Zoonosis of Dali University (ZKPY2019302)to Y.Z.ZOpen Project of Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Information (BIKF22-02)Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of SciencesYunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program Young Talent Project to X.L.Y。
文摘The family Hepeviridae has seen an explosive expansion in its host range in recent years,yet the evolutionary trajectory of this zoonotic pathogen remains largely unknown.The emergence of rat hepatitis E virus(HEV)has introduced a new public health threat due to its potential for zoonotic transmission.This study investigated2?464 wild small mammals spanning four animal orders,eight families,21 genera,and 37 species in Yunnan Province,China.Using broadly reactive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),we systematically screened the presence and prevalence of Orthohepevirus and identified 192 positive specimens from10 species,corresponding to an overall detection rate of7.79%.Next-generation sequencing enabled the recovery of 24 full-length genomic sequences from eight host species,including Bandicota bengalensis,Eothenomys eleusis,and Episoriculus caudatus,representing newly reported host species for Orthohepevirus strains.Phylogenetic and sequence analyses revealed extensive genetic diversity within orthohepeviruses infecting rodents and shrews.Notably,among the identified strains,20 were classified as Rocahepevirus ratti C1,two as C3,and one as Rocahepevirus eothenomi,while the remaining strain exhibited significant divergence,precluding classification.Evolutionary analyses highlighted close associations between orthohepeviruses and their respective host taxa,with distinct phylogenetic clustering patterns observed across different host orders.These findings emphasize the critical roles of co-speciation and cross-species transmission in shaping the evolutionary trajectories of the genera Paslahepevirus and Rocahepevirus.
基金supported by the Key project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KJZD-SW-L11 to Z.-L.S.)the Guangzhou Laboratory(SRPG22-001 to Z.-L.S.)+3 种基金the Advanced Customer Cultivation Project of Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory,Chinese Academy of Sciences(2021ACCP-MS02)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB0490000 to X.-L.Y.)the Young Topnotch Talent Cultivation Program of Hubei Province(X.-L.Y.)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Science(X.-L.Y.).
文摘Ebola virus(EBOV)and Marburg virus(MARV),members of the Filoviridae family,are highly pathogenic and can cause hemorrhagic fevers,significantly impacting human society.Bats are considered reservoirs of these viruses because related filoviruses have been discovered in bats.However,due to the requirement for maximum containment laboratories when studying infectious viruses,the characterization of bat filoviruses often relies on pseudoviruses and minigenome systems.In this study,we used RACE technology to sequence the 30-leader and 50-trailer of Mengla virus(MLAV)and constructed a minigenome.Similar to MARV,the transcription activities of the MLAV minigenome are independent of VP30.We further assessed the effects of polymorphisms at the 50 end on MLAV minigenome activity and identified certain mutations that decrease minigenome reporter efficiency,probably due to alterations in the RNA secondary structure.The reporter activity upon recombination of the 30-leaders and 50-trailers of MLAV,MARV,and EBOV with those of the homologous or heterologous minigenomes was compared and it was found that the polymerase complex and leader and trailer sequences exhibit intrinsic specificities.Additionally,we investigated whether the polymerase complex proteins from EBOV and MARV support MLAV minigenome RNA synthesis and found that the homologous system is more efficient than the heterologous system.Remdesivir efficiently inhibited MLAV as well as EBOV replication.In summary,this study provides new information on bat filoviruses and the minigenome will be a useful tool for high-throughput antiviral drug screening.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant (81290341) to ZLSthe National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (Award Number R01AI110964) to PD and ZLS+2 种基金United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Emerging Pandemic Threats PREDICT project Grant (Cooperative Agreement No. AID-OAA-A-14-00102) to PDSingapore NRFCRP Grant (NRF2012NRF-CRP001–056)CD-PHRG Grant (CDPHRG/0006/2014) to LFW
文摘Dear Editor,Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARSCo V)is the causative agent of the 2002–2003 SARS pandemic,which resulted in more than 8000 human infections worldwide and an approximately 10%fatality rate(Ksiazek et al.2003;Peiris et al.2004).The virus infects both upper airway and alveolar epithelial cells,resulting in mild to severe lung injury in
基金jointly funded by the Scientific and Technological Basis Special Project(2013FY113500)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.81290341)+2 种基金the China Mega-Project for Infectious Disease(2014ZX10004001-003)from the Minister of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China to ZL Sthe Basic Research Project of Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Program(JCYJ2015 0402102519532)to CLCaiBW was supported by the China Scholarship Council(CSC),Beijing,China
文摘Diverse species of rodents and shrews, which are abundant worldwide, harbor a variety of viruses;some of these are closely related to human viruses and possess zoonotic potential. Previously studies have demonstrated that the mammarenavirus and hantavirus carried by rodents or shrews could cause diseases in human population. To determine the distribution of zoonotic viruses in Shenzhen city, the major city in southern China with a high population density, we analyzed 225 rodents(Rattus norvegicus and Rattus flavipectus) and 196 shrews(Suncus murinus) from urban and rural districts for the presence of mammarenavirus, hantavirus, and hepatitis E virus(HEV) by RT-PCR targeting the conserved regions. The infection rates for mammarenavirus, hantaviruses,and HEV in rodents and shrews were 3.56%, 6.89%, and 1.66%, respectively. Partial genome fragment analysis indicated that mammarenavirus and hantavirus strains had more than 90% and 99% nucleic acid identity with Cardamones virus and Seoul virus, respectively, which cause diseases in humans. Although the present HEV strains identified are typically found worldwide,phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a divergence of 16%. To our knowledge, the present work is the first report of the prevalence of mammarenavirus, hantaviruses, and rat HEV strains in rodents and shrews from Shenzhen city, China. Our findings highlight the zoonotic potential of rodent-and shrew-borne mammarenavirus and hantavirus, and the biodiversity of rat HEV isolates in Shenzhen city. The present work suggests that utilization of good hygiene habits is important to minimize the risk of zoonosis.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2020YFC0842000 to Z.M.Yuan and 2020YFC0842100 to C.Shan)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB29010101 to Z.L.Shi)+1 种基金the China Natural Science Foundation(82041013 to P.Zhou)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)(2019328 to X.L.Yang)。
文摘The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic caused more than 96 million infections and over 2 million deaths worldwide so far.However,there is no approved vaccine available for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),the disease causative agent.Vaccine is the most effective approach to eradicate a pathogen.The tests of safety and efficacy in animals are pivotal for developing a vaccine and before the vaccine is applied to human populations.Here we evaluated the safety,immunogenicity,and efficacy of an inactivated vaccine based on the whole viral particles in human ACE2 transgenic mouse and in non-human primates.Our data showed that the inactivated vaccine successfully induced SARS-CoV-2-specific neutralizing antibodies in mice and non-human primates,and subsequently provided partial(in low dose)or full(in high dose)protection of challenge in the tested animals.In addition,passive serum transferred from vaccine-immunized mice could also provide full protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice.These results warranted positive outcomes in future clinical trials in humans.
基金supported by the Key Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(KJZD-SW-L11 to Z.L.S.)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)(XDB29010102 and XDA19090118 to Y.H.B.)+4 种基金COVID-19 emergency project of CAS(2020YJFK-Z-0149)the National Key R&D Program of China(2020YFC0842000 to Y.T.Z.)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC32041010 to Y.H.B.)the NSFC Outstanding Young Scholars(31822055 to Y.H.B.)Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS(2017122 to Y.H.B.,2019328 to X.L.Y.)。
文摘Dear Editor,The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic presents a severe threat to public health and the global economy and the direct origin of the causative agent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-Co V-2)remains unresolved(WHO 2020).The outbreak in China was successfully contained by the implementation of a strict quarantine strategy,however sporadic outbreaks still occurred and were associated with trade markets in Beijing and Dalian cities.The COVID-19 outbreak in Beijing was traced to contaminated salmon meat sold at the Xinfadi market,Beijing,China(Chinese CDC 2020)。
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81660558,81260437,and 81290341)a Scientific and Technological Basis Special Project grant (2013FY113500) from the Ministry of Science and Technology of PR China+1 种基金Yunnan Provincial Collaborative Innovation Centre for Public Health and Disease Prevention and Control (2015YNPHXT05)the China Scholarship Council (CSC),Beijing,China
文摘Hepatitis E virus(HEV)is the prototype of the family Hepeviridae and the causative agent of common acute viral hepatitis.Genetically diverse HEV-related viruses have been detected in a variety of mammals and some of them may have zoonotic potential.In this study,we tested 278 specimens collected from seven wild small mammal species in Yunnan province,China,for the presence and prevalence of orthohepevirus by broad-spectrum reverse transcription(RT)-PCR.HEV-related sequences were detected in two rodent species,including Chevrier’s field mouse(Apodemus chevrieri,family Muridae)and Père David’s vole(Eothenomys melanogaster,family Cricetidae),with the infection rates of 29.20%(59/202)and 7.27%(4/55),respectively.Further four representative full-length genomes were generated:two each from Chevrier’s field mouse(named Rd HEVAc14 and Rd HEVAc86)and Père David’s vole(Rd HEVEm40 and Rd HEVEm67).Phylogenetic analyses and pairwise distance comparisons of whole genome sequences and amino acid sequences of the gene coding regions showed that orthohepeviruses identified in Chinese Chevrier’s field mouse and Père David’s vole belonged to the species Orthohepevirus C but were highly divergent from the two assigned genotypes:HEV-C1 derived from rat and shrew,and HEV-C2 derived from ferret and possibly mink.Quantitative real-time RT-PCR demonstrated that these newly discovered orthohepeviruses had hepatic tropism.In summary,our work discovered two putative novel genotypes orthohepeviruses preliminarily named HEVC3 and HEV-C4 within the species Orthohepevirus C,which expands our understanding of orthohepevirus infection in the order Rodentia and gives new insights into the origin,evolution,and host range of orthohepevirus.
基金financial support from Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KSCX2-YW-Z-0954, KSCX2-EW-Z-3)
文摘Phytoplankton viruses are important components of aquatic ecosystems. However, their prevalence and genetic diversity in marine and freshwater systems are largely under estimated owing to the immense size of water bodies and limitations in virus discovery techniques. In this study, we conducted a 1-year survey of phytoplankton virus communities by collecting surface water monthly from an inland lake(East Lake) in China between May 2012 and April 2013. We examined four phytoplankton viruses, i.e., myoviruses, podoviruses, siphoviruses, and phycodnaviruses, and seven sets of primers were used to target conserved genes within these four species. In this year-long investigation, a total of 358 different virus-related sequences from four virus families were obtained. All virus families were detected in all months, except for cyanopodoviruses, which were only identified during eight of the 12 months surveyed. Moreover, virus abundance and diversity changed dynamically over time. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the majority of viral sequences from East Lake, China displayed distinct clustering patterns compared with published sequences. These results supported the existence of a highly diverse and unique phytoplankton virus community in East Lake, China.
基金supported by the China Natural Science Foundation (81290341 and 31621061 to ZLS)United States Agency for International Development Emerging Pandemic Threats PREDICT project (AID-OAA-A-14-00102)National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (Award Number R01AI110964)
文摘Previous studies indicated that fruit bats carry two betacoronaviruses,BatCoV HKU9 and BatCoV GCCDC1.To investigate the epidemiology and genetic diversity of these coronaviruses,we conducted a longitudinal surveillance in fruit bats in Yunnan province,China during 2009–2016.A total of 59(10.63%)bat samples were positive for the two betacorona-viruses,46(8.29%)for HKU9 and 13(2.34%)for GCCDC1,or closely related viruses.We identified a novel HKU9 strain,tentatively designated as BatCoV HKU9-2202,by sequencing the full-length genome.The BatCoV HKU9-2202 shared 83%nucleotide identity with other BatCoV HKU9 stains based on whole genome sequences.The most divergent region is in the spike protein,which only shares 68%amino acid identity with BatCoV HKU9.Quantitative PCR revealed that the intestine was the primary infection organ of BatCoV HKU9 and GCCDC1,but some HKU9 was also detected in the heart,kidney,and lung tissues of bats.This study highlights the importance of virus surveillance in natural reservoirs and emphasizes the need for preparedness against the potential spill-over of these viruses to local residents living near bat caves.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (31830096)。
文摘Dear Editor,Swine acute diarrhoea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-Co V)is a novel swine enteric coronavirus belonged to the Coronaviridae family,Alphacoronavirus genus (Zhou P et al.2018).The clinical signs of SADS include acute diarrhoea and vomiting,which was similar with the infection of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCo V)(Wang et al.2019).
基金the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center,Chinese Academy of Sciences(SAJC201605 and 151542KYSB20200010)the National Science and Technology Major Project(2018ZX10101004-001-002)Kenya Wildlife Service and National Museums of Kenya。
文摘Emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases of wildlife origin have led pre-emptive pathogen surveillances in animals to be a public health priority.Rodents and shrews are among the most numerically abundant vertebrate taxa and are known as natural hosts of important zoonotic viruses.Many surveillance programs focused more on RNA viruses.In comparison,much less is known about DNA viruses harbored by these small mammals.To fill this knowledge gap,tissue specimens of 232 animals including 226 rodents,five shrews and one hedgehog were collected from 5 counties in Kenya and tested for the presence of DNA viruses belonging to 7 viral families by PCR.Diverse DNA sequences of adenoviruses,adeno-associated viruses,herpesviruses and polyomaviruses were detected.Phylogenetic analyses revealed that most of these viruses showed distinction from previously described viruses and formed new clusters.Furthermore,this is the first report of the discovery and full-length genome characterization of a polyomavirus in Lemniscomys species.This novel polyomavirus,named Ls Py V KY187,has less than 60%amino acid sequence identity to the most related Glis glis polyomavirus 1 and Sciurus carolinensis polyomavirus 1 in both large and small T-antigen proteins and thus can be putatively allocated to a novel species within Betapolyomavirus.Our findings help us better understand the genetic diversity of DNA viruses in rodent and shrew populations in Kenya and provide new insights into the evolution of those DNA viruses in their small mammal reservoirs.It demonstrates the necessity of ongoing pathogen discovery studies targeting rodent-borne viruses in East Africa.
基金supported by the International Cooperation on Key Technologies of Biosafety along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(153B42KYSB20170004)by the External Cooperation Program of CAS(153211KYSB20160001)
文摘Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a zoonotic pathogen capable of causing severe respiratory disease in humans. Although dromedary camels are considered as a major reservoir host, the MERS-CoV infection dynamics in camels are not fully understood. Through surveillance in Pakistan, nasal (n = 776) and serum (n = 1050)samples were collected from camels between November 2015 and February 2018. Samples were collected from animal markets, free-roaming herds and abattoirs. An in-house ELISA was developed to detect IgG against MERS-CoV. A total of 794 camels were found seropositive for MERS-CoV. Prevalence increased with the age and the highest seroprevalence was recorded in camels aged [ 10 years (81.37%) followed by those aged 3.1–10 years (78.65%) and B 3 years (58.19%).Higher prevalence was observed in female (78.13%) as compared to male (70.70%). Of the camel nasal swabs, 22 were found to be positive by RT-qPCR though with high Ct values. Moreover, 2,409 human serum samples were also collected from four provinces of Pakistan during 2016–2017. Among the sampled population, 840 humans were camel herders.Although we found a high rate of MERS-CoV antibody positive dromedaries (75.62%) in Pakistan, no neutralizing antibodies were detected in humans with and without contact to camels.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81290341)Scientific and Technological Basis Special Project(2013FY113500)+1 种基金China Mega-Project for Infectious Disease(2014ZX 10004001-003)from the Minister of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of ChinaUSNIAID(R01AI110964)
文摘Since the 2002–2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS) outbreak prompted a search for the natural reservoir of the SARS coronavirus, numerous alpha- and betacoronaviruses have been discovered in bats around the world. Bats are likely the natural reservoir of alpha- and betacoronaviruses, and due to the rich diversity and global distribution of bats, the number of bat coronaviruses will likely increase. We conducted a surveillance of coronaviruses in bats in an abandoned mineshaft in Mojiang County, Yunnan Province, China, from 2012–2013. Six bat species were frequently detected in the cave: Rhinolophus sinicus, Rhinolophus affinis, Hipposideros pomona, Miniopterus schreibersii, Miniopterus fuliginosus, and Miniopterus fuscus. By sequencing PCR products of the coronavirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene(Rd Rp), we found a high frequency of infection by a diverse group of coronaviruses in different bat species in the mineshaft. Sequenced partial Rd Rp fragments had 80%–99% nucleic acid sequence identity with well-characterized Alphacoronavirus species, including Bt CoV HKU2, Bt CoV HKU8, and Bt CoV1,and unassigned species Bt CoV HKU7 and Bt CoV HKU10. Additionally, the surveillance identified two unclassified betacoronaviruses, one new strain of SARS-like coronavirus, and one potentially new betacoronavirus species. Furthermore, coronavirus co-infection was detected in all six bat species, a phenomenon that fosters recombination and promotes the emergence of novel virus strains. Our findings highlight the importance of bats as natural reservoirs of coronaviruses and the potentially zoonotic source of viral pathogens.
基金funded by Sino-Africa Joint Research Center (SAJC201313 and SAJC201605)External Cooperation Program of CAS (153211KYSB20160001)National Science and Technology Major Project (2018ZX0101004)
文摘We describe the first genome isolation of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV) in Kenya. This fatal zoonotic pathogen was first described in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2012. Epidemiological and molecular evidence revealed zoonotic transmission from camels to humans and between humans. Currently, MERS-CoV is classified by the WHO as having high pandemic potential requiring greater surveillance. Previous studies of MERS-CoV in Kenya mainly focused on site-specific and archived camel and human serum samples for antibodies. We conducted active nationwide cross-sectional surveillance of camels and humans in Kenya, targeting both nasal swabs and plasma samples from 1,163 camels and 486 humans collected from January 2016 to June 2018. A total of 792 camel plasma samples were positive by ELISA. Seroprevalence increased with age, and the highest prevalence was observed in adult camels(82.37%, 95%confidence interval(CI) 79.50–84.91). More female camels were significantly seropositive(74.28%, 95% CI 71.14–77.19)than male camels(P \ 0.001)(53.74%, 95% CI 48.48–58.90). Only 11 camel nasal swabs were positive for MERS-CoV by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of whole genome sequences showed that Kenyan MERSCoV clustered within sub-clade C2, which is associated with the African clade, but did not contain signature deletions of orf4 b in African viruses. None of the human plasma screened contained neutralizing antibodies against MERS-CoV. This study confirms the geographically widespread occurrence of MERS-CoV in Kenyan camels. Further one-health surveillance approaches in camels, wildlife, and human populations are needed.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31321001)
文摘Bats are natural reservoir hosts for many viruses that produce no clinical symptoms in bats.Therefore, bats may have evolved effective mechanisms to control viral replication. However, little information is available on bat immune responses to viral infection. Type I interferon(IFN) plays a key role in controlling viral infections. In this study, we report the cloning, expression, and biological activity of interferon β(IFNβ) from the Chinese microbat species, Myotis davidii. We demonstrated the upregulation of IFNB and IFN-stimulated genes in a kidney cell line derived from M. davidii after treatment with poly I:C or infection with Sendai virus. Furthermore, the recombinant IFNβ inhibited vesicular stomatitis virus and bat adenovirus replication in cell lines from two bat species, M. davidii and Rhinolophus sinicus. We provide the first in vitro evidence of IFNβ antiviral activity in microbats, which has important implications for virus interactions with these hosts.
基金funded by SinoAfrica Joint Research Center (SAJC201313 and SAJC 201605)
文摘This is the first country-wide surveillance of bat-borne viruses in Kenya spanning from 2012-2015 covering sites perceived to have medium to high level bat-human interaction. The objective of this surveillance study was to apply a non-invasive approach using fresh feces to detect viruses circulating within the diverse species of Kenyan bats. We screened for both DNA and RNA viruses; specifically, astroviruses （AstVs）, adenoviruses （ADVs）, caliciviruses （CalVs）, coronaviruses （CoVs）, flaviviruses, filoviruses, paramyxoviruses （PMVs）, polyomaviruses （PYVs） and rotaviruses. We used family-specific primers, amplicon sequencing and further characterization by phyloge- netic analysis. Except for filoviruses, eight virus families were detected with varying distributions and positive rates across the five regions （former provinces） studied. AstVs （12.83%）, CoVs （3.97%）, PMV （2.4%）, ADV （2.26%）, PYV （1.65%）, CalVs （0.29%）, rotavirus （0.19%） and flavivirus （0.19%）. Novel CalVs were detected in Rousettus aegyptiacus and Mops condylurus while novel Rotavirus-A-related viruses were detected in Taphozous bats and R. aegyptiacus. The two Rotavirus A （RVA） strains detected were highly related to human strains with VP6 genotypes 12 and 116. Genotype 116 has previously been assigned to human RVA-strain B10 from Kenya only, which raises public health concern, particularly considering increased human-bat interaction. Additionally, 229E-like bat CoVs were detected in samples originating from Hipposideros bats roosting in sites with high human activity. Our findings confirm the presence of diverse viruses in Kenyan bats while providing extended knowledge on bat virus distribution. The detection of viruses highly related to human strains and hence of public health concern, underscores the importance of continuous surveillance.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81290341)China Mega-Project for Infectious Disease (2014ZX10004001-003) from the Minister of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of ChinaUSNIAID (R01AI110964)
文摘Dear Editor,The 2002–2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus（SARS-CoV）（Drosten et al.,2003）caused human pandemics that began in China and spread globally.Subsequently,
基金financed by the Environment Construction & Capacity Building of GDAS’Research Platform(2016GDASPT-0215)the Science & Technology Planning Project of Guangdong(2013B050800024 and 2015A020209093)Science & Technology Planning Project of Guangzhou(201707010128)
文摘Bats carry a variety of viruses, and some of them cause public health problems. Macao, which is famous for its gambling industry, has a complex population structure. The globalization in such an international metropolis has enhanced the chance of disease transmission. Therefore, surveillance of zoonotic viruses is necessary for the early warning of potential emerging infectious diseases.Here, we report the first surveillance of bat viruses in Macao. In this study, we collected 1004 samples involving 10 bat species from 7 sites from April 2015 to May 2016, and examined the presence of viruses using nucleic acid-based methods. Coronaviruses, adenoviruses and paramyxoviruses were detected in these samples, with a high prevalence of coronaviruses. While,none was positive for hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus or hantavirus. Co-infections are not common in those bat species, but coronavirus HKU6 and adenovirus can be found commonly occurred in Myotis ricketti.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.81290341)
文摘Dear Editor,The hepatitis A virus(HAV)is a common agent causing acute liver disease worldwide,with approximately 11,000deaths annually(WHO 2017).The virus is transmitted primarily by the fecal-oral route and it normally infects people living in high-density and resource-poor
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31727901 to Z.L.S.)Key Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KJZD-SW-L11 to Z.L.S.)+1 种基金Guangdong Province Natural Resources Services(Ecological Forestry Construction)Special Fund in 2021(to L.B.Z.)Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS(2019328 to X.L.Y.)。
文摘Bats are reservoirs of various viruses.The widely distributed cave nectar bat(Eonycteris spelaea)is known to carry both filoviruses and coronaviruses.However,the potential transmission of theses bat viruses to humans is not fully understood.In this study,we tracked 16 E.spelaea bats in Mengla County,Yunnan Province,China,using miniaturized GPS devices to investigate their movements and potential contact with humans.Furthermore,to determine the prevalence of coronavirus and filovirus infections,we screened for the nucleic acids of the Měnglàvirus(MLAV)and two coronaviruses(GCCDC1-CoV and HKU9-CoV)in anal swab samples taken from bats and for antibodies against these viruses in human serum samples.None of the serum samples were found to contain antibodies against the bat viruses.The GPS tracking results showed that the bats did not fly during the daytime and rarely flew to residential areas.The foraging range of individual bats also varied,with a mean cumulative nightly flight distance of 25.50 km and flight speed of up to 57.4 km/h.Taken together,these results suggest that the risk of direct transmission of GCCDC1-CoV,HKU9-CoV,and MLAV from E.spelaea bats to humans is very low under natural conditions.
