Metagenomic study of the viruses of African straw-coloured fruit bats: Detection of a chiropteran poxvirus and isolation of a novel adenovirus
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Viral emergence as a result of zoonotic transmission constitutes a continuous public health threat. Emerging viruses such as SARS coronavirus, hantaviruses and henipaviruses have wildlife reservoirs. Characterising the viruses of candidate reservoir species in geographical hot spots for viral emergence is a sensible approach to develop tools to predict, prevent, or contain emergence events. Here, we explore the viruses of Eidolon helvum, an Old World fruit bat species widely distributed in Africa that lives in close proximity to humans. We identified a great abundance and diversity of novel herpes and papillomaviruses, described the isolation of a novel adenovirus, and detected, for the first time, sequences of a chiropteran poxvirus closely related with Molluscum contagiosum. In sum, E. helvum display a wide variety of mammalian viruses, some of them genetically similar to known human pathogens, highlighting the possibility of zoonotic transmission.
Source: Virology
Institutions: Zoological Society of London, University of Cambridge, Norwich Research Park, Earlham Institute, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, University of Ghana, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, The Forestry Commission of Ghana, Ghana Wildlife Division, Wellcome Sanger Institute, MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,160
OpenAlex ID: W2109947735