In China, two new viruses detected in bats

« Bats are one of the animals that host the most viruses “Explains Étienne Simon-Loriere, responsible for the evolutionary genomic structure of RNA viruses at the Pasteur Institute. Similarly, A new study by the Yunnan Institute (China) for the control. For example, prevention of endemic diseases found twenty new ones in bat kidneys. In addition, So far unknown, two are Henipavirus, close to the two viruses dangerous for humans, Hendra and Nipah. Furthermore, The latter are among the most feared in the world: they cause serious respiratory. For example, neurological infections with mortality rates that can exceed 70 %.

Researchers. Moreover, who publish their results in the journal Plos Pathogens , china, two new viruses detected captured 142 bats of 10 different species between 2017 and 2021 in 5 regions of the province of Yunnan, in southwest China. In addition, They extracted their kidneys to analyze there by metatranscriptomic sequencing all the RNAs present. Similarly, Many research on bat viruses focus on detection in faeces, because ” It’s the easiest to collectinforms Étienne Simon-Loriere. We just have to harvest their faeces. there is no need to kill bats, which are animals very useful for their ecosystem. But the technique used by Chinese researchers has an advantage: ” Unlike conventional methods. it does not target a single virus or a single bacteria, but captures all the organisms expressing themselves ”, explains the researcher. And it allows ” to specifically detect RNA viruses, often invisible with other methods ”, Lights Étienne Simon-Loriere.

A host of choice – China, two new viruses detected

After a phylogenetic analysis to identify the viruses. the china, two new viruses detected researchers were able to define that these two new viruses were well part of the same family as the formidable Hendra and Nipah, which both have the natural host of bats. The Hendra virus. close to one of those found in the kidneys of bats, is widespread on the east coast of Australia where it causes pneumopathies and encephalitis in horses and their breeders. As for the Nipah virus. it was identified for the first time in Malaysia and caused several human epidemics; “” It is transmitted when excrement or bat urine is found on food that humans will consume without necessarily washing them, like fruits or vegetables “Explains Étienne Simon-Loriere.

The two new Henipavirus, named Yunnan Bat HeniPavirus 1 and 2were found mainly in bats of the species Rousetus lestaultiiii. « By replying to the kidneys, these new viruses are very surely transmitted through urine ”confirms Étienne Simon-Loriere.

china, two new viruses detected

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No danger at the moment. but surveillance is essential

However, do not panic: as a flying mammals, a rarity in the animal kingdom, bats represent a host of choice for many viruses, sometimes for unknown viruses, without systematically causing an epidemic in human beings. “” For now. Continue Étienne Simon-Loriere, We do not know if these viruses can contaminate humans, and even less if they can be transmitted from humans to humans ». If these two new viruses have been transmitted between the different bats of bats. it is because they can sometimes cohabit, and grow on each other.

According to the authors of the study. this discovery, however, highlights the importance of expanding microbial surveillance beyond stool or the digestive system. It provides direct genomic evidence that Henipavirus circulate china, two new viruses detected in China. in a region close to Malaysia (place of origin of the Nipah epidemic). And more in -depth research could be envisaged. “” These two new viruses should be studied to determine whether. not they can be transmitted to humans », Esides Étienne Simon-Loriere. These analyzes are done in laboratories ” Highly secure class 4, with large restrictions, continuously monitored, to avoid any possible leak. »