Phylogeny and Origins of Hantaviruses Harbored by Bats, Insectivores, and Rodents
- Wen-Ping Guo ,
- Xian-Dan Lin ,
- Wen Wang ,
- Jun-Hua Tian ,
- Mei-Li Cong ,
- Hai-Lin Zhang ,
- Miao-Ruo Wang ,
- Run-Hong Zhou,
- Jian-Bo Wang,
- Ming-Hui Li,
- Jianguo Xu,
- Edward C. Holmes,
- Yong-Zhen Zhang
Abstract
Hantaviruses are among the most important zoonotic pathogens of humans and the subject of heightened global attention. Despite the importance of hantaviruses for public health, there is no consensus on their evolutionary history and especially the frequency of virus-host co-divergence versus cross-species virus transmission. Documenting the extent of hantavirus biodiversity, and particularly their range of mammalian hosts, is critical to resolving this issue.
Here, we describe four novel hantaviruses (Huangpi virus, Lianghe virus, Longquan virus, and Yakeshi virus) sampled from bats and shrews in China, and which are distinct from other known hantaviruses. Huangpi virus was found in
Pipistrellus abramus, Lianghe virus in
Anourosorex squamipes, Longquan virus in
Rhinolophus affinis,
Rhinolophus sinicus, and
Rhinolophus monoceros, and Yakeshi virus in
Sorex isodon, respectively. A phylogenetic analysis of the available diversity of hantaviruses reveals the existence of four phylogroups that infect a range of mammalian hosts, as well as the occurrence of ancient reassortment events between the phylogroups. Notably, the phylogenetic histories of the viruses are not always congruent with those of their hosts, suggesting that cross-species transmission has played a major role during hantavirus evolution and at all taxonomic levels, although we also noted some evidence for virus-host co-divergence.
Our phylogenetic analysis also suggests that hantaviruses might have first appeared in Chiroptera (bats) or Soricomorpha (moles and shrews), before emerging in rodent species. Overall, these data indicate that bats are likely to be important natural reservoir hosts of hantaviruses.
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Trapping of small animals and specimen collection
Bats were captured with mist nets or harp traps in caves of natural roosts in Zhejiang Province in the spring of 2011, or in villages or caves in Hubei Province in the spring of 2012 (
Figure 1). According to protocols described previously
[47], insectivore animals were
trapped in cages using fried foods as bait in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2006 or in Yunnan Province in the autumns of 2010 and 2011. All animals kept were alive after capture. They were initially identified by morphological examination according to the criteria for bats described by Wang
[48] and for insectivores by Chen
[49], and further confirmed by sequence analysis of the mt-
cyt b gene. All animals were anesthetized with ether before surgery, and all efforts were made to minimize suffering. Tissue samples of heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney and brain were collected from bats and insectivores for detecting hantaviruses.
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A total of 450 bats of eight different species were captured in Longquan city and Wenzhou city, Zhejiang Province in the spring of 2011 (Figure 1 and Table 1). Similarly, 155 bats representing eight species were captured in Hubei Province in the spring of 2012. A total of 81 insectivores (representing two species – Anourosorex squamipes and Suncus murinus) were captured in Lianghe county, Yunnan Province in the spring of 2010 and autumn of 2011. In 2006, two shrews (from the species
Sorex isodon and
Suncus murinus) were collected from Yakeshi city, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
more..
https://journals.plos.org/plospathog...l.ppat.1003159
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The origin, transmission and clinical therapies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak – an update on the status
Military Medical Research volume 7, Article number: 11 (2020)
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Conclusions
The outbreak of COVID-19 swept across China rapidly and has spread to 85 countries/territories/areas outside of China as of 5 March 2020 [
2]. Scientists have made progress in the characterization of the novel coronavirus and are working extensively on the therapies and vaccines against the virus. We have summarized the current knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 as follows: Firstly, the emerging pneumonia, COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, exhibits strong infectivity but less virulence, compared to SARS and MERS, in terms of morbidity and mortality. Originating from reservoir of bats and unknown intermediate hosts,
SARS-CoV-2 binds to ACE2 with high affinity as a virus receptor to infect humans. Secondly, the susceptible population involves the elderly and people with certain underlying medical conditions, which requires more attention and care. Thirdly, so far, the supporting treatments, combined with potent antiviral drugs, such as remdesivir, chloroquine, or lopinavir/ritonavir, have been conducted with definite effect on treat COVID-19 patients, while solid data from more clinical trials are needed. However, questions remain vague and more studies are urgent to explore the transmission and pathogenicity mechanism of the emerging coronavirus. To make clear the evolutionary path from the original host to cross-species transmission so as to potentially limit the transmission to na?ve animals or humans. In addition, to uncover the mystery of the molecular mechanism of viral entry and replication, which provides the basis of future research on developing targeted antiviral drugs and vaccines.
Given more than 80% of patients are confirmed in Hubei province, the hospitals and medical workers in Hubei are facing and bearing enormous pressure and severe challenge, including a high risk of infection and inadequate protection, as well as overwork, frustration and exhaustion [
105]. Chinese Government and authorities have launched psychological intervention, and we sincerely hope that Chinese people and other countries overcome the epidemic as fast as possible.
https://mmrjournal.biomedcentral.com...79-020-00240-0
