6 new coronaviruses discovered in bats | Live Science

[SBFNews]

Scientists have discovered six entirely new coronaviruses lurking in bats in Myanmar.

These viruses are in the same family as the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is currently spreading across the globe; but the researchers said the newbies aren't closely related genetically to SARS-CoV-2 or to the two other coronaviruses that cause severe infections in humans — severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which caused the 2002-2003 pandemic, and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

The researchers discovered the viruses while surveying bats in Myanmar as part of a government-funded program called PREDICT to identify infectious diseases that have the potential to hop from animals to humans. And bats are prime suspects, as the mammals are thought to host thousands of yet-to-be-discovered coronaviruses. SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease COVID-19, is also thought to have originated in bats before taking up residence in humans, possibly taking a detour through some intermediary host first.

Between 2016 and 2018, they collected hundreds of samples of saliva and guano (or bat poop) from 464 bats from at least 11 different species; they sampled at three locations in Myanmar where humans come into close contact with wildlife due to land use changes and recreational and cultural activities — such as guano harvesting for fertilizer.

"Two of these sites also featured popular cave systems where people were routinely exposed to bats through guano harvesting, religious practices and ecotourism," the researchers wrote in their study published online April 9 in the journal PLOS ONE.

The researchers analyzed genetic sequences from these samples and compared them with genomes of known coronaviruses. The new viruses were found in three bat species: the Greater Asiatic yellow house bat (Scotophilus heathii), where PREDICT-CoV-90 was found; the wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bat (Chaerephon plicatus), which was host to PREDICT-CoV-47 and -82; and Horsfield's leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros larvatus), which carried PREDICT-CoV-92, -93 and -96.

Further research is needed to understand the potential for these six newfound viruses to move to other species and how they might impact human health, the researchers said.

"Many coronaviruses may not pose a risk to people, but when we identify these diseases early on in animals, at the source, we have a valuable opportunity to investigate the potential threat," study co-author Suzan Murray, director of the Smithsonian's Global Health Program, said in a statement. "Vigilant surveillance, research and education are the best tools we have to prevent pandemics before they occur."

Contact between humans and wildlife is only becoming more prevalent, they noted, adding that the current devastation caused by COVID-19 is just one reminder of how closely human health is linked to such interactions.

"Worldwide, humans are interacting with wildlife with increasing frequency, so the more we understand about these viruses in animals — what allows them to mutate and how they spread to other species –– the better we can reduce their pandemic potential," lead study author Marc Valitutto, former wildlife veterinarian with the Smithsonian's Global Health Program, said in the statement.

Source : 6 new coronaviruses discovered in bats | Live Science

 

[eatshitndie]

this means burmese case loads should be minimal as they are already immune. burmese are therefore the best of the best!

 

[rocket]

Horseshoes bats are the current ones.

 

[rocket]

Rhinolophidae is a family of bats commonly known as horseshoe bats. In addition to the single living genus, Rhinolophus, one extinct genus, Palaeonycteris, has been recognized. Horseshoe bats are closely related to the Hipposideridae, which have sometimes been included in Rhinolophidae. Internally, the horseshoe bats are divided into six subgenera and many species groups. The common ancestor of all horseshoe bats lived 34–40 million years ago, though it is unclear where the geographic roots of the family are, and attempts to determine the biogeography of the family have been indecisive. Their taxonomy is complex, as genetic evidence shows the likely existence of many cryptic species, as well as species recognized as distinct that may, in fact, have little genetic

 

[rocket]

hibernating bats causes abnormal arousal patterns (6), which could lead to high bat mortality and potentially to the spread of other viruses. Moreover, the captured bats are being released into the wild, which is not their native habitat (4), posing further threats to their survival. These decisions are not based in fact; COVID-19 was linked to horseshoe bats (3), which do not hibernate in cities in China (7). The reputation of bats as virus carriers has even led to extreme suggestions of mass slaughter to protect public health (8). The exaggeration of bats' negative traits without regard for their positive ones could ultimately lead to their needless and intentional elimination.

 

[rocket]

in a remote cave in Yunnan province, where they identified a single population of horseshoe bats that harbour virus strains with all the genetic building blocks.

 

[tanwahtiu]

Mostly deadly bats are from Pennsylvania USA... Can change pattern one... one second humam figure next is bat flying about.

Suck choibu blood only...

 

[syed putra]

in a remote cave in Yunnan province, where they identified a single population of horseshoe bats that harbour virus strains with all the genetic building blocks.

If it's from Chinese research, it's probably hyped up.

 

[rocket]

If it's from Chinese research, it's probably hyped up.

From straits times

Origin of Sars traced to bats in Yunnan cave

The Coronavirus seen under an electron miscroscope. PHOTO: AFP
PUBLISHED
DEC 8, 2017, 5:00 AM SGT
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Scientists say virus strain could have arisen from single population of wild horseshoe bats
BEIJING • Chinese scientists believe they may have found the origin of the deadly Sars virus in a remote cave in Yunnan province, where they identified a single population of horseshoe bats that harbour virus strains with all the genetic building blocks.
The strain could easily have arisen from such bats, according to research published in the journal PLoS Pathogens on Nov 30.
Scientists also warned that the ingredients are in place for a similar disease to emerge again.

 

[rocket]

If it's from Chinese research, it's probably hyped up.

It emerged in South China in 2002 and rapidly led to a global pandemic, killing almost 800 people worldwide.

The culprit was identified as a strain of coronavirus, and genetically similar viruses were found in masked palm civets that are sold in animal markets in Guangdong province. Later, a large number of Sars-related coronaviruses were found in horseshoe bats.
Scientists believe that the strain probably originated in the bats, and later passed through civets before reaching humans. The report by the Wuhan team shows multiple incongruent associations between the phylogenies of horseshoe bats and their coronavirus.
"The result showed that host shifts have occurred in the recent evolutionary history of this group. It may be due to either virus biologic traits or host behavioural traits. This finding has implications for the emergence of Sars and for the potential future emergence of Sars-coronavirus or related viruses," the researchers wrote in the report.

Prof Shi told Hubei Daily that wild animals such as bats and rats carry various viruses, but spreading across species rarely happens.
"There is no need to feel panic about it, but close contact with those wild animals should be prevented," she said.
In a recent interview with Nature Magazine, Professor Tu Changchun, a virologist who directs the OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabies in Changchun, Jilin province, said that the results are only 99 per cent persuasive.
He said he would like to see scientists demonstrate in the lab that the human Sars strain can jump from bats to another animal, such as a civet.
Also, Prof Tu questioned how a virus from bats in Yunnan could travel to animals and humans about 1,000km away in Guangdong, without causing any suspected cases in Yunnan.
According to Nature, Prof Cui and Prof Shi also conducted research on other bat populations that could have produced strains capable of infecting humans, and have isolated about 300 bat coronavirus sequences, most not yet published, with which they will continue to monitor the evolution of the virus.
CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 08, 2017, with the headline 'Origin of Sars traced to bats in Yunnan cave'. Print Edition | Subscribe

 

[syed putra]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/n...ent-seagull-swallows-entire-rabbit-alive.html