Breakthrough Bat Research: Clues to the Formation of Coronavirus Variants

According to a VNA reporter in Sydney, a new study recently conducted by the University of Sydney (Australia) has revealed important insights into how and when new coronavirus variants appear in bats.

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, opens up a new approach to predicting the spread of the coronavirus.

Although bats play an important role in the ecosystem, habitat loss and human-induced stressors are pushing them into closer contact with people, increasing the risk of disease, experts say.

“Coronaviruses don’t usually pose a big problem for bats, but this one could behave very differently if it infects a new host species,” explains lead researcher Dr Alison Peel from the School of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney.

In a large-scale three-year study, scientists collected more than 2,500 fecal samples from black and grey-headed flying foxes at five sites along Australia's east coast.

The results showed that coronaviruses were most prevalent in young bats during the weaning and sub-adult stages and between March and July. This finding was consistent throughout the study period.

The most striking finding of the study was the high rate of co-infection of juvenile bats with multiple coronaviruses. Dr Peel said her team was surprised by the high rate of co-infection in juvenile and sub-adult bats.

Coinfection allows a cell to be infected with multiple viruses, which is an important natural prerequisite for the generation of new virus strains.

The study discovered six coronaviruses belonging to the nobecovirus subclass - a subclass that does not infect humans, of which three are new.

Although not directly dangerous to humans, nobecoviruses are evolutionary relatives of sarbecoviruses – SARS-like viruses that are capable of cross-species transmission.

Understanding the evolution of nobecoviruses offers insight into the development of more dangerous coronaviruses, according to researchers.

Dr John-Sebastian Eden from the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, co-author of the study, said the results provide a model for scientists around the world looking to understand the emergence of coronaviruses and future risks in bat populations.

By focusing on co-infections in juvenile bats at specific stages, researchers can better predict the evolution and emergence of dangerous coronaviruses before they threaten human health.

Dr Peel added that more research was needed to understand why young bats were susceptible to infection and co-infection. She speculated that it could be due to the young bats’ developing immune systems or the stress of finding a mate for the first time.

Environmental changes, such as habitat loss and food shortages due to human activities, may also be stressors that weaken bats' immunity, making them more susceptible to disease./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nghien-cuu-dot-pha-ve-doi-manh-moi-hinh-thanh-cac-bien-the-virus-corona-post1050943.vnp