Interspecies transmission and emergence of novel viruses: lessons from bats and birds

Abstract

As exemplified by coronaviruses and influenza viruses, bats and birds are natural reservoirs for providing viral genes during evolution of new virus species and viruses for interspecies transmission. These warm-blooded vertebrates display high species biodiversity, roosting and migratory behavior, and a unique adaptive immune system, which are favorable characteristics for asymptomatic shedding, dissemination, and mixing of different viruses for the generation of novel mutant, recombinant, or reassortant RNA viruses. The increased intrusion of humans into wildlife habitats and overcrowding of different wildlife species in wet markets and farms have also facilitated the interspecies transmission between different animal species.

A population study of killer viruses reveals different evolutionary histories of two closely related Saccharomyces sensu stricto yeasts

“…Interspecies transmission of viruses often has strong impacts on the new host that has not yet developed immunity to the virus (Chan et al . ; Yoon et al . ).…”

Complete Genome Characterization of Korean Porcine Deltacoronavirus Strain KOR/KNU14-04/2014

“…Viruses of the Alphacoronavirus and Betacoronavirus genera have been detected in swine (3). The fifth porcine coronavirus was identified in 2012 in an investigation to discover new deltacoronaviruses in mammals and birds from China (2).…”

Zika fever and congenital Zika syndrome: An unexpected emerging arboviral disease

“…Globalisation and urbanisation with increasingly frequent and large-scale movements of humans, animals, and commodities by aviation and water transport has led to the spread of previously geographically-restricted microbes and vectors to distant and isolated places. 1 Recent examples of emerging viruses that have spilled over to other continents from their original localities via exportation of travelrelated cases include coronaviruses (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus), influenza viruses, and Ebola virus. 2e11 Moreover, global warming and climate changes have redefined the geographical distributions of important vectors of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses), such as the Aedes mosquitoes, and facilitated the global spread of these viruses.…”