Figure 6 - uploaded by Victor Max Corman
Content may be subject to copyright.
Phylogeny of henipaviruses. (a) Bayesian phylogeny (WAG model) of the genus Henipavirus and sister genera Morbillivirus and Jeilong (J-virus) showing novel bat viruses in red colour. Human parainfluenzavirus 1 (hPIV1) was used as an outgroup. Blue numbers represent viruses also represented in (b). The asterisk indicates the virus from which the full genomic sequence was analysed. For selected henipavirus clades, the four amino acid GDNE/GDNQ motif at the catalytic site of the RNA-dependant RNA polymerase is shown. The scale shows amino acid substitutions per site in a translated 558 nt L-gene fragment, corresponding to positions 367–557 in NiV strain UM-0128L-gene (GenBank, AJ564623). (b) Bayesian nt-based phylogenies (GTR+G+I model) using a 642 nt N-gene fragment (left) corresponding to positions 401–1,042 in NiV strain UM-0128 and the 558 nt L-gene fragment (right). GB1535, virus from Eidolon helvum, Gabon; M74a, E. helvum (full genome available), Ghana; KCR245H, Pteronotus parnellii, Costa Rica. Numbers at nodes indicate Bayesian posterior probabilities. The scale bar represents nt substitutions per site.
Source publication
The large virus family Paramyxoviridae includes some of the most significant human and livestock viruses, such as measles-, distemper-, mumps-, parainfluenza-, Newcastle disease-, respiratory syncytial virus and metapneumoviruses. Here we identify an estimated 66 new paramyxoviruses in a worldwide sample of 119 bat and rodent species (9,278 individ...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... bats and sample internal organs that might have enabled the completion of full genome sequences. Nevertheless, the N protein gene at the far opposite end of the genome of one of these viruses was successfully sequenced from a faecal sample. RdRp-and N-gene fragments were phylogenetically congruent and no signs of genomic recombination were seen (Fig. ...
Context 2
... distribution of morbilli-related PV in 28 rodents was strik- ingly different from that in bats, with broader and less organ-specific distribution of virus. Highest viral loads and most frequent virus detections in rodents were seen in the kidneys, and in bats in the spleens ( Supplementary Fig. S5, Supplementary Tables S3 and S4). ...
Similar publications
Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) are members of the genus Metapneumovirus in the subfamily Pneumovirinae. Metapneumovirus fusion (F) protein mediates the fusion of host cells with the virus membrane for infection. Trypsin- and/or low pH-induced membrane fusion is a strain-dependent phenomenon for hMPV. Here, we demonstr...
The large virus family Paramyxoviridae includes some of the most significant human and livestock viruses, such as measles-, distemper-, mumps-, parainfluenza-, Newcastle disease-, respiratory syncytial virus and metapneumoviruses. Here we identify an estimated 66 new paramyxoviruses in a worldwide sample of 119 bat and rodent species (9,278 individ...
The M2-1 protein of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a zinc-binding transcription antiterminator which is highly conserved among pneumoviruses. We report the structure of tetrameric HMPV M2-1. Each protomer features a N-terminal zinc finger domain and an α-helical tetramerization motif forming a rigid unit, followed by a flexible linker and an α-hel...
Citations
... Recently, due to improvements in sequencing technologies, a large number of novel paramyxoviruses were discovered in various hosts around the world, indicating that the true diversity of the family Paramyxoviridae remains to be determined [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. Notably, most of these novel paramyxoviruses were considered new members of the genus Jeilongvirus, and while rats and bats are the main reservoir hosts of jeilongviruses, the identification of novel jeilongviruses in non-rat/non-bat hosts suggests the possibility of cross-species transmission events [20,26,27]. Although it is currently unknown whether jeilongviruses can infect humans and cause human disease, it is important to note that other paramyxovirus genera, such as Henipavirus and Morbillivirus, which are known to cause diseases in both animals and humans, have also been observed to spillover from their natural hosts [26,28]. ...
... Notably, most of these novel paramyxoviruses were considered new members of the genus Jeilongvirus, and while rats and bats are the main reservoir hosts of jeilongviruses, the identification of novel jeilongviruses in non-rat/non-bat hosts suggests the possibility of cross-species transmission events [20,26,27]. Although it is currently unknown whether jeilongviruses can infect humans and cause human disease, it is important to note that other paramyxovirus genera, such as Henipavirus and Morbillivirus, which are known to cause diseases in both animals and humans, have also been observed to spillover from their natural hosts [26,28]. For example, Langya henipavirus, which is thought to be carried by shrews, has recently emerged and caused disease in humans [28]. ...
... The species of animals were identified using morphological examination and further confirmed by sequence analysis of the mitochondrial (mt)-cyt b gene [29,30]. Previous studies have found that the highest viral loads and prevalence rate of paramyxovirus in rodents were seen in the kidneys [26,31]. Therefore, we collected kidney tissue samples from rodents and insectivores and stored them at −80 °C until further use in this study. ...
Paramyxoviruses are a group of single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses, some of which are responsible for acute human disease, including parainfluenza virus, measles virus, Nipah virus and Hendra virus. In recent years, a large number of novel paramyxoviruses, particularly members of the genus Jeilongvirus , have been discovered in wild mammals, suggesting that the diversity of paramyxoviruses may be underestimated. Here we used hemi-nested reverse transcription PCR to obtain 190 paramyxovirus sequences from 969 small mammals in Hubei Province, Central China. These newly identified paramyxoviruses were classified into four clades: genera Jeilongvirus , Morbillivirus , Henipavirus and Narmovirus , with most of them belonging to the genus Jeilongvirus . Using Illumina sequencing and Sanger sequencing, we successfully recovered six near-full-length genomes with different genomic organizations, revealing the more complex genome content of paramyxoviruses. Co-divergence analysis of jeilongviruses and their known hosts indicates that host-switching occurred more frequently in the evolutionary histories of the genus Jeilongvirus . Together, our findings demonstrate the high prevalence of paramyxoviruses in small mammals, especially jeilongviruses, and highlight the diversity of paramyxoviruses and their genome content, as well as the evolution of jeilongviruses.
... Numerous bat species have been identified as hosts of paramyxoviruses [3] since the isolation of a bat-associated parainfluenza virus from a Leschenault's rousette bat (Rousettus leschenaultii) in 1966 [4] and Mapuera virus from a little yellow-shouldered bat (Sturnira lilium) in 1979 [5]. Like SOSV, many paramyxoviruses are known to be promiscuous and are pathogenic to a variety of species of animals, including humans [1,3,[6][7][8]. ...
... Numerous bat species have been identified as hosts of paramyxoviruses [3] since the isolation of a bat-associated parainfluenza virus from a Leschenault's rousette bat (Rousettus leschenaultii) in 1966 [4] and Mapuera virus from a little yellow-shouldered bat (Sturnira lilium) in 1979 [5]. Like SOSV, many paramyxoviruses are known to be promiscuous and are pathogenic to a variety of species of animals, including humans [1,3,[6][7][8]. Bats from the chiropteran family Pteropodidae are also known to host the human pathogenic paramyxoviruses Nipah virus (NiV) and Hendra virus (HeV) [9][10][11][12]. Moreover, recent studies report that captive-bred ERBs could be experimentally infected with SOSV with no overt signs of morbidity, mild pathology, and shed the virus in urine, feces, and saliva, suggesting they are at least competent hosts and a potential reservoir for this human pathogenic paramyxovirus [13,14]. ...
... Finding SOSV in ERB populations in Sierra Leone so far removed from the SOSV RNA positive bats in Uganda support the notion that these common African fruit bats are at the very least competent SOSV amplification hosts. More data, specifically multiple isolates obtained from wild caught ERBs over extended time periods and multiple locations, would solidify the SOSV reservoir status of these bats, which are already a known reservoir for MARV and potential reservoirs for multiple other rubulaviruses [3,17,18,21]. These findings also represent a substantial range extension from East Africa to West Africa for SOSV, suggesting that this paramyxovirus may occur in ERB populations throughout its sub-Saharan African distribution. ...
Sosuga virus (SOSV), a rare human pathogenic paramyxovirus, was first discovered in 2012 when a person became ill after working in South Sudan and Uganda. During an ecological investigation, several species of bats were sampled and tested for SOSV RNA and only one species, the Egyptian rousette bat (ERBs; Rousettus aegyptiacus), tested positive. Since that time, multiple other species have been sampled and ERBs in Uganda have continued to be the only species of bat positive for SOSV infection. Subsequent studies of ERBs with SOSV demonstrated that ERBs are a competent host for SOSV and shed this infectious virus while exhibiting only minor infection-associated pathology. Following the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, surveillance efforts focused on discovering reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens resulted in the capture and testing of many bat species. Here, SOSV RNA was detected by qRT-PCR only in ERBs captured in the Moyamba District of Sierra Leone in the central region of the country. These findings represent a substantial range extension from East Africa to West Africa for SOSV, suggesting that this paramyxovirus may occur in ERB populations throughout its sub-Saharan African range.
... Viral investigations in Molossus spp. carried out in Brazil and other South American countries provide evidence of infection by viruses classified into several families, such as Nairoviridae, Picornaviridae, Astroviridae, Retroviridae, Coronaviridae, Rhabdoviridae, and Paramyxoviridae [4][5][6]. ...
... The first appearance of the association of Morbillivirus with bats in the literature was a study published in 2012 [6]. Several genomic sequences were classified as "morbilli-related", coming from several bat species, such as Desmodus rotundus, Myotis myotis, and Coleura afra, and several countries, such as Germany, Ghana, and Brazil. ...
Bats are widely distributed in Brazil, including the Amazon region, and their association with viral pathogens is well-known. This work aimed to evaluate the metavirome in samples of Molossus sp. bats captured in the Brazilian Amazon from 2019 to 2021. Lung samples from 58 bats were divided into 13 pools for RNA isolation and sequencing followed by bioinformatic analysis. The Retroviridae family showed the highest abundance of viral reads. Although no complete genome could be recovered, the Paramyxoviridae and Dicistroviridae families showed the formation of contigs with satisfactory identity and size characteristics for further analysis. One contig of the Paramyxoviridae family was characterized as belonging to the genus Morbillivirus, being grouped most closely phylogenetically to Porcine morbillivirus. The contig related to the Dicistroviridae family was identified within the Cripavirus genus, with 94%, 91%, and 42% amino acid identity with Culex dicistrovirus 2, Rhopalosiphum padi, and Aphid lethal paralysis, respectively. The presence of viruses in bats needs constant updating since the study was able to identify viral sequences related to families or genera still poorly described in the literature in association with bats.
... Animal Health By occupying a diverse range of ecological niches, bats provide numerous and critical ecological services, such as pest insect consumption, seed dispersal, and pollination. 7 Yet some bat species are associated with highly consequential human pathogenic viruses, including lyssaviruses, 8,9 coronaviruses, 10,11 paramyxoviruses, 12,13 and filoviruses. 14 The fear of bats and the negative association of emerging diseases with bats threaten the wildlife conservation mission and raise issues about animal welfare, despite wildlife conservation being integral to One Health. ...
Bats are diverse mammals that are globally distributed and ecologically critical, yet some bat species are associated with disease agents that have severe consequences for human health. Disease outbreak responses require interdisciplinary knowledge of bat-associated pathogens and microbial transmission patterns. Health promotion requires close, collaborative attention to the needs, vulnerabilities, and interests of diverse stakeholders, including the public and professionals in public health, conservation, ecology, social science, communication, and policy. This article describes a successful One Health engagement among such stakeholders and partners looking to motivate both bat-human ecology preservation and viral disease management in Uganda.
... The emergence of new HNVs, including LayV and MojV in various animal species such as bats, rodents, and shrews, has raised concerns among the public and researchers [37][38][39][40] . LayV, a novel virus identified in febrile patients with a history of animal exposure in China, exhibits significant genetic similarity to MojV, another highly pathogenic HNV found in southern China 5,40 . ...
Langya Henipavirus (LayV) infection is an emerging zoonotic disease that has been causing respiratory symptoms in China since 2019. For virus entry, LayV’s genome encodes the fusion protein F and the attachment glycoprotein G. However, the structural and functional information regarding LayV-G remains unclear. In this study, we revealed that LayV-G cannot bind to the receptors found in other HNVs, such as ephrin B2/B3, and it shows different antigenicity from HeV-G and NiV-G. Furthermore, we determined the near full-length structure of LayV-G, which displays a distinct mushroom-shaped configuration, distinguishing it from other attachment glycoproteins of HNV. The stalk and transmembrane regions resemble the stem and root of mushroom and four downward-tilted head domains as mushroom cap potentially interact with the F protein and influence membrane fusion process. Our findings enhance the understanding of emerging HNVs that cause human diseases through zoonotic transmission and provide implication for LayV related vaccine development.
... Hendra-2, MZ229747. [13,16,18,19,21,22,[26][27][28][29][30][31][32]. ...
Henipaviruses are a genus of emerging pathogens that includes the highly virulent Nipah and Hendra viruses that cause reoccurring outbreaks of disease. Henipaviruses rely on two surface glycoproteins, known as the attachment and fusion proteins, to facilitate entry into host cells. As new and divergent members of the genus have been discovered and structurally characterized, key differences and similarities have been noted. This review surveys the available structural information on Henipavirus glycoproteins, complementing this with information from related biophysical and structural studies of the broader Paramyxoviridae family of which Henipaviruses are members. The process of viral entry is a primary focus for vaccine and drug development, and this review aims to identify critical knowledge gaps in our understanding of the mechanisms that drive Henipavirus fusion.
... Chiropterans are considered reservoirs of main human pathogens, including the Ebola and Marburg filoviruses and Nipah and Hendra paramyxoviruses, as well as bridge hosts of SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV), SARS-CoV-2 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) [5,6,12,13]. Additionally, bats appear to be ancient natural reservoirs of several viral families, including hepaciviruses, pegiviruses and coronaviruses [14][15][16]. Bats are also considered a main ancient natural reservoir of paramyxoviruses and influenza A viruses [16,17]. Additionally, their presence in urban, wild and rural environments facilitates viral transmission to intermediate hosts, which has been crucial in understanding the important zoonotic viruses' spillover mechanism to humans, which includes CoVs and PMVs [2,3]. ...
... Additionally, bats appear to be ancient natural reservoirs of several viral families, including hepaciviruses, pegiviruses and coronaviruses [14][15][16]. Bats are also considered a main ancient natural reservoir of paramyxoviruses and influenza A viruses [16,17]. Additionally, their presence in urban, wild and rural environments facilitates viral transmission to intermediate hosts, which has been crucial in understanding the important zoonotic viruses' spillover mechanism to humans, which includes CoVs and PMVs [2,3]. ...
... Outbreaks of zoonotic and highly lethal orthoparamyxoviruses, such as Hendra and Nipah virus, have highlighted the importance of bat surveillance studies to prepare for the future emergence of yet unknown PMVs from wildlife reservoirs, as these animals have a wide range of species and are significant drivers of PMV cross-species viral transmission [16,[51][52][53]. According to Drexler et al. [16], shifts in paramyxovirus host to other mammalian species are primarily from bats. ...
Simple Summary
Because Brazil presents continental dimensions containing a rich biodiversity, this review aims to map the presence of coronavirus (CoV) and paramyxovirus (PMV) genetics related to human-relevant pathogens in bats. The CoVs and PMVs reported in Brazilian bats were genetically closely related to some human pathogens. The majority of works assayed phyllostomid, molossid and vespertilionid bats and found a majority of alpha-CoVs and few reports of beta-CoVs grouped in the Merbecovirus and Embecovirus subgenera, where MERS-CoV and HCoV OC43 are classified, respectively. The PMVs reported in Brazilian bats were classified in the Jeilongvirus and Morbillivirus genera. Despite the growing number of studies on CoVs and PMVs in bats in Brazil, when we compare the number of reports to the number of bat species found in Brazil, the representativeness of the viruses found and the available genomes, it can be perceived that there may be gaps in the knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention and give relative importance and encouragement to future studies on bats, especially in relation to viruses with significant zoonotic potential, such as CoVs and PMVs.
Abstract
Chiroptera are one of the most diverse mammal orders. They are considered reservoirs of main human pathogens, where coronaviruses (CoVs) and paramyxoviruses (PMVs) may be highlighted. Moreover, the growing number of publications on CoVs and PMVs in wildlife reinforces the scientific community’s interest in eco-vigilance, especially because of the emergence of important human pathogens such as the SARS-CoV-2 and Nipha viruses. Considering that Brazil presents continental dimensions, is biologically rich containing one of the most diverse continental biotas and presents a rich biodiversity of animals classified in the order Chiroptera, the mapping of CoV and PMV genetics related to human pathogens is important and the aim of the present work. CoVs can be classified into four genera: Alphacoronavirus, Betacoronavirus, Deltacoronavirus and Gammacoronavirus. Delta- and gammacoronaviruses infect mainly birds, while alpha- and betacoronaviruses contain important animal and human pathogens. Almost 60% of alpha- and betacoronaviruses are related to bats, which are considered natural hosts of these viral genera members. The studies on CoV presence in bats from Brazil have mainly assayed phyllostomid, molossid and vespertilionid bats in the South, Southeast and North territories. Despite Brazil not hosting rhinophilid or pteropodid bats, which are natural reservoirs of SARS-related CoVs and henipaviruses, respectively, CoVs and PMVs reported in Brazilian bats are genetically closely related to some human pathogens. Most works performed with Brazilian bats reported alpha-CoVs that were closely related to other bat-CoVs, despite a few reports of beta-CoVs grouped in the Merbecovirus and Embecovirus subgenera. The family Paramyxoviridae includes four subfamilies (Avulavirinae, Metaparamyxovirinae, Orthoparamyxovirinae and Rubulavirinae), and bats are significant drivers of PMV cross-species viral transmission. Additionally, the studies that have evaluated PMV presence in Brazilian bats have mainly found sequences classified in the Jeilongvirus and Morbillivirus genera that belong to the Orthoparamyxovirinae subfamily. Despite the increasing amount of research on Brazilian bats, studies analyzing these samples are still scarce. When surveying the representativeness of the CoVs and PMVs found and the available genomic sequences, it can be perceived that there may be gaps in the knowledge. The continuous monitoring of viral sequences that are closely related to human pathogens may be helpful in mapping and predicting future hotspots in the emergence of zoonotic agents.
... Two additional viruses have been added to the henipavirus genus based on sequence alignment; however, viral isolates have not been obtained. Detected in pooled faeces belonging to African Straw-coloured fruit bats located in Kumasi, Ghana, the henipavirus GhV shows sequence homology to the L gene of NiV Mal [33,34]. MojV, detected in an abandoned mine in Mòjiāng Hani Autonomous County, Yunnan Province, China, was identified by PCR of rectal swabs taken from cave rats (Rattus flavipectus) at a site where three patients had previously died of severe pneumonia complications after working in the mine in 2012 [35]. ...
Henipaviruses are zoonotic viruses, including some highly pathogenic and capable of serious disease and high fatality rates in both animals and humans. Hendra virus and Nipah virus are the most notable henipaviruses, resulting in significant outbreaks across South Asia, South-East Asia, and Australia. Pteropid fruit bats have been identified as key zoonotic reservoirs; however, the increased discovery of henipaviruses outside the geographic distribution of Pteropid fruit bats and the detection of novel henipa-like viruses in other species such as the shrew, rat, and opossum suggest that Pteropid bats are not the sole reservoir for henipaviruses. In this review, we provide an update on henipavirus spillover events and describe the recent detection of novel unclassified henipaviruses, with a strong focus on the shrew and its emerging role as a key host of henipaviruses.
... Bats are unique animals due to their extensive viral diversity, which distinguishes them from other species [1][2][3][4][5][6]. They have long been associated with many viral families and genera, such as Paramyxoviridae, Filoviridae and Rhabdoviridae [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Their ability to fly long distances and their diverse feeding habits make it easier for them to acquire and spread viruses across remote areas and to transmit them to other species. ...
The Totiviridae family of viruses has a unique genome consisting of double-stranded RNA with two open reading frames that encode the capsid protein (Cap) and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRpol). Most virions in this family are isometric in shape, approximately 40 nm in diameter, and lack envelope. There are five genera within this family, including Totivirus, Victorivirus, Giardiavirus, Leishmaniavirus, and Trichomonasvirus. While Totivirus and Victorivirus primarily infect fungi, Giardiavirus, Leishmaniavirus, and Trichomonasvirus infect diverse hosts, including protists, insects, and vertebrates. Recently, new totivirus-like species have been discovered in fish and plant hosts, and through metagenomic analysis, a novel totivirus-like virus (named Tianjin totivirus) has been isolated from bat guano. Interestingly, Tianjin totivirus causes cytopathic effects in insect cells but cannot grow in mammalian cells, suggesting that it infects insects consumed by insectivorous bats. In this study, we used next-generation sequencing and identified totivirus-like viruses in liver tissue from Molossus molossus bats in the Amazon region of Brazil. Comparative phylogenetic analysis based on the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase region revealed that the viruses identified in Molossus bats belong to two distinct phylogenetic clades, possibly comprising different genera within the Totiviridae family. Notably, the mean similarity between Tianjin totivirus and the totiviruses identified in Molossus bats is less than 18%. These findings suggest that the diversity of totiviruses in bats is more extensive than previously recognized and highlight the potential for bats to serve as reservoirs for novel toti-like viruses.
... In any case, the predictive value of a virus's capability to utilize highly conserved receptors is significant when assessing the potential for viral emergence and crossspecies transmission (33) Therefore, our results may indicate the presence of a closely related virus whose pathogenicity and virulence remain to be characterized. The henipavirus designated Ghana virus (GhV) remains the only African henipavirus that has been fully sequenced, isolated from E. helvum (34). However, Henipavirus and henipa-like virus antibodies have been detected in E. helvum (32,35,36) and other species, of which the literature has been thoroughly reviewed in Mbu'u et al. (37). ...
Introduction
The Eidolon helvum fruit bat is one of the most widely distributed fruit bats in Africa and known to be a reservoir for several pathogenic viruses that can cause disease in animals and humans. To assess the risk of zoonotic spillover, we conducted a serological survey of 304 serum samples from E. helvum bats that were captured for human consumption in Makurdi, Nigeria.
Methods
Using pseudotyped viruses, we screened 304 serum samples for neutralizing antibodies against viruses from the Coronaviridae, Filoviridae, Orthomyxoviridae and Paramyxoviridae families.
Results
We report the presence of neutralizing antibodies against henipavirus lineage GH-M74a virus (odds ratio 6.23; p < 0.001), Nipah virus (odds ratio 4.04; p = 0.00031), bat influenza H17N10 virus (odds ratio 7.25; p < 0.001) and no significant association with Ebola virus (odds ratio 0.56; p = 0.375) in this bat cohort.
Conclusion
The data suggest a potential risk of zoonotic spillover including the possible circulation of highly pathogenic viruses in E. helvum populations. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining sero-surveillance of E. helvum, and the necessity for further, more comprehensive investigations to monitor changes in virus prevalence, distribution over time, and across different geographic locations.
