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Detection and Prevalence of Coronaviruses in European Bats
Publication . Hemnani, Mahima; da Silva, Priscilla Gomes; Thompson, Gertrude; Poeta, Patrícia; Rebelo, Hugo; Mesquita, João R.; LAQV@REQUIMTE; Springer
Bats are known hosts for a wide range of coronaviruses (CoVs), including those that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-1) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV). With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it has become increasingly important to understand the diversity and prevalence of CoVs in bat populations. This systematic review aimed to compile studies that have sampled CoVs from bats across Europe and assessed various aspects related to the testing of bat samples, including the country where the bats were collected, the CoV genomic region studied, the CoV genera that were detected, and the identification of bat species that were found to be carrying CoV. We identified 30 studies that assessed CoVs presence in bats across multiple countries including Italy, Germany, and various other nations with one or two studies each, which tested them for CoVs using a variety of matrices. CoVs were found in nine genera of bats, and the genomic regions included RdRp, ORF1a gene, as well as full genome, detecting α- and/or β-CoVs, with most of them being detectable only in faeces. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the CoVs detected in bats across Europe and highlights the importance of continued surveillance and monitoring of bat populations for potential emerging zoonotic CoVs.
SARS-CoV-2 RNA Presence in Outdoor Air of Public Spaces in Valladolid During Winter, 2021
Publication . Silva, Priscilla Gomes da; Gonçalves, José; Rodriguéz, Elisa; García-Encina, Pedro A.; Nascimento, Maria São José; Sousa, Sofia I. V.; Mesquita, João R.; MARE - Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente; Springer
As SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve and herd immunity establishes, an increasing number of asymptomatic infections have been reported, increasing the risk of airborne spread of the virus. Most of the studies regarding SARS-CoV-2 RNA presence in air refer to indoor environments, with few studies having reported SARS-CoV-2 RNA in outdoor air. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA at two different settings, crowded outdoor versus empty outdoor environments in Valladolid, Spain, during winter 2021. Using a Coriolis® air sampler, samples were taken from nine different locations within the city center. RNA extraction and a one-step RT-qPCR were carried out. Six out of the 20 air samples were found to be positive, and they were all obtained from crowded outdoor environments. These results highlight that although in less quantity, SARS-CoV-2 RNA is still present in outdoor air, especially at moments of relaxed mitigation efforts and depending on the number of people present.
Presence of Alphacoronavirus in Tree- and Crevice-Dwelling Bats from Portugal
Publication . Hemnani, Mahima; da Silva, Priscilla Gomes; Thompson, Gertrude; Poeta, Patrícia; Rebelo, Hugo; Mesquita, João R.; LAQV@REQUIMTE; DQ - Departamento de Química; MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are RNA viruses capable of infecting a wide range of hosts, including mammals and birds, and have caused significant epidemics such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Bats, the second most diverse mammalian order, are hosts for various CoVs due to their unique immune responses and ecological traits. This study investigates CoV prevalence in crevice- and tree-dwelling bats in Portugal, a country with limited prior research on bat CoVs. Using nested RT-PCR and sequencing, we screened 87 stool samples from bats, identifying one sample (1.15%) that was positive for Alphacoronavirus, belonging to Pipistrellus pipistrellus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close genetic relationships with Alphacoronavirus strains from the same bat species in Europe. The low prevalence suggests habitat-specific differences in viral transmission, with cave-dwelling bats exhibiting higher CoV prevalence due to population density and behaviour. These findings underscore the necessity for sustained surveillance efforts aimed at comprehending CoV dynamics within bat populations, especially concerning the risk of spillover events and viral evolution. Vital to this understanding is the monitoring of bat migration patterns, which serves as a crucial tool for elucidating CoV ecology and epidemiology. Such efforts are essential for ongoing research endeavours aimed at mitigating the potential for future zoonotic disease outbreaks.
Metagenomic analysis of viral diversity in Portuguese bats
Publication . Hemnani, Mahima; Karatas, Mustafa; Cruz, Andreia V. S.; Silva, Priscilla Gomes da; Thompson, Gertrude; Poeta, Patrícia; Rebelo, Hugo; Matthijnssens, Jelle; Mesquita, João R.; LAQV@REQUIMTE; DQ - Departamento de Química; Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
Bats are highly diverse mammals and known reservoirs of numerous zoonotic viruses. Their role in the ecology of emerging infectious diseases continues to be of significant interest. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of coronaviruses (CoVs) in Portuguese bats and predict the affinity of their spike proteins with the aminopeptidase N (APN) receptor of several host species. The study also explored the viral diversity in bat samples using metagenomic sequencing. Ten bats (five Myotis myotis and five Miniopterus schreibersii) were captured at an underground roost in 2022 (Central Portugal), and fecal samples, oral, and anal swabs were collected (n = 27). A Pan-CoV nested RT-PCR was used for initial screening, followed by viral metagenomic sequencing of all fecal samples and one CoV-positive buccal swab. In silico protein docking studies were performed between a Portuguese bat CoV spike protein and APNs of bats, pigs, and humans. Pan-CoV nested RT-PCR identified three positive samples: two fecal samples and one buccal sample. Metagenomic sequencing allowed us to determine two near complete CoV genomes. Protein docking predicted strong binding of this spike protein to bat, porcine, and human APN receptors. Metagenomics also identified picornaviruses, adenovirus, and dependoparvovirus in fecal samples. This study reports the first near complete genome sequences of two members of the Alphacoronavirus genus from a Portuguese bat The identification of other viral families highlights the diverse virome of these cave-dwelling bat species. Protein docking studies suggest a potential for cross-species transmission of this bat CoV between bats, porcines and humans, though further research is needed to confirm these interactions.
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Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
Concurso de avaliação no âmbito do Programa Plurianual de Financiamento de Unidades de I&D (2017/2018) - Financiamento Base
Número da atribuição
UIDB/04750/2020