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Host specificity and geographic dispersion shape virome diversity in Rhinolophus bats
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  • Daxi Wang,
  • Linmiao Li,
  • Zirui Ren,
  • Yepin Yu,
  • Zhipeng Zhang,
  • Jiabin Zhou,
  • Hailong Zhao,
  • Zhiwen Zhao,
  • Peibo Shi,
  • Xinrui Mi,
  • Xin Jin,
  • Ziqing Deng,
  • Junhua Li,
  • Jinping Chen
Daxi Wang
BGI Research
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Linmiao Li
Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences
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Zirui Ren
BGI Research
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Yepin Yu
Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences
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Zhipeng Zhang
BGI Research
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Jiabin Zhou
Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences
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Hailong Zhao
BGI Research
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Zhiwen Zhao
Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences
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Peibo Shi
BGI Research
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Xinrui Mi
BGI Research
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Xin Jin
BGI Research
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Ziqing Deng
BGI Research
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Junhua Li
BGI Research
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Jinping Chen
Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences

Corresponding Author:chenjp@giz.gd.cn

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Abstract

Rhinolophus bats have been identified as natural reservoirs for viruses with global health implications, including severe acute respiratory syndrome–related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoV) and swine acute diarrhea syndrome-related coronavirus (SADSr-CoV). In this study, we characterized the individual viromes of 603 bats to systematically investigate the diversity, abundance, and geographic distribution of viral communities within R. affinis, R. sinicus, and 11 related bat species. The massive metatranscriptomic data revealed substantial viral genome resources of 133 vertebrate-infecting viral clusters, which contain occasional cross-species transmission across mammalian orders and specially across bat families. Notably, those viruses included nine clusters closely related to human and/or livestock pathogens, such as SARS-CoVs and SADS-CoVs. The investigation also highlighted distinct features of viral diversity between and within bat colonies, which appear to be influenced by the distinct host population genetics of R. affinis and R. sinicus species. The comparison of SARSr-CoVs further showed varied impact of host specificity along genome-wide diversification and modular viral evolution among Rhinolophus species. Overall, the findings point to a complex interaction between host genetic diversity, and the way viruses spread and structure within natural populations, calling for continued surveillance efforts to understand factors driving viral transmission and emergence in human populations. These results present the underestimated spillover risk of bat viruses, highlighting the importance of enhancing preparedness and surveillance for emerging zoonotic viruses.
30 Jul 2024Submitted to Molecular Ecology
31 Jul 2024Submission Checks Completed
31 Jul 2024Assigned to Editor
31 Jul 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
08 Aug 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 Oct 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
15 Nov 20241st Revision Received
19 Nov 2024Submission Checks Completed
19 Nov 2024Assigned to Editor
19 Nov 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
19 Nov 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
20 Dec 2024Editorial Decision: Accept