Coronaviruses: Troubling Crown of the Animal Kingdom

Differential prevalence and risk factors for infection with coronaviruses in bats collected from Yunnan Province, China

Coronaviruses (CoVs) pose a threat to human health globally, as highlighted by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and the COVID-19 pandemic. Bats from the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) are an important natural reservoir for CoVs. Here we report the differential prevalence of CoVs in bats within Yunnan Province across biological and ecological variables. We also show the coexistence of CoVs in individual bats and identify an additional putative host for SARS-related CoV, with higher dispersal capacity than other known hosts. Notably, 11 SARS-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoVs) were discovered in horseshoe bats (family Rhinolophidae) and a Chinese water myotis bat (Myotis laniger) by pan-CoV detection and Illumina sequencing. Our findings facilitate an understanding of the fundamental features of the distribution and circulation of CoVs in nature as well as zoonotic spillover risk in the One health framework.

Wildlife nidoviruses: biology, epidemiology, and disease associations of selected nidoviruses of mammals and reptiles

Wildlife is the source of many emerging infectious diseases. Several viruses from the order Nidovirales have recently emerged in wildlife, sometimes with severe consequences for endangered species. The order Nidovirales is currently classified into eight suborders, three of which contain viruses of vertebrates. Vertebrate coronaviruses (suborder Cornidovirineae) have been extensively studied, yet the other major suborders have received less attention. The aim of this minireview was to summarize the key findings from the published literature on nidoviruses of vertebrate wildlife from two suborders: Arnidovirineae and Tornidovirineae. These viruses were identified either during investigations of disease outbreaks or through molecular surveys of wildlife viromes, and include pathogens of reptiles and mammals. The available data on key biological features, disease associations, and pathology are presented, in addition to data on the frequency of infections among various host populations, and putative routes of transmission. While nidoviruses discussed here appear to have a restricted in vivo host range, little is known about their natural life cycle. Observational field-based studies outside of the mortality events are needed to facilitate an understanding of the virus-host-environment interactions that lead to the outbreaks. Laboratory-based studies are needed to understand the pathogenesis of diseases caused by novel nidoviruses and their evolutionary histories. Barriers preventing research progress include limited funding and the unavailability of virus- and host-specific reagents. To reduce mortalities in wildlife and further population declines, proactive development of expertise, technologies, and networks should be developed. These steps would enable effective management of future outbreaks and support wildlife conservation.

Approaching Challenges Posed by SARS-CoV-2 Genetic Variants

In this new collection of the most viewed and cited papers, one of the Editor's chosen articles, published in Pathogens in 2021, addressed the impact and the concerns relating to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants [...].