Newly Discovered Bats Viruses in China Pose Potential Pandemic Risk

Researchers have recently identified two new viruses in bats that are closely related to the notorious Nipah and Hendra viruses, known for their capability to induce severe brain inflammation and respiratory diseases in humans. This significant discovery highlights the potential risks posed by these pathogens and was detailed in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Yun Feng from the Yunnan Institute of Endemic Disease Control and Prevention in China, along with a team of collaborators.

Bats serve as natural reservoirs for a plethora of microorganisms, including numerous pathogens that can be transmitted to humans. Despite this, comprehensive research examining the diverse collection of viruses, fungi, bacteria, and parasites infecting bats has been lacking, with most studies having focused primarily on bat feces rather than the animals’ internal organs such as kidneys.

In this groundbreaking study, researchers meticulously examined the kidneys of 142 bats belonging to ten different species, which were collected over four years from five different regions in Yunnan province, China. Utilizing advanced genetic sequencing techniques, the team successfully identified 22 distinct viruses, of which 20 were previously unrecorded.

Among these newly discovered viruses, two henipaviruses were identified, which belong to the same viral genus as the Nipah and Hendra viruses. These henipaviruses were found in fruit bats residing in proximity to orchards near human settlements, raising significant concerns about the potential for transmission. As henipaviruses can be excreted in urine, this poses a risk of contaminated fruits entering the human food supply, potentially facilitating the jump of these viruses from bats to humans or domestic animals.

Furthermore, the research unveiled a novel protozoan parasite, provisionally named Klossiella yunnanensis, in addition to identifying two highly prevalent bacterial species. One of these bacterial species is a new discovery, referred to as Flavobacterium yunnanensis.

The authors of the study emphasized that their findings not only enhance our understanding of the microbial life present in bat kidneys but also underscore critical zoonotic threats posed by these viruses. They strongly advocate for thorough and extensive searches of previously underexplored organs in wildlife to better assess the risks associated with the spillover of pathogens from bat populations to humans or livestock.

In conclusion, by examining the complex microbial profiles found in bat kidneys collected from areas near village orchards and caves in Yunnan, the researchers have unveiled not just the diverse communities of microbes associated with bats, but also provided the first comprehensive genomic data for bat-borne henipaviruses closely related to those that have caused outbreaks in humans. These findings accentuate urgent concerns regarding the potential for these viruses to cross species barriers and threaten human or livestock health.

The study received funding from various sources, including the National Key R&D Program of China and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, among others. Importantly, none of the funders were involved in the design, data collection, analysis, or publication processes of the study.