Scientists from the University of the Philippines in Mindanao and in Manila, as well as veterinary hospital Animal solutions in Davao city began studying the issue of moving the bats of coronaviruses and the risk of a new epidemic. The results of their work published on the portal preprints (works that have not undergone peer review).
Samples of coronaviruses of bats were received in the southern Philippines. The analysis confirmed that bats are carriers of a variety of beta-coronaviruses, which include not only the current, triggering COVID-19, but also SARS, caused an outbreak of acute respiratory syndrome in 2002-2003 and middle East respiratory syndrome MERS spread in 2012.
As the researchers note, usually bats coexist with coronaviruses, while the infection does not spread and is not transferable to other species of animals. To prevent the spread of coronaviruses there are a number of barriers – adaptation of the organism to the reproduction of the virus, the receptors of cell surfaces and other factors. Thanks to this coronavirus is very difficult to move to a new host, belonging to another mind.
However, the change of environment and living conditions leads to a stepwise evolution of the virus. When the bats reduced their natural habitat, e.g. deforestation or the building, the different kinds of bats, previously lived separately, begin to contact. This may allow the virus to gain a new host. Adapting to a new host, the virus is mutating and expanding their mechanisms of adaptation to changes, allowing it finds new owners.
as an example, scientists lead the Philippine Malay korotkoruchko of Pteropus (Cynopterus brachyotis) eating a fragrant fruit, primarily mangos. Because of their dietary preferences, this species of bats living near people. “If the new coronavirus appears among this species of fruit bats, he will be genetically different from known people SARS, MERS and Covid-19, and may cause a new pandemic,” say the researchers.
the Portal BioRxiv emphasizes that their published research results are preprints, need further confirmation and cannot be considered as absolutely reliable information.
