Two new deadly viruses discovered in China

Scientists from the Chinese Institute for Endemic Disease Control in Yunnan Province have made an alarming discovery - two new viruses genetically close to the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses have been identified in bats. These pathogens can cause severe brain inflammation and serious respiratory diseases. The research results were published in the prestigious scientific journal PLOS Pathogens.

During a large-scale four-year study, specialists examined the kidneys of 142 bats of ten different species captured in five regions of Yunnan Province. Using modern high-throughput DNA sequencing methods, scientists discovered a real "zoo" of pathogens - 22 viruses, with 20 of them previously unknown to science.

The greatest concern was caused by two new viruses from the Henipavirus genus - the same one to which the notorious Nipah and Hendra viruses belong, which are characterized by high mortality among infected people. Of particular danger is the fact that the new viruses were found in fruit-eating bats living in close proximity to fruit orchards and human settlements. Researchers warn of a serious risk of infection through contaminated fruits, as viruses of this genus can be transmitted through animal urine.

In addition to viruses, the scientific group also identified a new species of protozoa - Klossiella yunnanensis, and two bacterial varieties, one of which was previously unknown and named Flavobacterium yunnanensis.

The authors of the study emphasize that their work for the first time allowed the complete decoding of the genomes of new viruses found in bat kidneys in China. According to scientists, the study significantly expands the understanding of the "infectome" - the totality of all pathogens in an organism - and points to the urgent need for constant monitoring of potential zoonotic threats, especially in areas where wildlife and humans live in close proximity.