The "Virome" of two species of bats decrypted

Researchers at the Institut Pasteur de la Guyane (virus-host interactions unit), in collaboration with the Genomics Platform of the Institut Pasteur and INRA, have just published a study on the presence of numerous viruses in two species of bats in French Guiana. Indeed, bats are major reservoirs to many viruses, some of which are responsible for severe diseases in humans (rabies, SARS, Ebola, etc.). The purpose of this study was to describe the viruses present in bats by targeting species that may be in contact with humans such as the common velvety free-tailed bat (insectivore) and / or having a particular diet such as the common vampire, Desmodus rotundus (hematophagus). The results will provide fundamental dataon circulating viruses in bat communities in French Guiana.

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