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Morbillivirus Evolution and Ecology in Neotropical Bats
- Bats are important reservoirs for various viruses, including paramyxoviruses like Morbillivirus, linked to significant health risks.
- Recent research has identified six distinct Morbillivirus strains in bats and non-human primates in Central and South America.
- Viral RNA concentrations found in infected animals suggest systemic infection without inducing severe illness.
- Vampire bats displayed neutralizing antibodies against a primary vampire bat Morbillivirus strain, pointing to non-fatal infections.
- Bat-associated Morbilliviruses use bat CD150 for cellular entry, maintaining conserved antigenic features despite sequence variations.
- Non-human primate Morbilliviruses utilize human receptors more efficiently than bat-associated viruses, potentially posing higher zoonotic risks.
- Morbilliviruses show host-shift events, suggesting the capacity to breach species barriers, with implications for zoonotic transmissions.
- Intensified surveillance targeting wildlife reservoirs is recommended to understand and mitigate the zoonotic threat of Morbilliviruses.
- The study highlights the need for proactive intervention strategies and vaccine development to combat potential emerging infectious diseases.
- Understanding the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of Morbilliviruses in bats is crucial for predicting and preventing future outbreaks.
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