Interspecies transmission and emergence of novel viruses: lessons from bats and birds

• Published in: Trends in microbiology (Regular ed.) Vol. 21; no. 10; pp. 544 - 555
• Main Authors: Chan, Jasper Fuk-Woo, To, Kelvin Kai-Wang, Tse, Herman, Jin, Dong-Yan, Yuen, Kwok-Yung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2013
• Subjects: adaptive immunity; Animals; biodiversity; birds; Birds - virology; Chiroptera; Chiroptera - virology; coronavirus; Coronavirus - growth & development; Coronavirus Infections - transmission; Coronavirus Infections - virology; Disease Reservoirs - virology; disease transmission; Disease Vectors; emerging infectious disease; evolution; farms; genes; Humans; influenza; Influenza A virus; Influenza in Birds - transmission; Influenza in Birds - virology; Influenza, Human - transmission; Influenza, Human - virology; Internal Medicine; markets; migratory behavior; mixing; mutants; Orthomyxoviridae - growth & development; RNA; RNA virus; roosting behavior; virus evolution; viruses; wildlife; wildlife habitats; Zoonoses - transmission; Zoonoses - virology; influenza; emerging infectious disease; coronavirus; RNA virus; virus evolution

•Bats and birds are reservoirs of zoonotic viruses.•Their unique immune systems allow them to harbor a large variety of viruses.•Coronaviruses and influenza viruses are examples of interspecies transmission of viruses. As exemplified by coronaviruses and influenza viruses, bats and birds are natural...