Bats in the Indochina Peninsula are important carriers of viruses that can potentially cross over to other species, but research on their viral diversity has been limited in this region. A recent study conducted by scientists from Beijing University of Chemical Technology and the Academy of Military Medical Sciences has provided new data on bat viruses in this area. The researchers analyzed 659 samples collected from 197 bats belonging to 16 different species between 2020 and 2024 using next-generation sequencing techniques.
The study found a total of 137 viral strains across 27 virus families, including the identification of 40 previously unknown species. According to the researchers, "Rhinolophidae bats from China's Yunnan and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region provinces exhibited the highest viral diversity, with 13 viral families and MERS-like coronaviruses." They also noted that "Cambodian bats harbored viruses that were evolutionarily distant from known strains."
One significant discovery was a virus related to porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) detected in Cambodian Chaerephon plicatus bats. The research team stated, "This virus (CB_Mo.plicatus_PEDV-like_1) shared 90.36% genome homology with the PEDV CV777 strain and displayed a recombinant structure, combining suid-adapted ORF1ab and bat-adapted Spike genes." This result provides more evidence supporting bats as a possible evolutionary source for PEDV.
Further analysis showed that out of 18 sequences studied for recombination, mosaic patterns were present in 16 cases. The report highlighted that "five regions showed no breakpoints (BFRs), emphasizing the frequency of viral genetic exchange." The use of deep learning models suggested potential risks related to host adaptation: "The ORF1ab of the PEDV-related virus showed a preference for suids (pigs), while its Spike gene favored bats," raising concerns about spillover if certain mutations develop.
The findings underline the importance of ongoing surveillance efforts for bat-borne viruses in Southeast Asia due to their capacity for genetic exchange and adaptation across different hosts.
