Biogeography and evolutionary history of two RNA viruses (arena and hantaviruses) in Africa

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Emerging and re-emerging diseases are often caused by RNA viruses. Two rodent-borne genera of negative stand RNA viruses, Arenavirus (family Arenaviridae) and Hantavirus (family Bunyaviridae) are intensively studied due to their potential to cause hemorrhagic fever or pulmonary failure. With the exception of the arenavirus Lassa, responsible for Lassa hemorrhagic fever in West Africa, little is known on the occurrence of these viruses in Africa. It is assumed that both groups of viruses have long co-evolutionary histories with their hosts. However, this concept is challenged by recent observa-tions suggesting preferential host switching, which has implications for viral emergence. Considering that more than 1/4th of all contemporary murine species are estimated to live in Africa and that many rodent species and subspecies in Africa are still poorly characterised, it is obvious that Africa is the continent of choice to gain new knowledge on the biogeography and biodiversity of rodent-borne viruses and their hosts. The proposed project is focused on the following questions: 1. What are the diversity, evolutionary history, host range, and geographical distribution of arenaviruses and hanta-viruses in Eastern Africa? 2. What are the evolutionary relationships between the viruses and their hosts? What is the role of virus–host co-evolution and host switching? 3. Can we detect a signature of host adaptation in the evolutionary history of both groups of viruses?