Influence of host ecology, social system and phylogeny on the genetic covariation of viruses and hosts, and on virus prevalences, within and between bat species

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Understanding the antagonistic nature and evolutionary dynamics of host-virus relationships requires information on the genetic covariation and ecological interactions of hosts and viruses. However, the interplay between the processes that influence covariation of hosts and viruses is largely unknown. Above all, it is unclear to what degree ecological conditions and social barriers affecting host dispersal and the degree of association among different host species influence virus transmission within and among host species. Understanding such processes will enable a risk evaluation for the transmission of viral agents to humans or to domestic animals under defined ecological conditions. This project investigates the links between the ecology, behaviour and genetic structure of three bat species and their ectoparasites (potential vectors) on the one hand and the genetic structures and prevalence of different viruses that infest bats, on the other hand. The aim is to understand the relationship between ecological conditions and life history traits of the interacting species that may help viruses to overcome species barriers and colonize novel hosts. Bats provide an ideal model system to study covariation of viruses with a given host and cospeciation with different hosts due to: 1) the variability of bat social systems, 2) bat species differ in how regularly they share roosts with each other and 3) their high level of social interaction (coloniality) and ease of mobility (flight) bats can spread viruses very rapidly.