Coronaviruses as a paradigm for the transmission interface between wildlife, livestock and humans

2012年在阿拉伯半岛出现了一种新型冠状病毒，即中东呼吸综合征冠状病毒，这突显了冠状病毒宿主转换的重要性以及冠状病毒的人畜共患或流行潜力。本项目结合动物生态学、流行病学、分子病毒学、先天免疫等多学科研究，研究冠状病毒宿主切换的复杂过程。第二个工作期的目标反映了加纳兽医加入该小组所创造的新的可能性，以及迫切需要更深入地了解中东呼吸综合征冠状病毒的储存库和起源。我们将继续调查小型哺乳动物中冠状病毒的多样性和进化，在第二个工作阶段开展蝙蝠以外的工作。我们通过对牲畜的病毒和抗体检测，增加了牲畜作为潜在中间宿主的重要性。分子生物学研究将继续解决受体介导的细胞进入和逃避靶细胞的干扰素防御的问题。在培训和能力建设方面，我们将继续提供生态方法论的实地培训，并通过加强国外培训，进一步强调分子生物学的实践技能。该项目的总体目标是更好地了解病毒出现的各个阶段，并将生态学和病毒学学科之间以及德国和加纳的研究人员之间的研究能力联系起来。

The importance of coronavirus (CoV) host switching and the zoonotic or epidemic potential of CoV has been underlined by the emergence of a novel CoV in the Arabian Peninsula in 2012, known as the MERS-CoV. In this project we investigate the complex process of coronavirus host switching, integrating various disciplines such as animal ecology, epidemiology, as well as molecular virology and innate immunity research. The objectives in the second working period reflect the new possibilities created by Ghanaian veterinarians entering the team, as well as the pressing need for more insight into reservoirs and origins of MERS-CoV. We continue our investigations of diversity and evolution of CoV in small mammals, working beyond bats in the second working period. We add as a new component the importance of livestock as potential intermediary hosts through virus and antibody testing in livestock. Molecular biology investigations will continue to address the issues of receptor-mediated cell entry and evasion of the target cell´s interferon defence. In the area of training and capacity building, we will continue to provide field training in ecological methodology on site, and add an additional emphasis on practical skills in molecular biology by intensified training abroad. The overall goal of the project is to provide a much better insight into the various stages of viral emergence and to interlink research capacities between the disciplines of ecology and virology, and between investigators in Germany and Ghana.