Infectome analysis of bat kidneys from Yunnan province, China, reveals novel henipaviruses related to Hendra and Nipah viruses and prevalent bacterial and eukaryotic microbes.

Bats are natural reservoirs for a wide range of microorganisms, including many notable zoonotic pathogens. However, the composition of the infectome (i.e., the collection of viral, bacterial and eukaryotic microorganisms) within bat kidneys remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we performe...

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Main Authors: Guopeng Kuang, Tian Yang, Weihong Yang, Jing Wang, Hong Pan, Yuanfei Pan, Qin-Yu Gou, Wei-Chen Wu, Juan Wang, Lifeng Yang, Xi Han, Yao-Qing Chen, John-Sebastian Eden, Edward C Holmes, Mang Shi, Yun Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-06-01
Series:PLoS Pathogens
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1013235
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author Guopeng Kuang
Tian Yang
Weihong Yang
Jing Wang
Hong Pan
Yuanfei Pan
Qin-Yu Gou
Wei-Chen Wu
Juan Wang
Lifeng Yang
Xi Han
Yao-Qing Chen
John-Sebastian Eden
Edward C Holmes
Mang Shi
Yun Feng
author_facet Guopeng Kuang
Tian Yang
Weihong Yang
Jing Wang
Hong Pan
Yuanfei Pan
Qin-Yu Gou
Wei-Chen Wu
Juan Wang
Lifeng Yang
Xi Han
Yao-Qing Chen
John-Sebastian Eden
Edward C Holmes
Mang Shi
Yun Feng
author_sort Guopeng Kuang
collection DOAJ
description Bats are natural reservoirs for a wide range of microorganisms, including many notable zoonotic pathogens. However, the composition of the infectome (i.e., the collection of viral, bacterial and eukaryotic microorganisms) within bat kidneys remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we performed meta-transcriptomic sequencing on kidney tissues from 142 bats, spanning ten species sampled at five locations in Yunnan province, China. This analysis identified 22 viral species, including 20 novel viruses, two of which represented newly discovered henipaviruses closely related to the highly pathogenic Hendra and Nipah viruses. These henipaviruses were found in the kidneys of bats inhabiting an orchard near villages, raising concerns about potential fruit contamination via bat urine and transmission risks to livestock or humans. Additionally, we identified a novel protozoan parasite, tentatively named Klossiella yunnanensis, along with two highly abundant bacterial species, one of which is a newly discovered species-Flavobacterium yunnanensis. These findings broaden our understanding of the bat kidney infectome, underscore critical zoonotic threats, and highlight the need for comprehensive, full-spectrum microbial analyses of previously understudied organs to better assess spillover risks from bat populations.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1553-7366
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language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS Pathogens
spelling doaj-art-ece594dcf4e24c84bafbff1d0d02be622025-08-20T03:32:04ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Pathogens1553-73661553-73742025-06-01216e101323510.1371/journal.ppat.1013235Infectome analysis of bat kidneys from Yunnan province, China, reveals novel henipaviruses related to Hendra and Nipah viruses and prevalent bacterial and eukaryotic microbes.Guopeng KuangTian YangWeihong YangJing WangHong PanYuanfei PanQin-Yu GouWei-Chen WuJuan WangLifeng YangXi HanYao-Qing ChenJohn-Sebastian EdenEdward C HolmesMang ShiYun FengBats are natural reservoirs for a wide range of microorganisms, including many notable zoonotic pathogens. However, the composition of the infectome (i.e., the collection of viral, bacterial and eukaryotic microorganisms) within bat kidneys remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we performed meta-transcriptomic sequencing on kidney tissues from 142 bats, spanning ten species sampled at five locations in Yunnan province, China. This analysis identified 22 viral species, including 20 novel viruses, two of which represented newly discovered henipaviruses closely related to the highly pathogenic Hendra and Nipah viruses. These henipaviruses were found in the kidneys of bats inhabiting an orchard near villages, raising concerns about potential fruit contamination via bat urine and transmission risks to livestock or humans. Additionally, we identified a novel protozoan parasite, tentatively named Klossiella yunnanensis, along with two highly abundant bacterial species, one of which is a newly discovered species-Flavobacterium yunnanensis. These findings broaden our understanding of the bat kidney infectome, underscore critical zoonotic threats, and highlight the need for comprehensive, full-spectrum microbial analyses of previously understudied organs to better assess spillover risks from bat populations.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1013235
spellingShingle Guopeng Kuang
Tian Yang
Weihong Yang
Jing Wang
Hong Pan
Yuanfei Pan
Qin-Yu Gou
Wei-Chen Wu
Juan Wang
Lifeng Yang
Xi Han
Yao-Qing Chen
John-Sebastian Eden
Edward C Holmes
Mang Shi
Yun Feng
Infectome analysis of bat kidneys from Yunnan province, China, reveals novel henipaviruses related to Hendra and Nipah viruses and prevalent bacterial and eukaryotic microbes.
PLoS Pathogens
title Infectome analysis of bat kidneys from Yunnan province, China, reveals novel henipaviruses related to Hendra and Nipah viruses and prevalent bacterial and eukaryotic microbes.
title_full Infectome analysis of bat kidneys from Yunnan province, China, reveals novel henipaviruses related to Hendra and Nipah viruses and prevalent bacterial and eukaryotic microbes.
title_fullStr Infectome analysis of bat kidneys from Yunnan province, China, reveals novel henipaviruses related to Hendra and Nipah viruses and prevalent bacterial and eukaryotic microbes.
title_full_unstemmed Infectome analysis of bat kidneys from Yunnan province, China, reveals novel henipaviruses related to Hendra and Nipah viruses and prevalent bacterial and eukaryotic microbes.
title_short Infectome analysis of bat kidneys from Yunnan province, China, reveals novel henipaviruses related to Hendra and Nipah viruses and prevalent bacterial and eukaryotic microbes.
title_sort infectome analysis of bat kidneys from yunnan province china reveals novel henipaviruses related to hendra and nipah viruses and prevalent bacterial and eukaryotic microbes
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1013235
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