Descripción del proyecto
Transmisión de virus de murciélagos a seres humanos y animales domésticos
Los murciélagos son hospedadores de virus de ARN relacionados con enfermedades humanas y constituyen reservorios importantes de diferentes virus, por lo que merecen una mayor investigación. En el proyecto OneBAT, financiado con fondos europeos, se estudiará la propagación de virus desde los murciélagos a los seres humanos y los animales domésticos. El objetivo de esta iniciativa, que aúna a ecólogos, virólogos y modelizadores, es dilucidar las complejas interacciones que se producen entre hospedadores, microorganismos patógenos y medio ambiente y que dan lugar a brotes de enfermedades infecciosas. Los conocimientos adquiridos serán esenciales para mejorar la disponibilidad de herramientas terapéuticas y profilácticas, actuales y futuras, contra la «enfermedad X». El proyecto, que se centra en «Miniopterus schreibersii», una especie europea de murciélago en declive, y sus microorganismos patógenos de altas consecuencias, tiene por objeto crear una plataforma metodológica que favorezca el desarrollo de herramientas ecológicas y virológicas aplicables a otras especies de murciélagos o virus.
Objetivo
In recent years, several novel RNA viruses found in bats have been associated to the emergence of human diseases. Surveillance in this extremely diverse group of mammals has revealed that bats are significant reservoir hosts for many viruses whose zoonotic potential deserves further insights. OneBAT aims at investigating the trigger for viral spillover from European bats to humans or domestic animals, using a multidisciplinary consortium of ecologists, virologists and modellers. In response to the outcomes foreseen by the call, OneBAT will unravel the complex interplay between natural and spillover host, pathogen and environment that determines the emergence of infectious diseases. Information on viral replication pathways, antigenic markers, and in vitro and in vivo screening of antivirals will advance the availability of current and future therapeutic and prophylactic tools for Disease X.
Due to technical and logistical reasons, OneBAT will not investigate all the bat species and pathogens circulating in Europe; it will rather provide well-based evidence on relevant model species that could be used to study other bat species or viruses that already are or may become of interest over the lifetime of the project or in the future. We will focus on the Miniopterus schreibersii bats, a species in significant decline across Europe, and on filoviruses, coronaviruses and lyssaviruses, as high-consequence pathogens known to circulate in the target bat. In addition to the specific information stemming from the project, OneBAT will establish a methodological platform that will make available the developed ecological and virological tools. Among them, innovative protocols for serological and virological investigations of these small-seize animals; harmonised longitudinal surveys across Europe, including tracking systems. Ultimately, OneBAT will equip southern and eastern EU countries with 20 VHF receivers that could be used for further studies on all flying animals.
Ámbito científico
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirology
- agricultural sciencesanimal and dairy sciencedomestic animals
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusescoronaviruses
- natural sciencesbiological scienceszoologymammalogy
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsantivirals
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoriaRégimen de financiación
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinador
35020 Legnaro
Italia