Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ZOE (Zoonoses Emergence across Degraded and Restored Forest Ecosystems)
Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30
The ZOE consortium aims at advancing the understanding of the effects of ecosystem degradation in the form of deforestation and associated biodiversity loss on the risk of emergence of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, and at better defining the protective value of forest ecosystem restoration. It fully embraces a holistic, integrated, inter- and transdisciplinary One Health approach to the links between human, animal, and environmental health.
ZOE applies a targeted approach to ensure the generation of reproducible findings and the fine-tuned deciphering of the relationship between biodiversity and disease risk. The project specifically targets the effects of forest degradation and associated biodiversity loss on the risk of emergence of rodent- and vector-borne zoonotic diseases. It uniquely builds on a wide interdisciplinary consortium gathering leading experts in geography, landscape ecology, geobotany, plant, animal, and disease ecology, virology, immunology, epidemiology, modelling, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and science dissemination, from 7 European and 2 Latin American academic partner institutions and 3 associate academic and NGO partners from Mexico and the US.
Building on an extensive dissemination and collaboration platform, and already supported by key stakeholders (including members and representatives from IPBES, EKLIPSE, WHO Health Emergency programme, Biodiversa+, International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade, BioAgora, Network for Ecohealth and One Health), ZOE works towards shifting the pandemic preparedness and response paradigm towards pandemic prevention by illuminating some of the root causes of disease emergence arising from human-mediated ecological disruption.
ZOE applies a targeted approach to ensure the generation of reproducible findings and the fine-tuned deciphering of the relationship between biodiversity and disease risk. The project specifically targets the effects of forest degradation and associated biodiversity loss on the risk of emergence of rodent- and vector-borne zoonotic diseases. It uniquely builds on a wide interdisciplinary consortium gathering leading experts in geography, landscape ecology, geobotany, plant, animal, and disease ecology, virology, immunology, epidemiology, modelling, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and science dissemination, from 7 European and 2 Latin American academic partner institutions and 3 associate academic and NGO partners from Mexico and the US.
Building on an extensive dissemination and collaboration platform, and already supported by key stakeholders (including members and representatives from IPBES, EKLIPSE, WHO Health Emergency programme, Biodiversa+, International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade, BioAgora, Network for Ecohealth and One Health), ZOE works towards shifting the pandemic preparedness and response paradigm towards pandemic prevention by illuminating some of the root causes of disease emergence arising from human-mediated ecological disruption.
In the first reporting period, WP1 identified key metrics for measuring changes in landscape composition (MS1), which are used to analyse our study regions, as well as drivers of land use and land cover (LULC) change within our case study sites supporting the identification of sampling plots in the case study regions (MS2). WP2 delivered a comprehensive literature review (D2.1) which, along with both formal and informal exchanges with project partners, provided valuable insights into broader socio-economic and behavioural dynamics that may contribute to the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases. WP3 implemented a harmonized, multi-taxa biodiversity (rodent and arthropod diversity, plant diversity) and environmental (soil, environmental parameter) sampling framework across case studies in Europe (Slovakia, Slovenia) and Latin America (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico). WP4 developed a bioinformatics pipeline tailored to ZOE’s diverse sample types, and established molecular assays for pathogen detection, and high-throughput serological platforms for antibody detection. WP5 developed data processing pipelines for extracting, cleaning and preparing rodent and seasonally resolved vector occurrence data and implemented ecological niche modeling workflows, towards the development of risk maps and predictive tools for zoonotic disease emergence. WP6 established ZOE’s communication and dissemination plan (D6.1) ZOE’s Open Science practices based on the functionalities of the Open Science Framework OSF (D6.2) and ZOE’s Integrative Knowledge Platform (D6.3). ZOE collaborates intensely with sister project RESTOREID, including the development of a joint stakeholder database, to ensure synergy with other initiatives at the biodiversity-health nexus. ZOE’s project management (WP7) introduced a fully operational, open-science-aligned management infrastructure (MS9) and delivered the project’s Data Management Plan (D7.1). By leveraging OSF and implementing a multi-tiered governance model with a functioning advisory and ethics structure (MS10) from the outset with the designation of an Ethics Advisor already in month 6, ZOE ensures scientific excellence, responsiveness, and transparency beyond typical early-phase project maturity levels.
The achievements and progress beyond state of the art at this stage are the identification of key landscape metrics for measuring impacts of landscape composition on biodiversity in WP1. The five metrics most frequently used in this context are: Number of patches, Edge density, Total edge, Mean patch area and Landscape shape index.
The systematic literature review conducted in WP2 has substantially deepened our understanding on how ongoing LULC changes, current zoonotic outbreaks and risks, are linked to the broader socio-economic and behavioural dynamics that may contribute to the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases.
WP3 has implemented a novel, harmonized, multi-taxa biodiversity and sampling framework including methodological protocols for rodent, arthropod, and soil sampling as well as vegetation and macrobiodiversity monitoring across diverse ecosystems in Europe and Latin America. In WP4, key methodological outputs included high-throughput serological assays for rodent and human samples, a metagenomics pipeline tailored to ZOE’s diverse samples, and innovative use of mosquito excreta for cost-effective pathogen surveillance—together representing a significant advancement in scalability, sensitivity, and cross-species applicability. The integration of macro-organism sampling with environmental metadata, microbial profiling, and social context (via WP2 and WP4) offers a novel systems-level approach to zoonotic risk assessment.
The ecological niche modelling workflows developed in WP5 incorporate state-of-the-art modelling techniques, such as the simultaneous consideration of multiple host species, enabling host-switching potential. Additionally, the introduction of seasonally resolved habitat suitability mapping allows for dynamic, time-specific risk assessments, moving beyond traditional static models. The resulting risk maps and predictive tools represent exploitable outputs that can inform early warning systems, public health planning, and targeted surveillance strategies.
Finally, a wide range of tools and communication channels established by ZOE and the sister project RESTOREID are facilitating broad dissemination of project results to research communities, stakeholders, and the public. A major achievement beyond state of the art is the development of the integrative knowledge exchange platform (www.biodiv-health-kep.com). This is further supported by ZOE’s open-science project management infrastructure, which promotes transparency, responsiveness, and scientific excellence from an early stage through multi-tiered governance and the use of OSF.
The systematic literature review conducted in WP2 has substantially deepened our understanding on how ongoing LULC changes, current zoonotic outbreaks and risks, are linked to the broader socio-economic and behavioural dynamics that may contribute to the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases.
WP3 has implemented a novel, harmonized, multi-taxa biodiversity and sampling framework including methodological protocols for rodent, arthropod, and soil sampling as well as vegetation and macrobiodiversity monitoring across diverse ecosystems in Europe and Latin America. In WP4, key methodological outputs included high-throughput serological assays for rodent and human samples, a metagenomics pipeline tailored to ZOE’s diverse samples, and innovative use of mosquito excreta for cost-effective pathogen surveillance—together representing a significant advancement in scalability, sensitivity, and cross-species applicability. The integration of macro-organism sampling with environmental metadata, microbial profiling, and social context (via WP2 and WP4) offers a novel systems-level approach to zoonotic risk assessment.
The ecological niche modelling workflows developed in WP5 incorporate state-of-the-art modelling techniques, such as the simultaneous consideration of multiple host species, enabling host-switching potential. Additionally, the introduction of seasonally resolved habitat suitability mapping allows for dynamic, time-specific risk assessments, moving beyond traditional static models. The resulting risk maps and predictive tools represent exploitable outputs that can inform early warning systems, public health planning, and targeted surveillance strategies.
Finally, a wide range of tools and communication channels established by ZOE and the sister project RESTOREID are facilitating broad dissemination of project results to research communities, stakeholders, and the public. A major achievement beyond state of the art is the development of the integrative knowledge exchange platform (www.biodiv-health-kep.com). This is further supported by ZOE’s open-science project management infrastructure, which promotes transparency, responsiveness, and scientific excellence from an early stage through multi-tiered governance and the use of OSF.