Presentation 3: Diverse RNA Viruses of Arthropod Origin

Question 1

What were the objectives of this study?

Answer 1

Aimed to explore contribution fo arthropods to bat viral diversity
Study of hammer-headed fruit bats in Republic of Congo
Diverse viruses circulating in blood of fruit bats

Question 2

Explain the hammer-headed fruit bats

Answer 2

Consume figs as primary food source
Obligate relationship between figs and wasps
Bats consume figs containing wasps
Oral exposure of fruit bats to fruit-associated arthropod viruses

Question 3

How are bats related to arthropods?

Answer 3

Close ecological relationships
Predation by insectivorous bats
Exposed to diverse arthropod viruses through ingestion
Transmission facilitated by close proximity to humans and livestocks

Question 4

What methods were used to detect the virus?

Answer 4

Paired end illumina and de-novo assembly

Question 5

What methods were used to characterize the virus?

Answer 5

GenBank BLAST
Relative DInucleotide Frequency
Maximum Likelihood Phylogeny

Question 6

What were the results of this study?

Answer 6

5 novel viruses discovered 
4 of arthropod origin, 1 of vertebrate origin 
Dicistrovirus 
Nodavirus 
Tomba-like virus (2)
Vertebrate: Hepadnavirus