Bat cave solves mystery of deadly SARS virus — and suggests new outbreak could occur
Chinese scientists find all the genetic building blocks of SARS in a single population of horseshoe bats.
David Cyranoski
Researchers analysed strains of SARS virus circulating in horseshoe bats, such as this one (Rhinolophus sinicus), in a cave in Yunnan province, China.Credit: Libiao Zhang/Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resource
After a detective hunt across China, researchers chasing the origin of the deadly SARS virus have finally found their smoking gun. In a remote cave in Yunnan province, virologists have identified a single population of horseshoe bats that harbours virus strains with all the genetic building blocks of the one that jumped to humans in 2002, killing almost 800 people around the world.
The killer strain could easily have arisen from such a bat population, the researchers report in PLoS Pathogens1 on 30 November. They warn that the ingredients are in place for a similar disease to emerge again.
In late 2002, cases of a mystery pneumonia-like illness began occurring in Guangdong province, southeastern China. The disease, dubbed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), triggered a global emergency as it spread around the world in 2003, infecting thousands of people.
Scientists identified the culprit as a strain of coronavirus and found genetically similar viruses in masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) sold in Guangdong’s animal markets. Later surveys revealed large numbers of SARS- related coronaviruses circulating in China’s horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus)2 — suggesting that the deadly strain probably originated in the bats, and later passed through civets before reaching humans. But crucial genes — for a protein that allows the virus to latch onto and infect cells — were different in the human and known bat versions of the virus, leaving room for doubt about this hypothesis.
Bat hunt
To clinch the case, a team led by Shi Zheng-Li and Cui Jie of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China sampled thousands of horseshoe bats in locations across the country3. “The most challenging work is to locate the caves, which usually are in remote areas,” says Cui. After finding a particular cave in Yunnan, southwestern China, in which the strains of coronavirus looked similar to human versions4,5, the researchers spent five years monitoring the bats that lived there, collecting fresh guano and taking anal swabs1.
Inside the Chinese lab poised to study world's most dangerous pathogens They sequenced the genomes of 15 viral strains from the bats and found that, taken together, the strains contain all the genetic pieces that make up the human version. Although no single bat had the exact strain of SARS coronavirus that is found in humans, the analysis showed that the strains mix often. The human strain could have emerged from such mixing, says Kwok- Yung Yuen, a virologist at the University of Hong Kong who co-discovered the SARS virus: “The authors should be congratulated for confirming what has been suspected.”
But Changchun Tu, a virologist who directs the OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabies in Changchun, China, says the results are only “99%” persuasive. He would like to see scientists demonstrate in the lab that the human SARS strain can jump from bats to another animal, such as a civet. "If this could have been done, the evidence would be perfect,” he says.
Travel trouble
Another outstanding question is how a virus from bats in Yunnan could travel to animals and humans around 1,000 kilometres away in Guangdong, without causing any suspected cases in Yunnan itself. That “has puzzled me a long time”, says Tu.
Cui and Shi are searching for other bat populations that could have produced strains capable of infecting humans. The researchers have now isolated some 300 bat coronavirus sequences, most not yet published, with which they will continue to monitor the virus’s evolution.
And they warn that a deadly outbreak could emerge again: the cave where the elements of SARS were found is just 1 kilometre from the nearest village, and genetic mixing among the viral strains is fast. “The risk of spillover into people and emergence of a disease similar to SARS is possible,” the authors write in their paper.
Although many markets selling animals in China have already been closed or restricted following outbreaks of SARS and other infectious diseases, Yuen agrees that the latest results suggest the risk is still present. “It reinforces the notion that we should not disturb wildlife habitats and never put wild animals into markets,” says Yuen. Respecting nature, he argues, “is the way to stay away from the harm of emerging infections”.
"To clinch the case, a team led by Shi Zheng-Li and Cui Jie of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China sampled thousands of horseshoe bats in locations across the country."
【 在 NYCGOPDEM (NYCGOPDEM) 的大作中提到: 】 : 这是重点，武汉， 武汉， 还是武汉！ : "To clinch the case, a team led by Shi Zheng-Li and Cui Jie of the Wuhan : Institute of Virology in China sampled thousands of horseshoe bats in : locations across the country."
【 在 NYCGOPDEM (NYCGOPDEM) 的大作中提到: 】 : 这是重点，武汉， 武汉， 还是武汉！ : "To clinch the case, a team led by Shi Zheng-Li and Cui Jie of the Wuhan : Institute of Virology in China sampled thousands of horseshoe bats in : locations across the country."
至于病毒肿么从蝙蝠传到果子狸的，不得而知。
尽管无单个蝙蝠包含与人类SARS冠状病毒一模一样的毒株，但是分析表明这些毒株频繁重组。联合发现SARS病毒的香港大学病毒学家袁国勇表示，人类毒株可能来自这种重组。
ref:
Nature|doi:10.1038/d41586-017-07766-9
蝙蝠说它也是被传染。它是冤枉的。
【 在 qiing (契旲) 的大作中提到: 】
: 至于病毒肿么从蝙蝠传到果子狸的，不得而知。
: 尽管无单个蝙蝠包含与人类SARS冠状病毒一模一样的毒株，但是分析表明这些毒株频繁
: 重组。联合发现SARS病毒的香港大学病毒学家袁国勇表示，人类毒株可能来自这种重组。
: ref:
: Nature|doi:10.1038/d41586-017-07766-9
他们对来自这些蝙蝠的15株毒株进行基因组序列分析，发现它们共同包含构成人类版病毒的所有基因组组分。尽管无单个蝙蝠包含与人类SARS冠状病毒一模一样的毒株，但是分析表明这些毒株频繁重组。联合发现SARS病毒的香港大学病毒学家袁国勇表示，人类毒株可能来自这种重组，“作者证实了之前的怀疑，值得祝贺。”
他们观测了5年。
单个蝙蝠无SRAS全部，但是群体包含了 SARS病毒的所有基因。
所以，肯定不是人传染的蝙蝠，是蝙蝠传染的人。
【 在 niuheliang (别问我是谁) 的大作中提到: 】
: 蝙蝠说它也是被传染。它是冤枉的。
: 组。
云南距离广东很远好伐。为啥SARS不在云南爆发。
蝙蝠百毒不死。所以才拿它研究。可以作为环境样本。
蝙蝠身上的各种病毒，也是从环境中染上的。
【 在 qiing (契旲) 的大作中提到: 】
: 他们对来自这些蝙蝠的15株毒株进行基因组序列分析，发现它们共同包含构成人类版病
: 毒的所有基因组组分。尽管无单个蝙蝠包含与人类SARS冠状病毒一模一样的毒株，但是
: 分析表明这些毒株频繁重组。联合发现SARS病毒的香港大学病毒学家袁国勇表示，人类
: 毒株可能来自这种重组，“作者证实了之前的怀疑，值得祝贺。”
: 他们观测了5年。
: 单个蝙蝠无SRAS全部，但是群体包含了 SARS病毒的所有基因。
: 所以，肯定不是人传染的蝙蝠，是蝙蝠传染的人。
Bat cave solves mystery of deadly SARS virus — and suggests new outbreak
could occur
Chinese scientists find all the genetic building blocks of SARS in a single population of horseshoe bats.
David Cyranoski
Researchers analysed strains of SARS virus circulating in horseshoe bats,
such as this one (Rhinolophus sinicus), in a cave in Yunnan province, China.Credit: Libiao Zhang/Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resource
After a detective hunt across China, researchers chasing the origin of the
deadly SARS virus have finally found their smoking gun. In a remote cave in Yunnan province, virologists have identified a single population of
horseshoe bats that harbours virus strains with all the genetic building
blocks of the one that jumped to humans in 2002, killing almost 800 people
around the world.
The killer strain could easily have arisen from such a bat population, the
researchers report in PLoS Pathogens1 on 30 November. They warn that the
ingredients are in place for a similar disease to emerge again.
In late 2002, cases of a mystery pneumonia-like illness began occurring in
Guangdong province, southeastern China. The disease, dubbed severe acute
respiratory syndrome (SARS), triggered a global emergency as it spread
around the world in 2003, infecting thousands of people.
Scientists identified the culprit as a strain of coronavirus and found
genetically similar viruses in masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) sold in
Guangdong’s animal markets. Later surveys revealed large numbers of SARS-
related coronaviruses circulating in China’s horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus)2 — suggesting that the deadly strain probably originated in the bats, and
later passed through civets before reaching humans. But crucial genes — for a protein that allows the virus to latch onto and infect cells — were
different in the human and known bat versions of the virus, leaving room for doubt about this hypothesis.
Bat hunt
To clinch the case, a team led by Shi Zheng-Li and Cui Jie of the Wuhan
Institute of Virology in China sampled thousands of horseshoe bats in
locations across the country3. “The most challenging work is to locate the caves, which usually are in remote areas,” says Cui. After finding a
particular cave in Yunnan, southwestern China, in which the strains of
coronavirus looked similar to human versions4,5, the researchers spent five years monitoring the bats that lived there, collecting fresh guano and
taking anal swabs1.
Inside the Chinese lab poised to study world's most dangerous pathogens
They sequenced the genomes of 15 viral strains from the bats and found that, taken together, the strains contain all the genetic pieces that make up the human version. Although no single bat had the exact strain of SARS
coronavirus that is found in humans, the analysis showed that the strains
mix often. The human strain could have emerged from such mixing, says Kwok-
Yung Yuen, a virologist at the University of Hong Kong who co-discovered the SARS virus: “The authors should be congratulated for confirming what has
been suspected.”
But Changchun Tu, a virologist who directs the OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabies in Changchun, China, says the results are only “99%” persuasive. He would like to see scientists demonstrate in the lab that the human SARS
strain can jump from bats to another animal, such as a civet. "If this could have been done, the evidence would be perfect,” he says.
Travel trouble
Another outstanding question is how a virus from bats in Yunnan could travel to animals and humans around 1,000 kilometres away in Guangdong,
without causing any suspected cases in Yunnan itself. That “has puzzled me a long time”, says Tu.
Cui and Shi are searching for other bat populations that could have produced strains capable of infecting humans. The researchers have now
isolated some 300 bat coronavirus sequences, most not yet published, with
which they will continue to monitor the virus’s evolution.
And they warn that a deadly outbreak could emerge again: the cave where the elements of SARS were found is just 1 kilometre from the nearest village,
and genetic mixing among the viral strains is fast. “The risk of spillover into people and emergence of a disease similar to SARS is possible,” the
authors write in their paper.
Although many markets selling animals in China have already been closed or
restricted following outbreaks of SARS and other infectious diseases, Yuen
agrees that the latest results suggest the risk is still present. “It
reinforces the notion that we should not disturb wildlife habitats and never put wild animals into markets,” says Yuen. Respecting nature, he argues,
“is the way to stay away from the harm of emerging infections”.
Nature 552, 15-16 (2017)
doi: 10.1038/d41586-017-07766-9
关键的，蝙蝠和人之间，有一个中间体（果子狸）。
果子狸有可能是从云南（甚至是越南）运进广东的。
存在一个从越南往中国广东走私野生动物食材的走私网络。
（这个你可以google得到信息，我就不多说了）
【 在 niuheliang (别问我是谁) 的大作中提到: 】
: 云南距离广东很远好伐。为啥SARS不在云南爆发。
: 蝙蝠百毒不死。所以才拿它研究。可以作为环境样本。
: 蝙蝠身上的各种病毒，也是从环境中染上的。
运送的没得，杀的人没得，厨师没得，吃的人得了？
【 在 qiing (契旲) 的大作中提到: 】
: 关键的，蝙蝠和人之间，有一个中间体（果子狸）。
: 果子狸有可能是从云南（甚至是越南）运进广东的。
: 存在一个从越南往中国广东走私野生动物食材的走私网络。
: （这个你可以google得到信息，我就不多说了）
当然有这种可能。
【 在 DEHEI (的黑) 的大作中提到: 】
: 运送的没得，杀的人没得，厨师没得，吃的人得了？
为哈必须经过果子狸？
果子狸是病源有定论？
【 在 qiing (契旲) 的大作中提到: 】
: 至于病毒肿么从蝙蝠传到果子狸的，不得而知。
: 尽管无单个蝙蝠包含与人类SARS冠状病毒一模一样的毒株，但是分析表明这些毒株频繁
: 重组。联合发现SARS病毒的香港大学病毒学家袁国勇表示，人类毒株可能来自这种重组。
: ref:
: Nature|doi:10.1038/d41586-017-07766-9
蝙蝠身上的不能直接传人。缺个adapter。
【 在 microfish (<。 ≦="" 的大作中提到:="" 】="">: 为哈必须经过果子狸？
: 果子狸是病源有定论？
: 组。
2003年和这次的病毒，天然宿主都是中华菊花蝠，但是有个中间宿主媒介。
病毒有基因重组。
2003年SRS的中间宿主媒介是果子狸。果子狸感染了也会生病。
这次（2019/2020）是竹鼠、蛇或者獾，甚至可能是某个生吃了蝙蝠的人。
中东呼吸综合征病毒的天然宿主是埃及墓蝠，通过骆驼传染人。
类似于埃博拉病毒的马尔堡病毒，宿主是埃及果蝠。
奥 我没看文章 谢谢
【 在 niuheliang(别问我是谁) 的大作中提到: 】
: 蝙蝠身上的不能直接传人。缺个adapter。
穴居蝙蝠的主要天敌主要有蛇类，蜥蜴等；树栖型（一些果蝠）的天敌还有一些猛禽和猫科动物。
而广东人吃蛇、吃蜥蜴，吃猛禽、吃猫。
广东是全国野生动物消费大省，但并非野生动物资源大省。获取的信息显示，广东市场上的野生动物中，巨蜥、穿山甲主要来自越南、缅甸，后经广西、云南流入广东；兽类一般从湖南、湖北、西北进入；鹰类来自于甘肃、宁夏、青海等地；其他鸟类来自江浙沿海；蛇则主要来自云南和湖南。
目前，中国已经成为了最大的鳄鱼消费国，保守估计，每年至少有10万条鳄鱼被吃掉。广东人吃的大部分鳄鱼从越南非法走私而来，先通过中越边境运往广西，再运至广东。活体鳄鱼过境的普遍方式是雇当地人捆着鳄鱼的嘴，每人背一尾鳄鱼，花一天时间走过边境。
“吃光自己的，再吃别人的”。以穿山甲为例，在黑市里已找不到国内猎捕的。在进入食客口腹之前，走私是必经的渠道。“中国自己的野生动物吃得差不多了，就从缅甸、柬埔寨、老挝和越南走私，进入我国的广西和云南，然后流入十几个省份,甚至北京和
上海市场上也有来自越南非法贸易的野生动物，但大部分流入经济发达的广东省以及香港、澳门。”
一个统计显示：中国与东南亚边境每天有2至30吨的野生动物活体运入中国，其中龟鳖
类占贸易总量的60%以上，爬行动物约占总贸易量的88%。越南是世界上物种最丰富的国家之一，起码以单位面积计，越南的物种丰富程度极高。不过现在的野生动物更多是来自东南亚国家，越南本身的角色是东南亚国家进入中国的一个主要环节。西贡附近一个叫鹦鹉嘴的地方距离金边很近，被认为是老挝与越南的一个走私中转站。从陆路上，越南几乎是东南亚国家进入中国的惟一中转站，泰国和菲律宾的水果进入中国就要在越南中转。
越南与中国陆海相交，从广西凭祥下到越南就有很多通道，铁路、公路也都方便。这样的地理条件顺理成章地形成了几条野生动物的走私通道。泰国、老挝、柬埔寨、缅甸等国的野生动物通过飞机或汽车运到河内或同登，从同登再进入中国弄尧海关；另一路线是把野生动物从越南的同登、河内、海防等地运到芒街，再由芒街进入中国的东兴。
观测了5年，除了蝙蝠，还观测其他哪些动物？
【 在 qiing (契旲) 的大作中提到: 】
: 他们对来自这些蝙蝠的15株毒株进行基因组序列分析，发现它们共同包含构成人类版病
: 毒的所有基因组组分。尽管无单个蝙蝠包含与人类SARS冠状病毒一模一样的毒株，但是
: 分析表明这些毒株频繁重组。联合发现SARS病毒的香港大学病毒学家袁国勇表示，人类
: 毒株可能来自这种重组，“作者证实了之前的怀疑，值得祝贺。”
: 他们观测了5年。
: 单个蝙蝠无SRAS全部，但是群体包含了 SARS病毒的所有基因。
: 所以，肯定不是人传染的蝙蝠，是蝙蝠传染的人。
觉得果子狸肯定被重点关怀过，只是后来被排除了。
【 在 I23 (嘿嘿) 的大作中提到: 】
: 观测了5年，除了蝙蝠，还观测其他哪些动物？
这是重点，武汉， 武汉， 还是武汉！
"To clinch the case, a team led by Shi Zheng-Li and Cui Jie of the Wuhan
Institute of Virology in China sampled thousands of horseshoe bats in
locations across the country."
【 在 qiing (契旲) 的大作中提到: 】
: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-017-07766-9
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
【 在 NYCGOPDEM (NYCGOPDEM) 的大作中提到: 】
: 这是重点，武汉， 武汉， 还是武汉！
: "To clinch the case, a team led by Shi Zheng-Li and Cui Jie of the Wuhan
: Institute of Virology in China sampled thousands of horseshoe bats in
: locations across the country."
研究所在江夏区，武昌以南，都不在武汉三镇之内。
不要瞎想了。
如果是病毒所合成的这次病毒，不小心泄露，发病区应该以江夏和武昌为中心，就不是汉口了。
【 在 NYCGOPDEM (NYCGOPDEM) 的大作中提到: 】
: 这是重点，武汉， 武汉， 还是武汉！
: "To clinch the case, a team led by Shi Zheng-Li and Cui Jie of the Wuhan
: Institute of Virology in China sampled thousands of horseshoe bats in
: locations across the country."