canping-huang-phd-novel-virus-discovery-in-bat-isn-translation

lab of Nan Shan Zhong); The bats in the mine were dissected, and bat feces were tested, and
no abnormality was found (Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences);
Blood sample examination of four cases showed: four people carried SARS virus IgG
antibody. Among them, the two discharged patients had higher antibody levels, whereas
two hospitalized patients had lower antibody levels (Wuhan Institute of Virology). Half a
year later, the Jin Qi lab went to the same cave to collect samples from bats and wild rats
and tested for pathogens. They obtained a whole genome sequence of a Henipa-like virus
from a wild rat sample [99] . However, a correlation between this virus and the outbreak is
not proven. Therefore, despite the effort and time put into investigation to date, the cause
of the outbreak remains unknown.
In October 2014, we collected 87 bats and 1 wild rat from this cave. After dissection, we
examined various organ tissues. Two of the samples were coronavirus positive, with
similarity to BatCoV HKU7 and BatCoV HKU8. According to current knowledge, these two
viruses are not contagious to humans [65,100] . According to the reviewed literature, their
receptors are not the common SARS-CoV ACE2 or MERS-CoV CD26 receptors, but may be
APN (Aminopeptidase N). Two other samples were bocavirus positive. Bocavirus was first
identified in samples from children with severe pneumonia. Meanwhile, nine samples
tested astrovirus positive. Astrovirus is a common pathogen of the digestive system.
Currently, there is no evidence linking astroviruses to pneumonia or other respiratory
diseases. Therefore, the relationship between the viruses found and the outbreak needs
further investigation.
In our laboratory, rapid pathogen diagnosis is still preliminary and needs further
development. Currently, we have designed 10 universal primers for only 10 families or
genera. We need to design and test more universal primers in the future. Hopefully, they
can identify additional viruses and will be useful during future outbreaks.
The outbreak in the abandoned mining cave in Mojiang is notable. Before the outbreak,
many people went into this cave, yet there were no disease outbreaks. It is a reminder of
the need to conduct year long or long term monitoring of certain specific ecological
environments in order to understand the change and evolution of pathogens in specific
environments or animal species, and the potential for cross-species transmission these
changes may cause.
83
A partial translation into English of the PhD thesis: “Novel Virus Discovery in Bat and the Exploration of
Receptor of Bat Coronavirus HKU9” by Canping Huang, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,
2016. Translation completed for Independent Science News in March 2021.