SIMBA - Spillover, surveillance, monitoring and zoonotic potential analysis of Influenza A virus in Migratory birds, Bats and other mAmmals

• Grant number: 24/10801-5
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Angélica Cristine Góes de Almeida Campos
• Grantee: Angélica Cristine Góes de Almeida Campos
• Host Institution: Institut Pasteur de São Paulo (IPSP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Felipe Fornazari ; Jan Felix Drexler

Abstract

Several viruses have concerned our society in recent decades because of their potential to emerge suddenly and silently, originating from virus transmission between wild animals, domesticated animals, and humans and significantly impacting human populations. The influenza virus is responsible for an enormous number of human infection disease cases worldwide and was the etiologic agent of the most significant pandemic in the 20th Century. Currently, the cases of high pathogenic avian Influenza virus H5 (HPAIV) in birds (penguins and pelicans) and aquatic mammals such as sea lions and dolphins have increased the concern regarding a new influenza pandemic, leading to the intensification of influenza virus surveillance once the panzootic event (2020-2023) are considered the most important and biggest than previous waves. We aim to analyze in-depth the potential zoonotic risk associated with influenza viruses maintained by mammals and birds from distinct American countries with focus in bats. Over the past two years, the number of HPAIV H5Nx cases in wild birds and aquatic mammals has increased, which has raised concern about the possibility of a pandemic. The migratory birds are recognized as the natural reservoir of Influenza A viruses, and the migratory routes increase the risk of virus spreading throughout the world while Bats are described as ancient mammals, first reported 50 million years ago, and highly diversified, representing nearly ¼ of all mammal species with more than 1400 species. This project is the first step to implementing a new research line on Institut Pasteur of São Paulo (IP-SP), contributing to the advancement of knowledge about potential emergent Influenza and their epidemiology in distinct animal hosts and opening new perspectives to understand the transmission and evolution patterns of Influenza A virus subtypes. Samples from our study will be collected abroad in Brazil and other countries in collaboration with partners in French Guyane and Mexico. The main laboratory tests will be performed at Institut Pasteur of São Paulo howsoever our partners in Germany, Hong Kong, Guyanne, Switzerland and Mexico are open to receive students for technology transference and practice time for new laboratory techniques. (AU)