Neotropical bats as potential reservoirs of Hantavirus and Arenavirus: an evolutionary and eco-epidemiological analysis.

• Grant number: 25/04353-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Gustavo Bentim Góes
• Grantee: Henrique Alves Calasans Baeza
• Host Institution: Institut Pasteur de São Paulo (IPSP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/13054-0 - Epidemiological, evolutionary and ecological spillover-risk assessment of bat viruses from Atlantic Forest Hotspot, AP.JP

Abstract

Due to their biological, ecological and behavioral characteristics, bats are important reservoirs and vectors of zoonotic diseases. Recently, new Hantaviruses and Arenaviruses, known as hemorrhagic disease agents and transmitted by rodents, have been identified in bats in Asia and the Americas, including Brazil. The zoonotic potential of these agents, their biological, ecological and evolutionary characteristics, is still poorly understood, mainly due to the scarcity of data on neotropical bats. The aim of this study is to investigate the circulation of these viruses in bat populations in the Atlantic Forest, biome under epidemiological surveillance attention due to intense anthropogenic action. Through active and passive surveillance, tissues and swabs will be used to analyze the presence of RNA from these two viral families, employing sensitive and comprehensive molecular methods to detect Hantavirus and Arenavirus in bats from different landscapes of the Atlantic Forest. Products amplified in RT-PCR reactions will be sequenced, followed by phylogenetic analysis to classify the viruses identified. Isolation assays in cell culture will be carried out depending on the preliminary taxonomic classification. Finally, eco-epidemiological data will be analyzed using statistical methods. This study's findings will enhance our understanding of Hantaviruses and Arenaviruses present in Neotropical bats. By shedding light on their evolution, eco-epidemiology, and potential for emergence, the results may improve the development of effective epidemiological surveillance strategies and preventive measures aimed at reducing the impact of these viruses on public health.