Viral diversity in host reservoirs of the Amazon and Atlantic Forest biomes: analysis of variations and importance of the environment on viral diversity in different biomes

• Grant number: 25/20379-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Gustavo Bentim Góes
• Grantee: Rafaela Aparecida da Silva
• 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

Emerging infectious diseases are mainly zoonotic and caused by RNA viruses. Models indicate that forested areas play a fundamental role not only in maintaining global ecosystems but also as potential sources for the emergence of new diseases. Different biomes and specific regions of Brazil are classified as high-risk areas for the emergence of zoonotic viruses. The Amazon Forest (FA), which accounts for more than half of the world's tropical forest areas, hosts approximately 9% of the global mammalian diversity. At the same time, this environment is considered conducive to the transmission of a wide range of tropical diseases, including those transmitted by vectors and through contact with reservoir animals. The high diversity of mammals is a direct indicator of the diversity of viruses circulating in this region. It is estimated that there are over 23,000 unidentified viruses in the Amazon rainforest, many of which are found in bats (142 species), non-human neotropical primates (100 species), and rodents (93 species), the three most diverse groups of mammalian hosts in the Amazon ecosystem. This diversity reveals the magnitude of the viral reservoir in the biome and the potential risk of transmission to humans. The viral diversity in Amazonian mammal species is still poorly understood. So far, 62 viral species have been described, of which 54 are zoonotic, including rabies, orthohantavirus (such as Laguna Negra), Mayaro, yellow fever, dengue, and Oropouche virus. Few studies have investigated the diversity of emerging agents in bats and rodents inhabiting the Amazon biome. This study aims to assess the diversity of viral groups relevant to public health in wildlife from the Amazon environment, comparing the findings with those from species of the Atlantic Forest. The objective is to understand the ecological dynamics and their influence on the diversity and types of viruses identified, also providing important information on the diversity, evolution, and zoonotic potential of different viral groups. Samples of bats, rodents, and marsupials will be obtained during collaborative expeditions to the Amazon region and analyzed for the presence of RNA from various viral groups, including arboviruses, coronaviruses, paramyxoviruses, among others, using highly sensitive, broad-spectrum assays. Follow-up analyses will include phylogenetic and eco-epidemiological studies to better understand viral evolution and transmission patterns.