From Diversity to Disease: Viral Ecology, Evolution and Persistence in Bats. Bats are a source of diverse viruses that can be fatal in humans, yet we know little about how this diversity is maintained

Description

From Diversity to Disease: Viral Ecology, Evolution and Persistence in Bats. Bats are a source of diverse viruses that can be fatal in humans, yet we know little about how this diversity is maintained. This project aims to determine how ecological stress and immune strategies in colonial-living bats generate diverse viral communities. We will use phylodynamic and community ecology approaches to construct a novel framework explaining how these ecological and immune factors facilitate transmission of new viruses to humans. Our ecological framework will help shift the paradigm of pandemic prevention research from single viruses to real-world viral communities. This will provide benefits through targeted pathogen surveillance, enhanced global pandemic prevention strategies and stronger One Health capacity in Australia.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3103 - Ecology. Lead: Dr Alison Peel