Unique coronavirus strain evolved with different species of bats, according to an international study

　　April 27 (Xinhua) -- An international research team published a paper in the online edition of Scientific Reports on April 23, saying that their analysis of 36 species of bats in the western Indian Ocean region carried coronavirus escloser found that different species of bats have their own unique coronavirus strains, indicating that bats and coronaviruses have evolved together for millions of years all animals live with the virus, bats are considered the natural host of coronaviruses These viruses are harmless to bats, but if they are transmitted between species, they can pose a risk to other animals Studying the genetic relationship between different types of coronaviruses and their hosts could help scientists better understand how viruses are transferred from animals to humans, leading to more scientific and rational public health plans in the new study, , the team took blood samples from 1,013 bats that lived on several islands in the western Indian Ocean region, representing 36 different species, and found that more than 8 percent of bats carried coronaviruses They genetically analyzed these coronaviruses and compared them with coronaviruses from other animals, and found that in most bat families, each family with coronaviruses had its own unique strain, and the evolutionary history of different bat groups showed that there was a strong coexistence between these bats and their associated coronaviruses, and that the signs of co-evolution were strong In addition, the researchers found that in rare cases, different types of bats living in the same habitat would have the same coronavirus In other words, the spread of coronavirus estovirus between different species of bats is also relatively rare researchers say understanding how different coronaviruses evolved is key to preventing future outbreaks of coronaviruses, and that bats, as natural hosts of coronaviruses, are the focus of epidemiological research, but they oppose harming or extinguishing bats in the name of public health because there is ample evidence that bats are important to the entire ecosystem and that their benefits to humans outweigh any potential negative effects (Reporter Liu Haiying)