title: Interspecies transmission and emergence of novel viruses: lessons from bats and birds.
abstract: As exemplified by coronaviruses and influenza viruses, bats and birds are natural reservoirs for providing viral genes during evolution of new virus species and viruses for interspecies transmission. These warm-blooded vertebrates display high species biodiversity, roosting and migratory behavior, and a unique adaptive immune system, which are favorable characteristics for asymptomatic shedding, dissemination, and mixing of different viruses for the generation of novel mutant, recombinant, or reassortant RNA viruses. The increased intrusion of humans into wildlife habitats and overcrowding of different wildlife species in wet markets and farms have also facilitated the interspecies transmission between different animal species.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Carol Yu Centre for Infection, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Jasper Fuk-Woo
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Kelvin Kai-Wang
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: To
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: Dong-Yan
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Kwok-Yung
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Yuen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology; D017934:Coronavirus / Q000254:growth & development; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000821:virology*; D004199:Disease Vectors; D006801:Humans; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000254:growth & development; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology
keywords: RNA virus; coronavirus; emerging infectious disease; influenza; virus evolution