New World Bats Harbor Diverse Influenza A Viruses

Aquatic birds harbor diverse influenza A viruses and are a major viral reservoir in nature. The recent discovery of influenza viruses of a new H17N10 subtype in Central American fruit bats suggests that other New World species may similarly carry divergent influenza viruses. Using consensus degenerate RT-PCR, we identified a novel influenza A virus, designated as H18N11, in a flat-faced fruit bat (Artibeus planirostris) from Peru. Serologic studies with the recombinant H18 protein indicated that several Peruvian bat species were infected by this virus. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrate that, in some gene segments, New World bats harbor more influenza virus genetic diversity than all other mammalian and avian…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: AC02-06CH11357, Y1-GM-1104, Y1-CO-1020, DE-AC02, 06CH11357, DE-AC02-06CH11357, DE-AC02-
• EU
  Emory University
• MD
  Ministerio de Salud
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: P41RR001209, Y1-GM-1104, Y1-CO-1020, GM080533, GM098791, DE-AC02-06CH11357
• CF
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• OO
  Office of Science

  Awards: DE-AC02-06CH11357, Y1-GM-1104, DE-AC02, W-31-109-Eng-38, 06CH11357, Y1-CO-1020, AC02-06CH11357
• NC
  National Cancer Institute

  Awards: Y1-CO-1020, DE-AC02-06CH11357, Y1-GM-1104
• NI
  National Institute of General Medical Sciences

  Awards: GM080533, GM062116, Y1-GM-1104, DE-AC02-06CH11357, Y1-CO-1020, GM098791
• NC
  National Center for Research Resources

  Awards: Y1-CO-1020, Y1-GM-1104, P41RR001209
• BE
  Basic Energy Sciences

  Awards: DE-AC02, Y1-GM-1104, W-31-109-Eng-38, Y1-CO-1020, AC02-06CH11357, 06CH11357
• BA
  Biological and Environmental Research

  Awards: DE-AC02-06CH11357, Y1-CO-1020, Y1-GM-1104, P41RR001209