"Small Furry Animals Show Cross-Species Virus Transmission"

A research study led by multiple institutions in China has identified 669 viruses, including 534 novel viruses, in small furry animals such as bats, rodents, and shrews. The study provides evidence of cross-species virus transmission, indicating that these viruses can move between different animal species, potentially including humans. The identification of previously unknown coronaviruses and orthorubulaviruses expands our knowledge of the mammalian virome. The study also reveals insights into the evolution of viruses and highlights the role of host traits in shaping virome composition and virus transmission. Shrews were found to harbor the most viruses, while bats had the highest richness overall.