Detailseite
Projekt
Prozesse und Mechanismen der Zunahme und Diversifizierung von Viren im Wildtierreservoir: Integration von Wirts- und Virusmerkmalen in Landschaften unterschiedlicher anthropogener Störung
Antragstellerinnen / Antragsteller
Professor Dr. Christian Drosten; Professorin Dr. Sandra Junglen; Professor Dr. Gerald Kerth; Professorin Dr. Simone Sommer; Professor Dr. Marco Tschapka
Fachliche Zuordnung
Virologie
Förderung
Förderung von 2013 bis 2021
Projektkennung
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 226351195
Very little is known about fundamental ecological mechanisms driving virus emergence from wildlife reservoirs. To understand those mechanisms underlying the very early stages of viral epidemics we have to change our perspective on viral host systems. By re-defining the whole complexity of the viral host (also including vectors) as the viral habitat, we may enable a new approach of host systems research by following current concepts from ecology. Empirical and simulation approaches in habitat systems converge on the concept of the so-called dilution effect. According to this model, a decrease in host diversity appears to lead to an increase in the prevalence of pathogens and vice versa. Exact mechanisms driving the pathogen-related dilution effect remain unknown. We propose an interdisciplinary, comprehensive study to identify ecological, behavioural and genetic (in particular, immunogenetic) factors potentially determining the dilution effect. We will study bat and terrestrial small mammal populations, as well as potential viral vectors, in three habitat types that differ in the degree of anthropogenic disturbance. The study site is situated in a neotropical rainforest area (Barro Colorado Island, Panama) where we have access to proper research infrastructure and pre-existing knowledge of the composition of habitat and fauna, including pilot data on the existence of several well-suited virus models that can be accessed by non-invasive sampling. Our central working hypothesis is that the dilution effect may fundamentally alter virus population dynamics, which in turn will influence the apparent evolutionary dynamics of viral populations. Increased evolutionary capacity of viruses may facilitate viral infection of closely related other species, ultimately leading to parapatric viral speciation and the crossing the host barriers.
DFG-Verfahren
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