星状病毒的生态和进化

Astrovirus (Astroviridae) is a positive single stranded RNA virus family that can infect humans and a wide variety of vertebrates and cause diseases ranging from gastroenteritis to fatal hepatitis, encephalitis and others. Little was known about its host distribution, prevalence, genetic diversity, population genetics, ecology and evolution. Our previous work has identified hundred of novel variants or species of Astrovirus from human, poultry, livestock and wild animals. Quasispecies phenomenon, mixed infection events between different species/genera or viral families have been frequently observed within these viruses. Intra-gene recombination and interspecies transmission between avian and mammal hosts are also detected, which has never been reported or well-defined. In this study, we propose to use whole genomic sequencing and Next Generation deep sequencing to systematically decode the full-length genomes of the highly diverge astroviruses from different hosts under various environmental niche, to understand their prevalence and distribution in ecology, and to gain insights into their population genetics and evolutionary behavior. Knowledge obtained from this research would not only help to improve our understanding of the astrovirus per se, but also provide solid evidence and scientific basis for the control of related diseases. Moreover, it may also shed light on the understanding of the most fundamental and universal theories about virus evolution and origin of species.

星状病毒是一类可以感染人类和多种脊椎动物，并引起宿主胃肠炎等多种严重疾病的正链RNA病毒。有关星状病毒在自然界不同宿主中的分布和遗传多样性、人与其他动物星状病毒之间的生态和进化关系，以及星状病毒的群体遗传学和进化规律等方面，目前还缺乏系统研究。我们的前期工作已经在人类、家禽、家畜、野生动物中发现了数百种以前从未报道过的新型星状病毒，并且它们中广泛存在着准种、混合感染（包括种间及科属间的多重混合感染）、远源跨物种传播、基因内重组等现象。本研究拟利用前期建立的星状病毒全基因测序和高通量深度测序平台，系统解码星状病毒的遗传特性和群体行为，以期深入了解上述现象背后的生物学意义和星状病毒进化、传播的分子机制。本项目的开展，不仅可以从进化、生态学、流行病学方面加深对星状病毒本身的了解，为相关的疾病防控提供科学依据，更有可能揭示RNA病毒和生命起源进化中一些最基本的共有规律。

星状病毒是一类可以感染人类和多种脊椎动物，并引起宿主胃肠炎、致死性肝炎、脑炎等多种严重疾病的正链RNA病毒。有关星状病毒在自然界不同宿主中的分布和遗传多样性、人与其他动物星状病毒之间的生态和进化关系，以及星状病毒的群体遗传学和进化规律等方面，目前还缺乏系统研究。本研究在腹泻及非腹泻人群、多种不同家禽畜及野生动物中进行了广泛的星状病毒检测及测序，发现了数百种以前从未报道过的新型星状病毒，并且它们中广泛存在着准种、混合感染（包括种间及科属间的多重混合感染）、远源跨物种传播、基因内重组等现象。本项目的开展，不仅可以从进化、生态学、流行病学方面加深对星状病毒本身的了解，为相关的疾病防控提供科学依据，而且对目前星状病毒的分类和命名系统提出了挑战和质疑。