Infectome analysis of small mammals in Southern China reveals pathogen ecology and emerging risks.

ABSTRACT: Small mammals harbor a diverse array of potentially zoonotic pathogens. To date, however, metagenomic surveys of these species have primarily focused on viruses, with limited attention directed to bacterial and eukaryotic pathogens. Additionally, the ecological determinants of pathogen diversity within these mammals have not been systematically examined. Herein, we employed a metatranscriptomics approach to survey the pathogen infectome-defined as the set of microorganisms infecting the host-across 2408 individual samples, representing lung, spleen, and gut from 858 animals in Guangdong province, China, considering the impact of host species, tissue, season, and geographic location on pathogen diversity. We identified 76 potential pathogen species, comprising 29 RNA viruses, 12 DNA viruses

SUBMITTER: Xin G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12722744 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature