Viral metagenomic analysis of fecal samples from <i>Bos grunniens</i> on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau reveals novel picornaviruses and diverse CRESS-DNA viruses.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), one of the most extreme environments on Earth, provides a unique natural setting for exploring viral diversity and evolution under conditions of high altitude, hypoxia, and intense ultraviolet radiation. The yak (Bos grunniens), a key endemic ruminant species of the QTP, plays an essential ecological and economic role, yet its fecal virome remains poorly characterized.

Methods

In this study, we analyzed 43 yak fecal samples collected from Yushu, Qinghai Province, and constructed nine metagenomic libraries to investigate the composition, diversity, and phylogenetic characteristics of the yak fecal virome.

Results

Metagenomic sequencing generated approximately 463 million raw reads, of which 2.87 million were classifi

SUBMITTER: Chen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12819777 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature