Traits, phylogeny and host cell receptors predict Ebolavirus host status among African mammals.

ABSTRACT: We explore how animal host traits, phylogenetic identity and cell receptor sequences relate to infection status and mortality from ebolaviruses. We gathered exhaustive databases of mortality from Ebolavirus after exposure and infection status based on PCR and antibody tests. We performed ridge regressions predicting mortality and infection as a function of traits, phylogenetic eigenvectors and separately host receptor sequences. We found that mortality from Ebolavirus had a strong association to life history characteristics and phylogeny. In contrast, infection status related not just to life history and phylogeny, but also to fruit consumption which suggests that geographic overlap of frugivorous mammals can lead to spread of virus in the wild. Niemann Pick C1 (NPC1) receptor sequences pr

SUBMITTER: Sundaram M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9815631 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature