Overview

• Researchers collected and genomically analyzed over 2,500 fecal samples from black and grey-headed flying foxes at five sites along Australia’s eastern seaboard.
• Viral shedding peaked in juvenile and sub-adult bats between March and July, aligning with weaning and the onset of maturity.
• Six coronaviruses from the nobecovirus subclass were identified, including three newly discovered strains that currently show no known human infectivity.
• High rates of multiple coronavirus infections in young bats create opportunities for viral recombination, a key precursor to emergence of new variants.
• The study proposes a surveillance model targeting seasonal co-infections to predict and mitigate potential spillover risks before they threaten human health.