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Examination of Host Phenotypes in Gambusia affinis Following Antibiotic Treatment
Published on: February 22, 2017
The Kidney-Associated Microbiome of Wild-Caught Artibeus spp. in Grenada, West Indies
Maria E Ramos-Nino1, Daniel M Fitzpatrick2, Korin M Eckstrom3
1Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, St. George's University, West Indies, Grenada.
Abstract:
Bats are capable of asymptomatically carrying a diverse number of microorganisms, including human pathogens, due to their unique immune system. Because of the close contact between bats and humans, there is a possibility for interspecies transmission and consequential disease outbreaks. Herein, high-throughput sequencing was used to determine the kidney-associated microbiome of a bat species abundant in Grenada, West Indies, Artibeus spp. Results indicate that the kidney of these bats can carry potential human pathogens. An endogenous retrovirus, Desmodus rotundus endogenous retrovirus isolate 824, phylogenetically related to betaretroviruses from rodents and New World primates, was also identified.
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