ZOVER 2.0: a virome-based platform for zoonotic and vector-borne viruses

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Genomics
• Public Health

Background:

• Emerging zoonotic and vector-borne viruses present a global health threat.
• Effective virome surveillance requires understanding viral and host diversity in wildlife reservoirs and vectors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To upgrade the ZOVER database with expanded metagenomic data for comprehensive virome profiling.
• To provide a standardized platform for virus discovery, ecological interpretation, and surveillance of interspecies transmission.

Main Methods:

• Incorporated 5883 curated metagenomic next-generation sequencing libraries from 72 projects over 12 years.
• Utilized a standardized analysis pipeline for taxonomic annotation and viral abundance estimation.
• Normalized sequencing reads for consistent profiling across diverse datasets.

Main Results:

• Expanded virome diversity by assigning reads to 110 recognized viral families across bats, rodents, mosquitoes, and ticks.
• Enabled visualization and comparative analyses of virome composition across taxa, regions, and time.
• Integrated genomic and metagenomic knowledge for robust virus discovery.

Conclusions:

• ZOVER 2.0 offers a powerful resource for monitoring emerging infectious diseases.
• Facilitates One Health-oriented surveillance by understanding viral ecology and transmission risks.