Echoes in the Deep: Revealing Influenza A Viruses’ Persistence and Microbial Associations in Aquatic Ecosystems

IF 3 2区农林科学 Q2 INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Transboundary and Emerging Diseases Pub Date : 2025-10-01 DOI:10.1155/tbed/5586400

Weijie Chen, Pengfei Yang, Jingjing Hu, Xinyu Liu, Chenyan Jiang, Huanyu Wu, Yuxi Wang, Qingli Yan, Shuiping Lu, Jiasheng Xiong, Xiaoyan Huang, Yue Pan, Fang He, Qi Chen, Siru Hu, Mingquan Chen, Chenglong Xiong

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are significant pathogens with complex transmission dynamics in aquatic ecosystems, yet their persistence, evolutionary relationships, and associations with environmental microorganisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the phylogenetic characteristics and ecological associations of IAV in freshwater and seawater ecosystems in Eastern China to inform public health strategies.

Methods

Water samples were collected from three freshwater lakes and a coastal seawater site. Viral particles were concentrated, and nucleic acids were extracted for metatranscriptomic and metagenomic sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses, population dynamics assessments, and microbial association networks were constructed using bioinformatic tools. Statistical tests, including Tajima’s D and Fu and Li’s tests, were applied to evaluate evolutionary trends.

Results

IAV fragments in seawater showed high homology with recent human H3N2 strains from North America (2021–2024), while freshwater-derived fragments aligned with historical avian strains from Asia. Microbial association networks revealed significant associations between IAV and environmental bacteria (e.g., Brevundimonas aurantiaca) and fungi (e.g., Thamnidium), implying potential ecological associations that may underpin viral persistence. Freshwater environments with higher abundances of Uroviricota exhibited more frequent IAV detection. PERMANOVA confirmed distinct overall microbial community compositions in IAV-positive versus IAV-negative samples across both freshwater and seawater ecosystems (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Aquatic ecosystems, particularly freshwater habitats, may serve as reservoirs for IAV persistence and evolution, driven by complex microbial associations. Regional disparities in viral strain origins highlight the role of migratory waterfowl and environmental transmission routes. Integrated surveillance of aquatic IAV dynamics is critical to anticipate zoonotic risks and mitigate future outbreaks.

Abstract Image

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深海回声：揭示甲型流感病毒在水生生态系统中的持久性和微生物关联

甲型流感病毒（iav）是水生生态系统中具有复杂传播动力学的重要病原体，但其持久性、进化关系以及与环境微生物的关联仍知之甚少。本研究旨在阐明IAV在中国东部淡水和海水生态系统中的系统发育特征和生态关联，为公共卫生策略提供依据。方法采集3个淡水湖和1个沿海海水点的水样。浓缩病毒颗粒，提取核酸进行超转录组和宏基因组测序。利用生物信息学工具构建了系统发育分析、种群动态评估和微生物关联网络。统计测试，包括田岛的D和傅和李的测试，被用于评估进化趋势。结果海水中的IAV片段与近期北美洲（2021-2024）人类H3N2病毒株具有高度同源性，而淡水来源的IAV片段与亚洲历史上的禽流感病毒株具有高度同源性。微生物关联网络揭示了IAV与环境细菌（如aurantiaca Brevundimonas）和真菌（如Thamnidium）之间的显著关联，这意味着潜在的生态关联可能支持病毒的持久性。淡水环境中尿viricota的丰度越高，IAV检测频率越高。PERMANOVA证实，在淡水和海水生态系统中，iav阳性和iav阴性样本的总体微生物群落组成不同（p < 0.05）。结论水生生态系统，特别是淡水生境，可能是IAV在复杂的微生物关系驱动下持续和进化的水库。病毒株起源的区域差异突出了迁徙水禽和环境传播途径的作用。对水生病毒动态的综合监测对于预测人畜共患病风险和减轻未来疫情至关重要。

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来源期刊

Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 农林科学-传染病学

CiteScore

8.90

自引率

9.30%

发文量

350

审稿时长

1 months

期刊介绍： Transboundary and Emerging Diseases brings together in one place the latest research on infectious diseases considered to hold the greatest economic threat to animals and humans worldwide. The journal provides a venue for global research on their diagnosis, prevention and management, and for papers on public health, pathogenesis, epidemiology, statistical modeling, diagnostics, biosecurity issues, genomics, vaccine development and rapid communication of new outbreaks. Papers should include timely research approaches using state-of-the-art technologies. The editors encourage papers adopting a science-based approach on socio-economic and environmental factors influencing the management of the bio-security threat posed by these diseases, including risk analysis and disease spread modeling. Preference will be given to communications focusing on novel science-based approaches to controlling transboundary and emerging diseases. The following topics are generally considered out-of-scope, but decisions are made on a case-by-case basis (for example, studies on cryptic wildlife populations, and those on potential species extinctions): Pathogen discovery: a common pathogen newly recognised in a specific country, or a new pathogen or genetic sequence for which there is little context about — or insights regarding — its emergence or spread. Prevalence estimation surveys and risk factor studies based on survey (rather than longitudinal) methodology, except when such studies are unique. Surveys of knowledge, attitudes and practices are within scope. Diagnostic test development if not accompanied by robust sensitivity and specificity estimation from field studies. Studies focused only on laboratory methods in which relevance to disease emergence and spread is not obvious or can not be inferred (“pure research” type studies). Narrative literature reviews which do not generate new knowledge. Systematic and scoping reviews, and meta-analyses are within scope.