Drivers and distribution of henipavirus-induced syncytia: what do we know?

Syncytium formation, i.e., cell–cell fusion resulting in the formation of multinucleated cells, is a hallmark of infection by paramyxoviruses and other pathogenic viruses. This natural mechanism has historically been a diagnostic marker for paramyxovirus infection in vivo and is now widely used for the study of virus-induced membrane fusion in vitro. However, the role of syncytium formation in within-host dissemination and pathogenicity of viruses remains poorly understood. The diversity of henipaviruses and their wide host range and tissue tropism make them particularly appropriate models with which to characterize the drivers of syncytium formation and the implications for virus fitness and pathogenicity. Based on the henipavirus literature, we summarized current knowledge on the mechanisms driving syncytium formation, mostly acquired from in vitro studies, and on the in vivo distribution of syncytia. While these data suggest that syncytium formation widely occurs across henipaviruses, hosts, and tissues, we identified important data gaps that undermined our understanding of the role of syncytium formation in virus pathogenesis. Based on these observations, we propose solutions of varying complexity to fill these data gaps, from better practices in data archiving and publication for in vivo studies, to experimental approaches in vitro

Overcoming Ostrea edulis seed production limitations to meet ecosystem restoration demands in the UN decade on restoration

The European flat oyster, Ostrea edulis, is a habitat-forming bivalve which was historically widespread throughout Europe. Following its decline due to overfishing, pollution, sedimentation, invasive species, and disease, O. edulis and its beds are now listed as a threatened and/or declining species and habitat by OSPAR. Increasing recognition of the plight of the oyster, alongside rapidly developing restoration techniques and growing interest in marine restoration, has resulted in a recent and rapid growth in habitat restoration efforts. O. edulis seed supply is currently a major bottleneck in scaling up habitat restoration efforts in Europe. O. edulis has been cultured for centuries, however, research into its culture declined following the introduction of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas to Europe in the early 1970 s. Recent efforts to renew both hatchery and pond production of O. edulis seed for habitat restoration purposes are hampered by restoration project timelines and funding typically being short, or projects not planning appropriately for the timescales required for investment, research-and-development and delivery of oyster seed by commercial producers. Furthermore, funding for restoration is intermittent, making long-term commitments between producers and restoration practitioners difficult. Long-term, strategic investment in research and production are needed to overcome these bottlenecks and meet current ambitious restoration targets across Europe

Author Correction: Ecology, evolution and spillover of coronaviruses from bats.

In the past two decades, three coronaviruses with ancestral origins in bats have emerged and caused widespread outbreaks in humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since the first SARS epidemic in 2002–2003, the appreciation of bats as key hosts of zoonotic coronaviruses has advanced rapidly. More than 4,000 coronavirus sequences from 14 bat families have been identified, yet the true diversity of bat coronaviruses is probably much greater. Given that bats are the likely evolutionary source for several human coronaviruses, including strains that cause mild upper respiratory tract disease, their role in historic and future pandemics requires ongoing investigation. We review and integrate information on bat–coronavirus interactions at the molecular, tissue, host and population levels. We identify critical gaps in knowledge of bat coronaviruses, which relate to spillover and pandemic risk, including the pathways to zoonotic spillover, the infection dynamics within bat reservoir hosts, the role of prior adaptation in intermediate hosts for zoonotic transmission and the viral genotypes or traits that predict zoonotic capacity and pandemic potential. Filling these knowledge gaps may help prevent the next pandemic

European Native Oyster Habitat Restoration Monitoring Handbook

In this, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, it is recognised that restoring the function and productivity of our planets ecosystems is critical and must be scaled up as quickly as possible. Oyster reefs and beds have historically been a critical ecosystem in the world’s bays, estuaries and shallow seas. The filter feeding of oysters collects the material and nutrients suspended in the water and makes them available to fuel the biodiversity these habitats are known for, provide fish for our fisheries, and mitigate the nutrient pollution that creates marine dead zones. The structure provided by oyster habitats also helps stabilise sediments, moderate wave energy and support a vast number of reef associated species. Despite their importance, oyster reefs and beds are also the world’s most impacted marine ecosystem; native oysters and the habitat they create have been virtually destroyed in most regions of the world. The valuable benefits provided by oyster habitats have driven a huge interest in their restoration. In a young and rapidly growing field such as oyster habitat restoration it is critical that the restoration community can compare techniques and assess both success and failures to progress and scale the work. This requires monitoring and gathering data that are sufficiently similar to allow comparison. However, no two sites are identical, and local conditions demand constant adaptation. It is both challenging and critical to describe monitoring protocols and metrics that provide the flexibility to accommodate the vastly different conditions faced by restoration projects, from the intertidal zones of estuaries to the deep, high energy areas of the North Sea. This manual builds on earlier work and provides valuable guidelines tailored to the European context. We look forward to these guidelines being applied to help scale the critical work of restoring the oyster reefs of Europe.Dans le cadre de la Décennie des Nations unies pour la restauration des écosystèmes, il est reconnu que la restauration de la fonction et de la productivité des écosystèmes de notre planète est essentielle et doit être intensifiée le plus rapidement possible. Les récifs et les bancs d'huîtres ont toujours été un écosystème essentiel dans les baies, les estuaires et les mers peu profondes du monde. L'alimentation par filtration des huîtres permet de collecter les matières et les nutriments en suspension dans l'eau et de les rendre disponibles pour alimenter la biodiversité qui fait la réputation de ces habitats, fournir des poissons à nos pêcheries et atténuer la pollution par les nutriments qui crée des zones mortes marines. La structure fournie par les récifs huîtiers permet également de stabiliser les sédiments, de modérer l'énergie des vagues et d'accueillir un grand nombre d'espèces associées aux récifs. Malgré leur importance, les récifs et les bancs d'huîtres sont également l'écosystème marin le plus touché au monde ; les huîtres indigènes et l'habitat qu'elles créent ont été pratiquement détruits dans la plupart des régions du monde. Les avantages précieux fournis par les habitats des huîtres ont suscité un énorme intérêt pour leur restauration. Dans un domaine jeune et en pleine expansion que constitue la restauration des récifs d'huîtres, il est essentiel que la communauté de la restauration puisse comparer les techniques et évaluer les succès et les échecs afin de progresser et d'étendre le travail. Pour cela, il faut surveiller et recueillir des données suffisamment similaires pour permettre la comparaison. Cependant, il n'existe pas deux sites identiques, et les conditions locales exigent une adaptation constante. Il est à la fois difficile et essentiel de décrire des protocoles de suivi et des mesures qui offrent la flexibilité nécessaire pour s'adapter aux conditions très différentes auxquelles sont confrontés les projets de restauration, des zones intertidales des estuaires aux zones profondes à haute énergie de la mer du Nord. Ce manuel s'appuie sur des travaux antérieurs et fournit des directives précieuses adaptées au contexte européen. Nous attendons avec impatience que ces directives soient appliquées afin de contribuer au travail critique de restauration des récifs d'huîtres en Europe

SARS-CoV-2: Cross-scale Insights from Ecology and Evolution.

Ecological and evolutionary processes govern the fitness, propagation, and interactions of organisms through space and time, and viruses are no exception. While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) research has primarily emphasized virological, clinical, and epidemiological perspectives, crucial aspects of the pandemic are fundamentally ecological or evolutionary. Here, we highlight five conceptual domains of ecology and evolution - invasion, consumer-resource interactions, spatial ecology, diversity, and adaptation - that illuminate (sometimes unexpectedly) the emergence and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We describe the applications of these concepts across levels of biological organization and spatial scales, including within individual hosts, host populations, and multispecies communities. Together, these perspectives illustrate the integrative power of ecological and evolutionary ideas and highlight the benefits of interdisciplinary thinking for understanding emerging viruses

SARS-CoV-2: Cross-scale Insights from Ecology and Evolution.

Ecological and evolutionary processes govern the fitness, propagation, and interactions of organisms through space and time, and viruses are no exception. While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) research has primarily emphasized virological, clinical, and epidemiological perspectives, crucial aspects of the pandemic are fundamentally ecological or evolutionary. Here, we highlight five conceptual domains of ecology and evolution - invasion, consumer-resource interactions, spatial ecology, diversity, and adaptation - that illuminate (sometimes unexpectedly) the emergence and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We describe the applications of these concepts across levels of biological organization and spatial scales, including within individual hosts, host populations, and multispecies communities. Together, these perspectives illustrate the integrative power of ecological and evolutionary ideas and highlight the benefits of interdisciplinary thinking for understanding emerging viruses