Researchers from the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor are conducting a large-scale study on
presence of coronaviruses (Coronaviridae) in flyingmice living in different regions of the Russian Federation: in Moscow and the Moscow region, in some areas of the Central Black Earth region and the Southern Federal District (Voronezh and Volgograd regions, the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory). Rospotrebnadzor message
Experts will find out how often they are found in volatilemice coronaviruses, and establish the degree of relationship of diseases with previously known. Scientists will also analyze how animals move around Russia, and thus trace the possible routes and risks of the spread of coronaviruses in the country.
According to Rospotrebnadzor, experts have alreadycollected a large collection of biological samples from bats living in the Moscow region, Voronezh and Volgograd regions, as well as on the Black Sea coast. In addition, the agency plans to analyze more than 500 individuals using high-throughput sequencing and obtain data on the complete sequential genomes of coronaviruses found in the samples.
After sampling, the animals are released. In total, the experts plan to collect materials for analysis from more than 1.5 thousand individuals and "using the method of high-throughput sequencing to obtain information on the complete sequences of the genomes of coronaviruses identified in these samples."
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