Abstract
Rattus norvegicus (R. norvegicus) are ubiquitous around areas populated by human and are known vectors of pathogens to humans. Therefore the surveillance of R. norvegicus is important if we want to understand which pathogens they spread. Metagenomics and second-generation sequencing are paving the way for increasing rates of pathogen discovery and identification, thereby enabling faster containment of wildlife vectors. In this thesis, I have used metagenomics to assess the virome and resistome of the wild urban R. norvegicus. Many new potential viruses are discovered through virome analyses; including the first known R. norvegicus associated polyomavirus, a novel papillomavirus, several circular ssDNA viruses and some cardioviruses. The resistome analyses on these samples reveals many shared as well as location-specific antibiotic resistance genes, but there is a clear selection for vancomycin resistance in the samples from a hospital environment.
The work presented in this thesis characterizes some of the pathogens carried around by a small but ubiquitous creature. With this work, we emphasize the need for a frequent screening of animals like rats that are in contact with us so that we react to the emerging health threats more quickly and efficiently.
The work presented in this thesis characterizes some of the pathogens carried around by a small but ubiquitous creature. With this work, we emphasize the need for a frequent screening of animals like rats that are in contact with us so that we react to the emerging health threats more quickly and efficiently.
| Original language | English |
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| Publisher | Natural Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen |
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| Number of pages | 124 |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 |