PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Michelle Wille
AU  - Mang Shi
AU  - Aeron C. Hurt
AU  - Marcel Klaassen
AU  - Edward C. Holmes
TI  - Host age shapes virome abundance and diversity in birds
AID  - 10.1101/2020.08.23.263103
DP  - 2020 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2020.08.23.263103
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/08/23/2020.08.23.263103.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/08/23/2020.08.23.263103.full
AB  - Host age influences the ecology of many microorganisms. This is evident in one-host – one virus systems, such as influenza A virus in Mallards, but also in community studies of parasites and microbiomes. We used a meta-transcriptomic approach to assess whether host age is associated with differences in the abundance and diversity of avian viromes. We used samples from cohabiting Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) across three age groups, collected at two contrasting points in their annual migratory cycle. Overall, we identified 14 viruses that likely infect birds, 11 of which were novel, including members of the Reoviridae, Astroviridae, Picornaviridae, and Phenuiviridae. Strikingly, 12 of the viruses identified were from juvenile birds sampled in the first year of their life, compared to only two viruses in adult birds. Similarly, both viral abundance and alpha diversity were higher in juvenile than adult birds. Notably, time of sampling had no association with virome structure such that the migratory period may not play a major role in structuring avian viromes. As well as informing studies of virus ecology, that host age impacts viral assemblages is a critical consideration for the future surveillance of novel and emerging viruses.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.