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In today's interview, we speak with Pauline Van Leeuwen, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Liège, about her work on microbiome profiling within BCOMING. Pauline’s research focuses on understanding how microbial communities in wildlife, particularly bats and rodents, influence disease emergence. She shares insights into her analysis of microbiome diversity, the significance of studying Rhinolophus bats, and the potential implications of her findings for biodiversity, public health, and environmental policies. Join us as we explore the critical role of microbiomes in shaping disease dynamics.

In our latest interview with Professor Rodolphe (Rudy) Gozlan, Director of Research and Professor in Conservation Ecology at the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), he shared with us some fascinating insights about IRD's work in the BCOMING project. The conversation centred on how their work is helping to identify the links between biodiversity and disease risk, with a particular focus on Cambodia, as well as other regions such as Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Guadeloupe.

In a recent discussion with Alex Smajgl and John Ward from MERFI, partners in BCOMING, we explored the complexities of addressing zoonotic risks through a participatory and integrated approach. Their roles focus on fostering dialogue between scientists and a diverse array of stakeholders. This dialogue involves not only sharing scientific findings but also listening to community concerns and integrating them into a broader understanding of zoonotic disease transmission.

One Health has emerged as a critical and interdisciplinary concept, bringing together doctors, veterinarians, social scientists, and experts in ecology, biogeography, and climatology to address health challenges in an integrated manner. However, despite the novelty and breadth of this approach, certain gaps remain to be explored.

Within the frame of BCOMING, iDE (International Development Enterprises) is working hard in examining the socio-economic risk factors that drive zoonotic disease transmission, particularly in biodiversity hotspots, including Cambodia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Guadeloupe. Their work, as explained by iDE, focuses on how human activities—such as hunting, trading, and consuming wildlife—create pathways for pathogens to cross from animals to humans, a process known as "spillover."

BCOMING officially started over two years ago, with a mission to protect our planet’s biodiversity and prevent future pandemics. As we surpass the halfway mark of the project, we wanted to take the opportunity to sit down with our partners and reflect on what has been accomplished so far, discuss its significance, and the next steps ahead.

We had the chance to have a chat with Dr. Tiffany Jedrecka, who leads the R&D team at NatureMetrics, to discuss their innovative work on biodiversity assessments and the development of rapid in-field detection tools.

Salmonella spp. in Bats, Rodents, and Dogs in the Nan Region, Thailand.

By Dr. Alix NICOLAS, Veterinarian, as part of her final internship at the University of Liège, Belgium, in partnership with Kasetsart University, Thailand, for the Spillover Interface Project

This Saturday, October 12th, we celebrate World Migratory Bird Day. This year’s theme, “Protect Insects, Protect Birds,” is the perfect example of how species and ecosystems are interconnected and depend on each other to thrive.

This September, Fauna & Flora and BCOMING took on a very special campaign: The Cambodia Takeover series, bringing attention to the vital work that is being carried out in the country. Every Thursday, we’ve explored different facets of Cambodia’s unique biodiversity, highlighting Fauna & Flora’s work while fostering a deeper understanding of the country’s natural heritage. Through this collaboration, we wanted to show the incredible work being done by Fauna & Flora and how it ties into the broader goals of the BCOMING project. 

The BCOMING project aims to conduct a thorough evaluation of biodiversity across various anthropogenic gradients and scales. In Cambodia, the scientific team is focusing on the bat interface as a key component, not only to assess zoonotic risk but also to understand broader ecological dynamics. Among the features being evaluated are the communities of bats' ectoparasites, which play important roles in bats’ ecosystem health and disease transmission dynamics between them. Bats harbor a diverse array of ectoparasites, including fleas, flies, ticks, and mites for examples, and are an integral part to the intricate relationships between them, their hosts, and the environment. Despite being often overlooked, these ectoparasites appear to be essential ecological components and can serve as indicators of ecosystem health. While poorly understood, these ectoparasites, through occasional changes of host, could facilitate the transmission of infectious diseases within bat colonies. Two families, Streblidae and Nycteribiidae, stand out for their unique adaptations and behaviors within the bat ecosystem.

As part of the BCOMING project in Guinea, CERFIG organised a field mission from 12th to 27th January 2024, for capturing rodents and sampling bats in the Samyankhouré cave, Madina-Oula sub-prefecture.

Mammals, a vital component of terrestrial ecosystems, are facing drastic declines due to anthropogenic changes in landscapes. With many species secluded in protected areas and facing extreme conservation status, there is a growing need for rapid, cost-effective, and noninvasive methods to monitor their populations. Within BCOMING, it is important that we use the most accurate techniques to establish biodiversity assessment as it is a core component in our research on pathogen circulation. Our team at Université de Liège in Belgium, consisting of Dr Pauline van Leeuwen and Prof. Johan Michaux, delves into the scientific literature for non-invasive methods to detect mammalian species in the field. They published the first scientific article supported by the BCOMING consortium. This study compares conventional survey methods and the emerging environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding technique for mammal biodiversity assessment.

In the heart of Southeast Asia lies Cambodia, a country teeming with biodiversity that has long captivated the imaginations of scientists and conservationists alike. Nestled within this rich tapestry of ecosystems, a dedicated research team from Université de Liège embarks on an exciting journey to unravel the mysteries of Cambodia's wildlife microbiome at the human-animal interface. Our team at Université de Liège in Belgium, consisting of Dr Pauline van Leeuwen and Prof. Johan Michaux, is leading the microbiome component of the BCOMING project. We aim to improve our knowledge of the influence of biodiversity and on microbiomes structure and zoonotic risks.