Does the structure and connectivity of host populations influence the dynamics and evolution of their pathogens? This topical question is the essence of research investigating the ecology of a Pteropus fruit bat and its zoonotic Nipah virus (NiV) published by Olival et al. in this issue of Molecular Ecology. Questioned less overtly, but nonetheless implicit to the study, is "what are the mechanisms underpinning intraspecific host-pathogen congruence (IHPC) of genetic structure?". Olival et al. investigated the phylogeographical structure of Pteropus medius and NiV isolates across Bangladesh, from areas inside and outside of the Nipah belt-an area where most human spillover events occur. A high degree of host panmixia was discovered, with some population differentiation east of the Nipah belt. NiV genetic structure was congruent with the host. The authors attributed the panmixia and structuring, respectively, to (a) the highly vagile nature of P. medius, and (b) possible differences between bioregions within and outside the Nipah belt. Other potential explanatory mechanisms were acknowledged, including hybridization and transmission mode. This study makes a valuable contribution to a growing body of literature examining IHPC. This has implications not only for pathogen spillover to humans and domestic animals, but more generally for thinking about the mechanisms that underlie patterns of host and pathogen genetic associations.

中文翻译：

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病原体动态何时可能反映宿主种群的遗传结构？

寄主种群的结构和连通性是否会影响其病原体的动态和进化？这个话题性问题是由Olival等人发表的研究翼龙果蝠及其人畜共患的尼帕病毒（NiV）的生态学研究的实质。在本期《分子生态学》中。对此提出的疑问较少，但对本研究而言却是隐含的，“遗传结构的种内宿主-病原体一致性（IHPC）的基础是什么机制？”。Olival等。研究了孟加拉国尼帕河带内外（大多数人发生外溢事件的地区）的地中海蕨和尼古丁分离株的植物地理结构。在尼帕河带以东发现了高度寄主的混血症，并有一些种群分化。NiV的遗传结构与宿主一致。这组作者分别将泛滥症和结构归因于（a）冥想疟原虫的高度易变性，以及（b）尼帕河带内外的生物区域之间可能存在差异。公认的其他潜在解释机制包括杂交和传输模式。这项研究为研究IHPC的文学不断发展做出了宝贵的贡献。这不仅对病原体向人和家畜的溢出具有影响，而且更普遍地涉及对宿主和病原体遗传关联模式背后的机制的思考。公认的其他潜在解释机制包括杂交和传输模式。这项研究为研究IHPC的文学不断发展做出了宝贵的贡献。这不仅对病原体向人和家畜的溢出具有影响，而且更普遍地涉及对宿主和病原体遗传关联模式背后的机制的思考。公认的其他潜在解释机制包括杂交和传输模式。这项研究为研究IHPC的文学不断发展做出了宝贵的贡献。这不仅对病原体向人和家畜的溢出具有影响，而且更普遍地涉及对宿主和病原体遗传关联模式背后的机制的思考。