Highly diverse RNA viruses and phage sequences concealed within birds

The world has a high diversity of birds, which can carry various unknown viruses. Advanced sequencing technologies have allowed for an increase in studies on bird-associated viruses. A study surveyed 2,990 birds from nine Chinese provinces and detected potentially novel RNA viruses. The study also identified viral sequences related to plants, fungi, and insects, including previously unknown viruses. The investigation also focused on the novelty, functionality, and classification of the examined phages. These findings provided new insights into bird-associated viruses, but further investigation is needed to understand the interactions among these viruses.