José Luis García MÉNDEZ

Mr. José Luis García MÉNDEZ


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

4Years (2023-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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26 March 2023 in Viruses
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Christian José SanchezChristian José Sanchez
Christian José Sanchez
ADAna Domenech
Ana Domenech
EGEsperanza Gomez-Lucia
Esperanza Gomez-Lucia
JMJosé Luis García MÉNDEZ
José Luis García MÉNDEZ
JOJuan Carlos Ortiz
Juan Carlos Ortiz
LBLarua Benitez
Larua Benitez
The introduction of invasive birds into new ecosystems frequently has negative consequences for the resident populations. Accordingly, the increasing population of monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) in Europe may pose a threat because we have little knowledge of the viruses they can transmit to native naïve species. In this study, we describe a new dependoparvovirus detected by metagenomic analysis of cloacal samples from 28 apparently healthy individuals captured in urban areas of Madrid, Spain. The genomic characterization revealed that the genome encoded the NS and VP proteins typical of parvoviruses and was flanked by inverted terminal repeats. No recombination signal was detected. The phylogenetic analysis showed that it was closely related to a parvovirus isolated in a wild psittacid in China. Both viruses share 80% Rep protein sequence identity and only 64% with other dependoparvoviruses identified in Passeriformes, Anseriformes, and Piciformes and are included in a highly supported clade, which could be considered a new species. The prevalence was very low, and none of the additional 73 individuals tested positive by PCR. These results highlight the importance of exploring the viral genome in invasive species to prevent the emergence of novel viral pathogenic species.