The search for meaning in virus discovery

The rate of new virus discovery is increasing dramatically with improvements in sequencing and other molecular diagnostic platforms, and investments in sample collection and analysis. However, progress has been more limited in identification and implication of infectious agents that pose threats to human health and welfare. Here we review strategies for targeting research to enable efficient significant virus discovery.

► approximately 70% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonoses
► factors in infectious disease emergence include globalization of travel, trade, human encroachment into wildlife habitats
► infectious disease emergence can be modeled
► molecular methods have the potential to reveal the diversity of microflora in the natural world