We report complete and partial genome sequences of rat hepatitis E virus (RHEV, Rocahepevirus ratti), from archived brown rats captured in Helsinki, Finland. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the presence of the pathogenic RHEV genotype C1 in the Helsinki region. Finnish strains clustered together with strains from South Korea and Spain. However, the polytomous topology of phylogenetic trees and the large genetic distances between spatially distinct strains suggest that RHEV has remained inadequately sampled on a global scale. Further surveillance of rocahepeviruses is needed to assess their threat to public health and to understand their diversity and evolutionary patterns.

This paper presents a multidisciplinary research project which invited young people to critically re-estimate what is environment and nature, and for whom, in the urbanising world. We describe a se...

Mensen kunnen vreedzaam samenleven met ratten, betoogt ecoloog Tuomas Aivelo. ‘We geven gemengde signalen af.’

The end of an era.

Plants are essential for life on Earth, yet their importance is often underappreciated. Urban flora are often dismissed as weeds, for example. One sol…

Journalist Anne Salomäki unpacks the human-centric approach when covering animal farming in the media.

Addressing biodiversity loss requires both policy reforms and active public engagement. Media coverage plays a critical role in shaping societal aware…

Usein suhtaudumme kaupunkeihin ihmisten tilana, johon muut eläimet tunkeutuvat. Rotat ovat eritysen epähaluttuja naapureita. Mutta voimmeko oppia elämään niiden kanssa? Voimmeko neuvotella rottien kan...

Olen rakentanut uuden kotini autiosta nurmikkopihasta pientä monimuotoisuuden keidasta. Sellaista, johon kaikki lajit ovat tervetulleita. Vai ovatko sittenkään? Vesimyyrä sai puutarhurin hyppäämään ta...