BRIN and Australia Track Dangerous Viruses in Wildlife at North Sulawesi Traditional Markets

The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and Australia’s disease research agency, the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) from CSIRO, are strengthening collaboration to map viruses from wildlife traded in North Sulawesi. The partnership focuses on viruses with potential to jump to humans and trigger new pandemics.

Last year’s collaboration has been reinforced through a Collaborative Research Agreement under the Australia government-supported WIViREIDS (Wildlife Interface Viromic Regional Emerging Infectious Disease Surveillance) project.

Research targets genetic mapping of viruses found in bats, rats, and birds traded in traditional markets, particularly those from the Coronaviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, and Paramyxoviridae families.

BRIN’s Head of the Life and Environment Research Organisation, Andes Hamuraby Rozak, said North Sulawesi was chosen due to high human-animal interaction intensity, making it a potential hotspot for zoonotic transmission.

“The collaboration with Australia’s ACDP-CSIRO through WIViREIDS is a progressive step for BRIN to transfer knowledge, align with global research standards, and actively contribute to regional health security stability,” Andes said on Monday (1 June).

Entering its second year, BRIN and CSIRO researchers recently completed laboratory protocol validation from 13 to 17 May 2026 in Bogor, using next-generation sequencing technology to more accurately map virus risks. The validation was conducted at BRIN’s BSL3 facility to ensure all extraction and sequencing procedures are safe.

BRIN’s Centre for Applied Microbiology Research Head, Ahmad Fathoni, explained that viromic characterisation at wildlife trade points is critical given the high human-animal interaction there.

The project also adopts a One Health approach, involving Sam Ratulangi University, North Sulawesi’s BKSDA (Natural Resources Conservation Agency), and several veterinary centres. Mapping results will enrich scientific specimens at Bogoriense Zoological Museum.

Activity Lead Sugiyono Saputra stressed that this long-term collaboration is part of Indonesia’s transformation towards science-based, proactive pandemic prevention strategies.

“The strengthening of this long-term international collaboration not only elevates BRIN’s position in global research networks but also demonstrates Indonesia’s tangible shift towards science-based, proactive, and measurable pandemic prevention strategies,” he concluded. (H-2)