Bats are often pointed to first as the carriers of viruses that eventually spread into the human population. Scientists have now unravelled some of the mystery around how bats are carriers but don’t succumb to the viruses like humans.
The researchers studied the genetic sequences of six bat species as part of their study. They hope this will help find out how bats carry the virus and don’t get sick, which could then be used to help humans protect themselves from future pandemics.
Bats can carry viruses but not get sick.
The team of scientists are part of the Bat1K project which aims to decode the genomes of all 1,421 living bat species.
The bat species investigated were: the greater horseshoe bat, the Egyptian fruit bat, the pale spear-nosed bat, the greater mouse-eared bat, the Kuhl’s pipistrelle and the velvety free-tailed bat.
According to Science Daily, one key finding from this new paper shows how the changes in a family of genes, APOBEC3, which plays a role in immunity, could help better understand the animals incredible power to avoid infection.
The team compared the bat genomes against 42 other mammals to figure out where bats are situated in the mammalian tree of life. They found evidence that they are most closely related to the Fereuungulata group which includes carnivorans (for example dogs, cats and seals, among other species), pangolins, whales and ungulates (hooved mammals).
As part of these comparisons they looked for genomes that have evolved in bats to identify where there unique traits stem from.
‘It is thanks to a series of sophisticated statistical analyses that we have started to uncover the genetics behind bats’ ‘superpowers,’ including their strong apparent abilities to tolerate and overcome RNA viruses,’ said Liliana M. Dávalos, a Stony Brook University evolutionary biologist and co-author.
The researchers hope that by uncovering these genetic abilities, they will be able to prepare humans for future virus pandemics and avoid the current devastating effects being seen worldwide.
Image credit: @joelsartore/Twitter
