Topic: Biology
Scientists at Tulane University discovered that bats have a special way of carrying viruses without getting sick. They found that bats have two sets of genes that help them fight infections, which is different from other mammals.
Scientists have long been curious about how bats can carry viruses that cause serious diseases without getting ill themselves. Researchers at Tulane University worked with colleagues at Stanford University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to find part of the answer.
A study published in Science Advances found that the world's largest family of bats, called vesper bats, has two distinct copies of genes involved in producing antibodies. These special proteins help our immune system identify and fight infections. Every other known mammal has only one set of these genes.
The discovery was made by studying vesper bats, which include over 500 species living on every continent except Antarctica. Scientists have been interested in why these bats are so successful at evolving and adapting to their environments. The new finding may provide part of the explanation.
Antibodies are Y-shaped proteins built from two heavy protein chains and two light protein chains. In humans and other mammals, the heavy chains are produced using a single set of genes. But vesper bats have two separate heavy-chain gene systems, which could give them another way to create a wider variety of antibodies.
The researchers think that this discovery is an important piece of the puzzle in understanding why bats can live alongside viruses without getting sick. It reveals a level of immune variety that was not known before and gives scientists a new direction to explore.
Why It Matters
Understanding how bats carry viruses without getting sick could help us learn more about our own immune systems and develop better strategies for reducing the risk of disease spillover in India, where many people live in close proximity to animals that can carry diseases.
Key Facts
- Scientists at Tulane University discovered that bats have two sets of genes that help them fight infections.
- Vesper bats, which include over 500 species, are the largest family of bats and live on every continent except Antarctica.
- Bats play important ecological roles as pollinators, seed dispersers, and natural pest controllers in India.
- The new finding may provide part of the explanation for why bats are so successful at evolving and adapting to their environments.
- Understanding how bats carry viruses without getting sick could help us develop better strategies for reducing the risk of disease spillover.
Key Terms
- Antibodies
- Special proteins that help our immune system identify and fight infections.
Implications
Understanding how bats carry viruses without getting sick could help us learn more about our own immune systems and develop better strategies for reducing the risk of disease spillover in India, where many people live in close proximity to animals that can carry diseases.
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