Why bats carry dangerous viruses without ever getting sick
In short: Most mammals possess a single set of genes to produce antibodies, but bats have broken the rule. This unique genetic arrangement allows them to tolerate viruses that would be lethal to us, offering a profound new window into the evolution of the mammalian immune system.
For decades, biologists have been puzzled by how bats manage to host viruses capable of causing severe disease in humans while rarely suffering from serious illness themselves. While their reputation for carrying nasty diseases is well-earned, research suggests the cause is not a failure of their biology, but rather a highly specialized evolutionary advantage. This unique immune strategy may explain why bats have become such an evolutionarily successful group of animals. Rather than being a biological flaw, this trait represents a sophisticated adaptation. Such a specialized immune strategy likely contributes to their immense evolutionary success.
A study involving researchers from Tulane University, Stanford University, and the CDC has identified a groundbreaking mechanism in vesper bats. This group, which includes more than 500 species found on every continent except Antarctica, possesses two separate sets of genes for producing antibodies. These Y-shaped proteins, composed of two heavy and two light protein chains, are essential for the adaptive immune system to identify and fight infections.
In every other known mammal, including humans, the heavy chains of these antibodies are produced using only a single set of genes. However, the discovery of two distinct heavy-chain gene systems in vesper bats suggests they can create a much wider variety of antibodies. This finding shifts scientific focus from the innate immune system toward the adaptive immune system, providing a vital piece of the puzzle regarding how different animals respond to disease and how mammalian immunity can be organized.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Why Bats Carry Deadly Diseases
- Also: Bats carry dangerous viruses without getting sick. This may be why
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