Bat Immunity: Secrets & Research
- bats, known carriers of viruses like MERS, SARS, Marburg and Nipah, frequently enough show no signs of illness despite hosting these pathogens.
- The team created organoids from respiratory and intestinal tissues of Egyptian fruit bats, natural hosts of the marburg virus.
- Egyptian fruit bats often carry the Marburg virus, which causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans, with a 30-90% mortality rate.
Uncover the secrets of bat immunity and its potential impact on human health! Bats, carriers of dangerous viruses like marburg and SARS, often remain healthy, sparking scientific curiosity. Researchers are studying bat antiviral defenses, using organoids to mimic viral exposure and understand their remarkable viral resistance. This innovative approach could lead to groundbreaking antiviral therapies, including the role of type III interferons in bat immunity. news Directory 3 reports on the crucial role of interferon systems and the potential for new treatments against viral diseases, based on recent research. The findings highlight the complex mechanisms in bat immune systems, paving the way for new approaches to fighting future pandemics. Discover what’s next in the fight against viral threats.
Bats’ Immune Role Holds Clues to Viral Resistance
bats, known carriers of viruses like MERS, SARS, Marburg and Nipah, frequently enough show no signs of illness despite hosting these pathogens. An international team, including Dr. Max Kellner and Prof. Josef Penninger of the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI), explored this resilience.They developed a platform using organoids to study bat antiviral defenses at the cellular level, potentially leading to new therapies against viral diseases.
The team created organoids from respiratory and intestinal tissues of Egyptian fruit bats, natural hosts of the marburg virus. Kellner, who joined HZI in April, said the organoids mimic initial viral exposure, as mucosal surfaces are entry points for viruses. This allows researchers to study virus-host co-evolution.
Egyptian fruit bats often carry the Marburg virus, which causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans, with a 30-90% mortality rate. Currently, no approved treatments or vaccines exist. Working with Prof. Ali Mirazimi’s team at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, researchers infected bat and human airway organoids with the Marburg virus in a high-security lab. Bat organoids showed higher antiviral immune activity, even before infection.
Kellner said experiments showed that epithelial cells from Egyptian fruit bats have a stronger antiviral defense compared to human cells. They also induce innate immune responses to viral infections, especially through the interferon system. Interferons activate antiviral genes, enabling bats to control viral replication early. Human cells are less effective at recognizing the Marburg virus early, allowing it to spread.
Type III interferons are key to the mucosal antiviral immunity of Egyptian fruit bats. Bat organoids produced high levels of these interferons after infection with zoonotic viruses. Experiments and genetic modifications confirmed the antiviral activity of these interferons. Researchers also found a self-amplifying gene regulatory mechanism of type III interferon expression, providing lasting protection.
Penninger said the study suggests bats prevent uncontrolled viral replication through innate immune processes, avoiding viral diseases. Understanding these mechanisms and the evolutionary adaptation of bat immune systems is essential for developing antiviral therapies and fighting future pandemics.
The research team plans to further develop the organoid models and make them available to the scientific community. Penninger emphasized the importance of collaboration to understand the complex mechanisms shaped by evolution in animals like bats, and to develop new approaches for treating viral diseases.
“The results of this study suggest that bats can effectively prevent uncontrolled viral replication through a combination of various innate immune processes,thereby avoiding viral diseases,” Josef Penninger said.
What’s next
researchers aim to refine the organoid models for more detailed studies of bat biology at the genetic and molecular levels, hoping to share the platform with other scientists.