Amidst associations of Coronavirus to bats, a research has found that bats have very strong immunity against pathogens that prevents the latter from killing them. The breeding ground of deadly viruses, bats also live in an environment that becomes a host to virulent pathogens that when transferred to beings with low immunity turn out to be fatal.
Crux of the Matter
Zoonotic Bats A study on bats hosting zoonotic virus without experiencing the disease themselves was published. Zoonotic virus or disease means a virus or disease that can be transferred from animals to humans. It said that bats are natural reservoirs for viruses with the highest fatality rates – including rabies, Ebola and the SARS coronavirus. This is because they have antiviral defenses to keep the amount of virus in check. Some have an antiviral immune response called the interferon pathway perpetually switched on. A hyper-vigilant immune response such as this causes harmful inflammation. However, bats have adapted anti-inflammatory traits including the loss of certain genes that normally promote inflammation.
How Do They Do It? The study found that bat cell lines demonstrated enhanced interferon (IFN) mediated immune response in constitutive or induced form. This leads to rapid within-host, cell-to-cell virus transmission rate. Antiviral state induced by IFN pathway protects live cells from mortality. Viruses evolved in bat reservoirs possessing enhanced IFN capabilities have rapid within-host transmission rates without causing pathology to their hosts. Such rapidly-reproducing viruses have extreme virulence upon spillover to hosts (generally humans) lacking similar immune capacities to bats.
What Does Bat Woman Say? Shi Zhengli is popularly called China’s Bat Woman for her extensive work on bats and viruses in them. She was the Deputy Director of Wuhan Institute of Virology. She said that such viruses are just ‘tip of the iceberg’ and expressed regret over the politicization of science.
If we want to protect humans from viruses or avoid a second outbreak of new infectious diseases, we must go in advance to learn of these unknown viruses carried by wild animals in nature and then give early warnings. Shi Zhengli, Former Deputy Director of Wuhan Institute of Virology
Curiopedia
Chiropterophily is pollination of plants by bats. Bat pollination is most common in tropical and desert areas that have many night-blooming plants. Just like bees and birds that pollinate, nectar-consuming bats have evolved ways to find and harvest the sweet liquid.
A study has revealed that vampire bat venom could soon be used to treat a range of serious medical problems, including heart failure and kidney disease. Researchers from the University of Queensland have found a new class of peptides in the venom from vampire bats.
The bumblebee bat is a near-threatened species of bat. It occurs in western Thailand and southeast Myanmar, where it occupies limestone caves along rivers. It is the smallest species of bat and arguably the world’s smallest mammal.
Curated Coverage
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