2023-09-28 06:00:09
Bats are admired by researchers not only for their unique ability to fly, but also for their robust immune systems and low incidence of cancer. A new study reveals that these exceptional characteristics might be linked to rapid evolution of certain genes in these fascinating animals.
Artibeus jamaicensis, the Jamaican fruit bat.
Credit: Brock and Sherri Fenton
The role of bats in the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has sparked increased interest in these mammals. Their ability to tolerate viral infections may be due to unusual features of their innate immune response. These particularities have potential implications for human health. Indeed, better understanding the immune system of bats might help prevent epidemics of transmissible animal diseases. Latin animus, spirit, or vital principle) is, according to the classical classification, a…) to man (A man is an adult male individual of the species called modern man (Homo…).
For this study, the researchers used Oxford Nanopore Technologies’ long-read sequencing platform. They collected samples of two species of bats, the Jamaican fruit bat and the Mesoamerican whiskered bat, with the help of the American Museum of Natural History (The Systematic Observation and Description Approach of nature begins…) in Belize. They then carried out an in-depth comparative genomic analysis with a varied collection of bats and other mammals.
The research team, led by Armin Scheben, discovered genetic adaptations in six DNA repair-related proteins and 46 cancer-related proteins in bats. These cancer-related genes were more than twice as enriched in the bat group compared to other mammals.
Armin Scheben, the lead author of the study, emphasizes that these findings are the first step in translating the unique biology of bats into knowledge relevant to understanding and treating aging. …) and diseases, such as cancer, in humans.
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