Image Credit: Artibeus jamaicensis, commonly known as the Jamaican fruit bat, captured by Brock and Sherri Fenton. Published in Genome Biology and Evolution.
Emerging research suggests that the rapid evolutionary processes in bats could be pivotal in their singular resistance to various infections and cancer. Through genome sequencing of bats and comparing them to other mammalian species, researchers have unearthed significant genetic alterations associated with resistance to diseases.
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Accelerated Evolutionary Processes in Bats: The Foundation of Resistance to Disease and Cancer Prevention
Recent studies indicate that the quick evolutionary changes in bats may be responsible for their unique capabilities to both harbor and survive infections, as well as evade cancer. The latest paper on this subject has been published in the academic journal Genome Biology and Evolution.
Bats distinguish themselves from other mammals not just by their capability for flight, but also through their extended lifespans, low incidence of cancer, and formidable immune systems. Furthermore, bats are believed to have been instrumental in the genesis of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The bats’ capability to withstand viral infections is attributed to distinct aspects of their innate immunity.
Relevance to Human Health
These unique traits render bats a species of considerable interest for scientific investigation, especially given their potential implications for human health. Understanding the workings of bats’ immune systems could equip researchers with insights for halting the transmission of diseases from animals to humans. Comparative genomic analyses between bats and mammals susceptible to cancer could ultimately shed light on the etiology of cancer and its correlation with immune responses. While mouse models serve as more tractable subjects for experimental studies, they possess fewer attributes relevant to human diseases compared to bats.
Illuminating Genetic Adaptations through Genomic Analysis
Researchers employed Oxford Nanopore Technologies’ long-read platform and used bat specimens provided by the American Museum of Natural History in Belize. They sequenced the genomes of two bat species— the Jamaican fruit bat and the Mesoamerican mustached bat— and conducted an exhaustive comparative genomic analysis alongside a broad spectrum of bats and other mammals.
Significant findings include adaptations in six proteins related to DNA repair and 46 proteins related to cancer in bats. Previous research indicates that these proteins play a role in cancer suppression. Remarkably, these modified cancer-associated genes were over two-fold enriched in the bat population when compared to other mammalian species.
The paper’s lead author, Armin Scheben, commented, “The generation of these new bat genomes and their comparison with other mammals continue to unearth unprecedented adaptations in antiviral and anticancer genes. This work constitutes an initial phase in leveraging the unique biology of bats into actionable insights for the understanding and treatment of human aging and diseases like cancer.”
For further insights into this research, refer to “Deciphering Bats’ Immune Defenses Against Viruses and Cancer.”
Reference: “Long-Read Sequencing Discloses Accelerated Evolution in Immunity- and Cancer-Related Genes in Bats” by Armin Scheben, Olivia Mendivil Ramos, Melissa Kramer, Sara Goodwin, Sara Oppenheim, Daniel J Becker, Michael C Schatz, Nancy B Simmons, Adam Siepel, and W Richard McCombie, dated 20 September 2023, published in Genome Biology and Evolution.
DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad148
Financial Support: NIH/National Institutes of Health, Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Designated Cancer Center
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Rapid Evolution in Bats
What is the primary focus of the research on bats?
The primary focus of the research is to explore the rapid evolutionary processes in bats that contribute to their unique resistance to various infections and cancer. Researchers sequenced the genomes of specific bat species and compared them to other mammals to discover significant genetic alterations associated with resistance to diseases.
Who conducted the research and where was it published?
The research was conducted by a team led by Armin Scheben and involved collaboration with multiple institutions. The findings were published in the academic journal Genome Biology and Evolution on 20 September 2023.
What are the unique characteristics of bats that make them interesting for scientific investigation?
Bats are unique among mammals for their capability to fly, their extended lifespans, low incidence of cancer, and robust immune systems. These traits make them particularly interesting for scientific research, especially given their potential implications for human health.
What methods were employed for the research?
Researchers used Oxford Nanopore Technologies’ long-read platform for genome sequencing. They also collaborated with the American Museum of Natural History in Belize to collect samples from two bat species—the Jamaican fruit bat and the Mesoamerican mustached bat.
What significant findings were reported?
Researchers discovered genetic adaptations in six proteins related to DNA repair and 46 proteins related to cancer suppression in bats. These adaptations were found to be enriched more than two-fold in bats when compared to other mammalian species.
How is this research relevant to human health?
The research has potential implications for human health in the areas of disease transmission from animals to humans and the understanding of cancer etiology. By studying the mechanisms that allow bats to resist infections and cancer, scientists may gain insights useful for preventing disease outbreaks and understanding cancer in humans.
Who funded the research?
The research received financial support from the NIH/National Institutes of Health, Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, and the Cold Spring Harbor Designated Cancer Center.
Where can one find further information on this research?
For further insights into this groundbreaking work, one can refer to the article titled “Deciphering Bats’ Immune Defenses Against Viruses and Cancer,” or consult the original paper published in Genome Biology and Evolution, with the DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad148.
More about Rapid Evolution in Bats
- Genome Biology and Evolution Journal
- Oxford Nanopore Technologies
- American Museum of Natural History
- NIH/National Institutes of Health
- Simons Center for Quantitative Biology
- Cold Spring Harbor Designated Cancer Center
- DOI for the original paper
7 comments
Just read the paper on Genome Bio and Evo. Deep stuff, really makes ya think. Imagine what we could do if we applied these findings to medicine!
Wow, this is a game changer. I always knew bats were special creatures but to think they could unlock secrets to human health. mind blown!
A real eye opener this is. always thought bats were kinda creepy, but gotta respect them now. They could teach us a thing or two about immunity.
This is insane! If bats are resistant to infections and even cancer, why arent we looking more into this?? seriously, this could be a big deal.
So rapid evolution makes bats resilient to disease. And here we are stuck with covid. Life’s not fair, eh?
This is big! We need more of this kinda research. If bats can resist cancer, that’s a big step toward understanding how we might be able to.
Who woulda thought, bats could be the key to something as big as cancer prevention. They always seemed like nuisances, but I’m rethinking that now.