Researchers have identified a connection between bat lifespan and immune system efficiency, suggesting that long-lived species possess unique mechanisms for fighting cancer and viral infections.
Key facts
- •Brandt's myotis bats have been documented living for up to 50 years.
- •The study analyzed the first eight genomes of the Myotis genus.
- •Researchers maintain cell cultures from 259 individual bats representing 32 species.
- •Bats account for 20% of all known mammal species and have existed for approximately 60 million years.
- •The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
A new study published in Nature analyzes the genomes of eight Myotis bat species to understand their exceptional lifespans. Researchers found that longer-lived bats exhibit higher levels of genes associated with cancer resistance and immune function. The findings suggest that longevity may be linked to an immune system that remains highly effective against both infectious organisms and tumors throughout an animal's life.
By the numbers
Cellular Defense Strategies
To study how bats respond to severe damage, researchers cultured cells from bat wing biopsies and exposed them to toxic chemicals. The little brown bat, a long-lived species, responded by prioritizing the destruction of damaged cells rather than attempting to repair them. This strategy mirrors that of elephants, another long-lived, cancer-resistant species, suggesting that different animals have evolved distinct methods to prevent damaged cells from becoming dangerous.
Immune System and Viral Interactions
The study revealed a significant overlap between genes associated with longevity and those involved in viral interactions. Myotis bats possess a high number of genes that produce proteins interacting with DNA viruses, such as herpes viruses. This differs from humans and other primates, which show a stronger evolutionary focus on proteins that interact with RNA viruses like HIV and COVID-19. Researchers suggest this evolutionary mismatch may explain why viruses moving from bats to humans can cause serious zoonotic diseases.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by ScienceDaily.
