Why bats do not fall ill from the viruses they spread

Bats, the only winged mammals, have long been associated with ill omen and implicated in the spread of diseases such as COVID-19, SARS, MERS, Ebola, and Nipah. However, a new study published in Science Advances reveals that bats possess a unique immune system that prevents them from falling ill from the very viruses they transmit to humans.

Researchers discovered that bats, unlike any other mammal, have two copies of genes that produce antibodies, boosting their antibody diversity. This rare genetic trait allows bats to have a higher level of immunity than any other mammal, including humans. The study, led by Hannah Frank, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Tulane University, suggests that this immune diversity could help scientists understand why bats have been such effective viral reservoirs.

It also opens up new avenues for research into immune responses among different species, potentially helping to prevent future disease spillovers from bats to humans.