101
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Duda N, Ripperger S, Tschapka M, Mayer F, Weigel R, Koelpin A. Wireless Sensor Platform for Detection of Vital Parameters of Bats. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2019:1294-1297. [PMID: 31946129 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2019.8856769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In this paper an advanced sensor node for animal tracking is proposed, which includes an accelerometer, an air pressure sensor as well as an electrocardiography sensor. The system is designed for studying the physiology and behavior of bats by inferring activity, wing beat frequency as well as heart rate. This system offers outstanding functionality compared to other tracking nodes and is easily applicable thanks to its noninvasive design. Gluing the sensor to the bat's back keeps the impact on the animal at a minimum and retrieval of the animal to remove the tag is not required since the tag falls off after a few days.
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102
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Abstract
Abstract Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, bats are being pointed as responsible for its origin, even without solid scientific evidence. In this opinion piece, we discuss the most updated information on bats and COVID-19 and argue that bats should not be blamed for a disease they are not responsible for. Bats should be seen not as dangerous animals but, instead, as sources of several scientific insights useful for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria João Ramos Pereira
- Sociedade Brasileira para o Estudo de Quirópteros, Brasil; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Enrico Bernard
- Sociedade Brasileira para o Estudo de Quirópteros, Brasil; Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brasil
| | - Ludmilla M. S. Aguiar
- Sociedade Brasileira para o Estudo de Quirópteros, Brasil; Universidade de Brasília, Brasil
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103
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Tørresen OK, Star B, Mier P, Andrade-Navarro MA, Bateman A, Jarnot P, Gruca A, Grynberg M, Kajava AV, Promponas VJ, Anisimova M, Jakobsen KS, Linke D. Tandem repeats lead to sequence assembly errors and impose multi-level challenges for genome and protein databases. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:10994-11006. [PMID: 31584084 PMCID: PMC6868369 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The widespread occurrence of repetitive stretches of DNA in genomes of organisms across the tree of life imposes fundamental challenges for sequencing, genome assembly, and automated annotation of genes and proteins. This multi-level problem can lead to errors in genome and protein databases that are often not recognized or acknowledged. As a consequence, end users working with sequences with repetitive regions are faced with 'ready-to-use' deposited data whose trustworthiness is difficult to determine, let alone to quantify. Here, we provide a review of the problems associated with tandem repeat sequences that originate from different stages during the sequencing-assembly-annotation-deposition workflow, and that may proliferate in public database repositories affecting all downstream analyses. As a case study, we provide examples of the Atlantic cod genome, whose sequencing and assembly were hindered by a particularly high prevalence of tandem repeats. We complement this case study with examples from other species, where mis-annotations and sequencing errors have propagated into protein databases. With this review, we aim to raise the awareness level within the community of database users, and alert scientists working in the underlying workflow of database creation that the data they omit or improperly assemble may well contain important biological information valuable to others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ole K Tørresen
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Bastiaan Star
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Pablo Mier
- Faculty of Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Hans-Dieter-Husch-Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Miguel A Andrade-Navarro
- Faculty of Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Hans-Dieter-Husch-Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Alex Bateman
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton. CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Patryk Jarnot
- Institute of Informatics, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 16, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Gruca
- Institute of Informatics, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 16, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Marcin Grynberg
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics PAS, Pawińskiego 5A, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrey V Kajava
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie cellulaire de Montpellier, UMR 5237 CNRS, Universite Montpellier 1919 Route de Mende, CEDEX 5, 34293 Montpellier, France
- Institut de Biologie Computationnelle, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Vasilis J Promponas
- Bioinformatics Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, PO Box 20537, CY 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Maria Anisimova
- Institute of Applied Simulations, School of Life Sciences and Facility Management, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Wädenswil, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kjetill S Jakobsen
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Dirk Linke
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
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104
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Vernes SC, Wilkinson GS. Behaviour, biology and evolution of vocal learning in bats. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 375:20190061. [PMID: 31735153 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The comparative approach can provide insight into the evolution of human speech, language and social communication by studying relevant traits in animal systems. Bats are emerging as a model system with great potential to shed light on these processes given their learned vocalizations, close social interactions, and mammalian brains and physiology. A recent framework outlined the multiple levels of investigation needed to understand vocal learning across a broad range of non-human species, including cetaceans, pinnipeds, elephants, birds and bats. Here, we apply this framework to the current state-of-the-art in bat research. This encompasses our understanding of the abilities bats have displayed for vocal learning, what is known about the timing and social structure needed for such learning, and current knowledge about the prevalence of the trait across the order. It also addresses the biology (vocal tract morphology, neurobiology and genetics) and evolution of this trait. We conclude by highlighting some key questions that should be answered to advance our understanding of the biological encoding and evolution of speech and spoken communication. This article is part of the theme issue 'What can animal communication teach us about human language?'
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja C Vernes
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, PO Box 310, Nijmegen 6500 AH, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg 29, Nijmegen 6525 EN, The Netherlands
| | - Gerald S Wilkinson
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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105
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Admixture in Mammals and How to Understand Its Functional Implications. Bioessays 2019; 41:e1900123. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201900123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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106
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Brandies P, Peel E, Hogg CJ, Belov K. The Value of Reference Genomes in the Conservation of Threatened Species. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E846. [PMID: 31717707 PMCID: PMC6895880 DOI: 10.3390/genes10110846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Conservation initiatives are now more crucial than ever-over a million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction over the coming decades. The genetic management of threatened species held in insurance programs is recommended; however, few are taking advantage of the full range of genomic technologies available today. Less than 1% of the 13505 species currently listed as threated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have a published genome. While there has been much discussion in the literature about the importance of genomics for conservation, there are limited examples of how having a reference genome has changed conservation management practice. The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), is an endangered Australian marsupial, threatened by an infectious clonal cancer devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). Populations have declined by 80% since the disease was first recorded in 1996. A reference genome for this species was published in 2012 and has been crucial for understanding DFTD and the management of the species in the wild. Here we use the Tasmanian devil as an example of how a reference genome has influenced management actions in the conservation of a species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life & Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia; (P.B.); (E.P.); (C.J.H.)
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107
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Varzinczak LH, Moura MO, Passos FC. Shifts to multiple optima underlie climatic niche evolution in New World phyllostomid bats. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Climate underlies species distribution patterns, especially in species where climate limits distributions, such as the phyllostomid bats, which are mostly restricted to the New World tropics. The evolutionary dynamics that shaped phyllostomid climatic niches remain unclear, and a broad phylogenetic perspective is required to uncover their patterns. We used geographical distributions and evolutionary relationships of 130 species, climate data and phylogenetic comparative methods to uncover dynamics of phyllostomid climatic niche evolution. Diversification of climatic niches began early in phyllostomid evolution (~34 Mya), with most changes taking place ~20 Mya. Although most of these bats were found in tropical regions, shifts towards different evolutionary optima were common. Shifts were mostly towards temperate climates, reflecting complexities in phyllostomid evolution highlighted by the probable role of species-specific adaptations to cope with these climates, the influence of palaeoclimatic events, and biogeographical effects related to the evolution and dispersal of clades in the New World. Our results broaden our understanding of the relationships between phyllostomid bats and climate, filling an important gap in knowledge and suggesting a complex evolution in their occupation of the climatic niche space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz H Varzinczak
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Department of Zoology, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Mauricio O Moura
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Department of Zoology, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Fernando C Passos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Department of Zoology, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
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108
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Edenborough KM, Bokelmann M, Lander A, Couacy-Hymann E, Lechner J, Drechsel O, Renard BY, Radonić A, Feldmann H, Kurth A, Prescott J. Dendritic Cells Generated From Mops condylurus, a Likely Filovirus Reservoir Host, Are Susceptible to and Activated by Zaire Ebolavirus Infection. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2414. [PMID: 31681302 PMCID: PMC6797855 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus infection of human dendritic cells (DCs) induces atypical adaptive immune responses and thereby exacerbates Ebola virus disease (EVD). Human DCs, infected with Ebola virus aberrantly express low levels of the DC activation markers CD80, CD86, and MHC class II. The T cell responses ensuing are commonly anergic rather than protective against EVD. We hypothesize that DCs derived from potential reservoir hosts such as bats, which do not develop disease signs in response to Ebola virus infection, would exhibit features associated with activation. In this study, we have examined Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) infection of DCs derived from the Angolan free-tailed bat species, Mops condylurus. This species was previously identified as permissive to EBOV infection in vivo, in the absence of disease signs. M. condylurus has also been recently implicated as the reservoir host for Bombali ebolavirus, a virus species that is closely related to EBOV. Due to the absence of pre-existing M. condylurus species-specific reagents, we characterized its de novo assembled transcriptome and defined its phylogenetic similarity to other mammals, which enabled the identification of cross-reactive reagents for M. condylurus bone marrow-derived DC (bat-BMDC) differentiation and immune cell phenotyping. Our results reveal that bat-BMDCs are susceptible to EBOV infection as determined by detection of EBOV specific viral RNA (vRNA). vRNA increased significantly 72 h after EBOV-infection and was detected in both cells and in culture supernatants. Bat-BMDC infection was further confirmed by the observation of GFP expression in DC cultures infected with a recombinant GFP-EBOV. Bat-BMDCs upregulated CD80 and chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3) transcripts in response to EBOV infection, which positively correlated with the expression levels of EBOV vRNA. In contrast to the aberrant responses to EBOV infection that are typical for human-DC, our findings from bat-BMDCs provide evidence for an immunological basis of asymptomatic EBOV infection outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M. Edenborough
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcel Bokelmann
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Angelika Lander
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Emmanuel Couacy-Hymann
- LANADA, Laboratoire National d'Appui au Développement Agricole, Bingerville, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Johanna Lechner
- Methodology and Research Infrastructure, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Drechsel
- Methodology and Research Infrastructure, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernhard Y. Renard
- Methodology and Research Infrastructure, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aleksandar Radonić
- Methodology and Research Infrastructure, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heinz Feldmann
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, ON, United States
| | - Andreas Kurth
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joseph Prescott
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
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109
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Locatelli AG, Ciuti S, Presetnik P, Toffoli R, Teeling E. Long-Term Monitoring of the Effects of Weather and Marking Techniques on Body Condition in the Kuhl's Pipistrelle Bat, Pipistrellus Kuhlii. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2019. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2019.21.1.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea G. Locatelli
- Laboratory of Molecular Evolution and Mammalian Phylogenetics, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Simone Ciuti
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Primož Presetnik
- Centre for Cartography of Fauna and Flora, Klunova 3, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Roberto Toffoli
- Chirosphera, Associazione per lo Studio e la Tutela dei Chirotteri e l'Ambiente, Via Tetti Barbiere 11, Santena, Turin, Italy
| | - Emma Teeling
- Laboratory of Molecular Evolution and Mammalian Phylogenetics, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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110
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Wirthlin M, Chang EF, Knörnschild M, Krubitzer LA, Mello CV, Miller CT, Pfenning AR, Vernes SC, Tchernichovski O, Yartsev MM. A Modular Approach to Vocal Learning: Disentangling the Diversity of a Complex Behavioral Trait. Neuron 2019; 104:87-99. [PMID: 31600518 PMCID: PMC10066796 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Vocal learning is a behavioral trait in which the social and acoustic environment shapes the vocal repertoire of individuals. Over the past century, the study of vocal learning has progressed at the intersection of ecology, physiology, neuroscience, molecular biology, genomics, and evolution. Yet, despite the complexity of this trait, vocal learning is frequently described as a binary trait, with species being classified as either vocal learners or vocal non-learners. As a result, studies have largely focused on a handful of species for which strong evidence for vocal learning exists. Recent studies, however, suggest a continuum in vocal learning capacity across taxa. Here, we further suggest that vocal learning is a multi-component behavioral phenotype comprised of distinct yet interconnected modules. Discretizing the vocal learning phenotype into its constituent modules would facilitate integration of findings across a wider diversity of species, taking advantage of the ways in which each excels in a particular module, or in a specific combination of features. Such comparative studies can improve understanding of the mechanisms and evolutionary origins of vocal learning. We propose an initial set of vocal learning modules supported by behavioral and neurobiological data and highlight the need for diversifying the field in order to disentangle the complexity of the vocal learning phenotype.
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111
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Mostajo NF, Lataretu M, Krautwurst S, Mock F, Desirò D, Lamkiewicz K, Collatz M, Schoen A, Weber F, Marz M, Hölzer M. A comprehensive annotation and differential expression analysis of short and long non-coding RNAs in 16 bat genomes. NAR Genom Bioinform 2019; 2:lqz006. [PMID: 32289119 PMCID: PMC7108008 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqz006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although bats are increasingly becoming the focus of scientific studies due to their unique properties, these exceptional animals are still among the least studied mammals. Assembly quality and completeness of bat genomes vary a lot and especially non-coding RNA (ncRNA) annotations are incomplete or simply missing. Accordingly, standard bioinformatics pipelines for gene expression analysis often ignore ncRNAs such as microRNAs or long antisense RNAs. The main cause of this problem is the use of incomplete genome annotations. We present a complete screening for ncRNAs within 16 bat genomes. NcRNAs affect a remarkable variety of vital biological functions, including gene expression regulation, RNA processing, RNA interference and, as recently described, regulatory processes in viral infections. Within all investigated bat assemblies, we annotated 667 ncRNA families including 162 snoRNAs and 193 miRNAs as well as rRNAs, tRNAs, several snRNAs and lncRNAs, and other structural ncRNA elements. We validated our ncRNA candidates by six RNA-Seq data sets and show significant expression patterns that have never been described before in a bat species on such a large scale. Our annotations will be usable as a resource (rna.uni-jena.de/supplements/bats) for deeper studying of bat evolution, ncRNAs repertoire, gene expression and regulation, ecology and important host–virus interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelly F Mostajo
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany.,Institute of Virology, Philipps-University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany.,European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Marie Lataretu
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany.,European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Sebastian Krautwurst
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany.,European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Florian Mock
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany.,European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Daniel Desirò
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany.,European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Kevin Lamkiewicz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany.,European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Maximilian Collatz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany.,European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Andreas Schoen
- Institute for Virology, FB10-Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig University, 35392 Gießen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner sites 35043 Marburg and 35392 Gießen, Germany
| | - Friedemann Weber
- Institute of Virology, Philipps-University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany.,Institute for Virology, FB10-Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig University, 35392 Gießen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner sites 35043 Marburg and 35392 Gießen, Germany
| | - Manja Marz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany.,European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany.,FLI Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Martin Hölzer
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany.,European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
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112
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Modesto M, Satti M, Watanabe K, Puglisi E, Morelli L, Huang CH, Liou JS, Miyashita M, Tamura T, Saito S, Mori K, Huang L, Sciavilla P, Sandri C, Spiezio C, Vitali F, Cavalieri D, Perpetuini G, Tofalo R, Bonetti A, Arita M, Mattarelli P. Characterization of Bifidobacterium species in feaces of the Egyptian fruit bat: Description of B. vespertilionis sp. nov. and B. rousetti sp. nov. Syst Appl Microbiol 2019; 42:126017. [PMID: 31585749 DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2019.126017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 08/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Fifteen bifidobacterial strains were obtained from faeces of Rousettus aegyptiacus; after grouping them by RAPD PCR only eight were selected and characterized. Analysis of 16S rRNA and of five housekeeping (hsp60, rpoB, clpC, dnaJ, dna G) genes revealed that these eight strains were classified into five clusters: Cluster I (RST 8 and RST 16T), Cluster II (RST 9T and RST 27), Cluster III (RST 7 and RST 11), Cluster IV (RST 19), Cluster V (RST 17) were closest to Bifidobacterium avesanii DSM 100685T (96.3%), Bifidobacterium callitrichos DSM 23973T (99.2% and 99.7%), Bifidobacterium tissieri DSM 100201T (99.7 and 99.2%), Bifidobacterium reuteri DSM 23975 T (98.9%) and Bifidobacterium myosotis DSM 100196T (99.3%), respectively. Strains in Cluster I and strain RST 9 in Cluster II could not be placed within any recognized species while the other ones were identified as known species. The average nucleotide identity values between two novel strains, RST 16T and RST 9T and their closest relatives were lower than 79% and 89%, respectively. In silico DNA-DNA hybridization values for those closest relatives were 32.5 and 42.1%, respectively. Phenotypic and genotypic tests demonstrated that strains in Cluster I and RST 9T in Cluster II represent two novel species for which the names Bifidobacterium vespertilionis sp. nov. (RST 16T=BCRC 81138T=NBRC 113380T=DSM 106025T ; RST 8=BCRC 81135=NBRC 113377) and Bifidobacterium rousetti sp. nov. (RST 9T=BCRC 81136T=NBRC 113378T=DSM 106027T) are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Modesto
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Satti
- Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI University (National Institute of Genetics), Yata 1111, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Koichi Watanabe
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Bioresource Collection and Research Center, Food Industry Research and Development Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Edoardo Puglisi
- Department for Sustainable Food Processes, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Morelli
- Department for Sustainable Food Processes, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Chien-Hsun Huang
- Bioresource Collection and Research Center, Food Industry Research and Development Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Jong-Shian Liou
- Bioresource Collection and Research Center, Food Industry Research and Development Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Mika Miyashita
- Biological Resource Center (NBRC), National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE), 2-5-8, Kazusakamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba 292-0818, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Tamura
- Biological Resource Center (NBRC), National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE), 2-5-8, Kazusakamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba 292-0818, Japan
| | - Satomi Saito
- Biological Resource Center (NBRC), National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE), 2-5-8, Kazusakamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba 292-0818, Japan
| | - Koji Mori
- Biological Resource Center (NBRC), National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE), 2-5-8, Kazusakamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba 292-0818, Japan
| | - Lina Huang
- Bioresource Collection and Research Center, Food Industry Research and Development Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Piero Sciavilla
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Camillo Sandri
- Department of Animal Health Care and Management, Parco Natura Viva - Garda Zoological Park, Bussolengo, Verona, Italy
| | - Caterina Spiezio
- Department of Animal Health Care and Management, Parco Natura Viva - Garda Zoological Park, Bussolengo, Verona, Italy
| | | | | | - Giorgia Perpetuini
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Rosanna Tofalo
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Andrea Bonetti
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Masanori Arita
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehiro, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; Bioinformation and DDBJ Center, National Institute of Genetics, Yata 1111, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Paola Mattarelli
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
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113
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Hölzer M, Schoen A, Wulle J, Müller MA, Drosten C, Marz M, Weber F. Virus- and Interferon Alpha-Induced Transcriptomes of Cells from the Microbat Myotis daubentonii. iScience 2019; 19:647-661. [PMID: 31465999 PMCID: PMC6718828 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Antiviral interferons (IFN-alpha/beta) are possibly responsible for the high tolerance of bats to zoonotic viruses. Previous studies focused on the IFN system of megabats (suborder Yinpterochiroptera). We present statistically robust RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data on transcriptomes of cells from the “microbat” Myotis daubentonii (suborder Yangochiroptera) responding at 6 and 24 h to either an IFN-inducing virus or treatment with IFN. Our data reveal genes triggered only by virus, either in both humans and Myotis (CCL4, IFNL3, CH25H), or exclusively in Myotis (STEAP4). Myotis cells also express a series of conserved IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) and an unusually high paralog number of the antiviral ISG BST2 (tetherin) but lack several ISGs that were described for megabats (EMC2, FILIP1, IL17RC, OTOGL, SLC24A1). Also, in contrast to megabats, we detected neither different IFN-alpha subtypes nor an unusually high baseline expression of IFNs. Thus, Yangochiroptera microbats, represented by Myotis, may possess an IFN system with distinctive features. Virus- and IFN-responsive transcriptomes of the microbat Myotis daubentonii CCL4, IFNL3, CH25H, STEAP4 are IFNB-like genes triggered by virus only Microbats encode more paralogs of BST2 (tetherin) than any other mammal Clear differences between the IFN systems of microbats and megabats
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Hölzer
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Jena, Germany
| | - Andreas Schoen
- Institute for Virology, FB10-Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Institute for Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner sites Marburg, Giessen, and Charité Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Wulle
- Institute for Virology, FB10-Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Institute for Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner sites Marburg, Giessen, and Charité Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcel A Müller
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner sites Marburg, Giessen, and Charité Berlin, Germany; Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany; Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Christian Drosten
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner sites Marburg, Giessen, and Charité Berlin, Germany; Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Manja Marz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Jena, Germany.
| | - Friedemann Weber
- Institute for Virology, FB10-Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Institute for Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner sites Marburg, Giessen, and Charité Berlin, Germany.
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114
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Mammola S, Cardoso P, Culver DC, Deharveng L, Ferreira RL, Fišer C, Galassi DMP, Griebler C, Halse S, Humphreys WF, Isaia M, Malard F, Martinez A, Moldovan OT, Niemiller ML, Pavlek M, Reboleira ASPS, Souza-Silva M, Teeling EC, Wynne JJ, Zagmajster M. Scientists' Warning on the Conservation of Subterranean Ecosystems. Bioscience 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biz064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
In light of recent alarming trends in human population growth, climate change, and other environmental modifications, a “Warning to humanity” manifesto was published in BioScience in 2017. This call reiterated most of the ideas originally expressed by the Union of Concerned Scientists in 1992, including the fear that we are “pushing Earth's ecosystems beyond their capacities to support the web of life.” As subterranean biologists, we take this opportunity to emphasize the global importance and the conservation challenges associated with subterranean ecosystems. They likely represent the most widespread nonmarine environments on Earth, but specialized subterranean organisms remain among the least documented and studied. Largely overlooked in conservation policies, subterranean habitats play a critical role in the function of the web of life and provide important ecosystem services. We highlight the main threats to subterranean ecosystems and propose a set of effective actions to protect this globally important natural heritage.
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115
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Longitudinal comparative transcriptomics reveals unique mechanisms underlying extended healthspan in bats. Nat Ecol Evol 2019; 3:1110-1120. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-019-0913-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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116
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Larsen PA, Matocq MD. Emerging genomic applications in mammalian ecology, evolution, and conservation. J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyy184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peter A Larsen
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - Marjorie D Matocq
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science; Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
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117
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Viruses in bats and potential spillover to animals and humans. Curr Opin Virol 2019; 34:79-89. [PMID: 30665189 PMCID: PMC7102861 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2018.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Bats are a very important source of emerging viruses. Bat coronavirus, filovirus, paramyxovirus and reovirus are known zoonotic viruses. Many of the emergent bat viruses are highly lethal in livestock and humans. Past incidents and viral genetic features predict bat coronaviruses as the highest risk.
In the last two decades, several high impact zoonotic disease outbreaks have been linked to bat-borne viruses. These include SARS coronavirus, Hendra virus and Nipah virus. In addition, it has been suspected that ebolaviruses and MERS coronavirus are also linked to bats. It is being increasingly accepted that bats are potential reservoirs of a large number of known and unknown viruses, many of which could spillover into animal and human populations. However, our knowledge into basic bat biology and immunology is very limited and we have little understanding of major factors contributing to the risk of bat virus spillover events. Here we provide a brief review of the latest findings in bat viruses and their potential risk of cross-species transmission.
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118
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Simões BF, Foley NM, Hughes GM, Zhao H, Zhang S, Rossiter SJ, Teeling EC. As Blind as a Bat? Opsin Phylogenetics Illuminates the Evolution of Color Vision in Bats. Mol Biol Evol 2019; 36:54-68. [PMID: 30476197 PMCID: PMC6340466 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msy192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Through their unique use of sophisticated laryngeal echolocation bats are considered sensory specialists amongst mammals and represent an excellent model in which to explore sensory perception. Although several studies have shown that the evolution of vision is linked to ecological niche adaptation in other mammalian lineages, this has not yet been fully explored in bats. Recent molecular analysis of the opsin genes, which encode the photosensitive pigments underpinning color vision, have implicated high-duty cycle (HDC) echolocation and the adoption of cave roosting habits in the degeneration of color vision in bats. However, insufficient sampling of relevant taxa has hindered definitive testing of these hypotheses. To address this, novel sequence data was generated for the SWS1 and MWS/LWS opsin genes and combined with existing data to comprehensively sample species representing diverse echolocation types and niches (SWS1 n = 115; MWS/LWS n = 45). A combination of phylogenetic analysis, ancestral state reconstruction, and selective pressure analyses were used to reconstruct the evolution of these visual pigments in bats and revealed that although both genes are evolving under purifying selection in bats, MWS/LWS is highly conserved but SWS1 is highly variable. Spectral tuning analyses revealed that MWS/LWS opsin is tuned to a long wavelength, 555-560 nm in the bat ancestor and the majority of extant taxa. The presence of UV vision in bats is supported by our spectral tuning analysis, but phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that the SWS1 opsin gene has undergone pseudogenization in several lineages. We do not find support for a link between the evolution of HDC echolocation and the pseudogenization of the SWS1 gene in bats, instead we show the SWS1 opsin is functional in the HDC echolocator, Pteronotus parnellii. Pseudogenization of the SWS1 is correlated with cave roosting habits in the majority of pteropodid species. Together these results demonstrate that the loss of UV vision in bats is more widespread than was previously considered and further elucidate the role of ecological niche specialization in the evolution of vision in bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno F Simões
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
- School of Earth Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- School of Biological Science, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Nicole M Foley
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Graham M Hughes
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Huabin Zhao
- Department of Ecology and Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Shuyi Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Stephen J Rossiter
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emma C Teeling
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
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119
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Formenti G, Chiara M, Poveda L, Francoijs KJ, Bonisoli-Alquati A, Canova L, Gianfranceschi L, Horner DS, Saino N. SMRT long reads and Direct Label and Stain optical maps allow the generation of a high-quality genome assembly for the European barn swallow (Hirundo rustica rustica). Gigascience 2019; 8:5202456. [PMID: 30496513 PMCID: PMC6324554 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giy142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is a migratory bird that has been the focus of a large number of ecological, behavioral, and genetic studies. To facilitate further population genetics and genomic studies, we present a reference genome assembly for the European subspecies (H. r. rustica). Findings As part of the Genome10K effort on generating high-quality vertebrate genomes (Vertebrate Genomes Project), we have assembled a highly contiguous genome assembly using single molecule real-time (SMRT) DNA sequencing and several Bionano optical map technologies. We compared and integrated optical maps derived from both the Nick, Label, Repair, and Stain technology and from the Direct Label and Stain (DLS) technology. As proposed by Bionano, DLS more than doubled the scaffold N50 with respect to the nickase. The dual enzyme hybrid scaffold led to a further marginal increase in scaffold N50 and an overall increase of confidence in the scaffolds. After removal of haplotigs, the final assembly is approximately 1.21 Gbp in size, with a scaffold N50 value of more than 25.95 Mbp. Conclusions This high-quality genome assembly represents a valuable resource for future studies of population genetics and genomics in the barn swallow and for studies concerning the evolution of avian genomes. It also represents one of the very first genomes assembled by combining SMRT long-read sequencing with the new Bionano DLS technology for scaffolding. The quality of this assembly demonstrates the potential of this methodology to substantially increase the contiguity of genome assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Formenti
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via celoria 2, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Matteo Chiara
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via celoria 26, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Lucy Poveda
- Functional Genomics Center of Zurich, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland
| | | | - Andrea Bonisoli-Alquati
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, 3801 West Temple Avenue, Pomona, California, 91768, USA
| | - Luca Canova
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Luca Gianfranceschi
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via celoria 26, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - David Stephen Horner
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via celoria 26, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Nicola Saino
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via celoria 2, Milan, 20133, Italy
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120
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Hughes GM, Teeling EC. AGILE: an assembled genome mining pipeline. Bioinformatics 2018; 35:1252-1254. [DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/bty781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Graham M Hughes
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Emma C Teeling
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
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121
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Harazim M, Horáček I, Jakešová L, Luermann K, Moravec JC, Morgan S, Pikula J, Sosík P, Vavrušová Z, Zahradníková A, Zukal J, Martínková N. Natural selection in bats with historical exposure to white-nose syndrome. BMC ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1186/s40850-018-0035-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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122
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Hron T, Farkašová H, Gifford RJ, Benda P, Hulva P, Görföl T, Pačes J, Elleder D. Remnants of an Ancient Deltaretrovirus in the Genomes of Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophidae). Viruses 2018; 10:v10040185. [PMID: 29642581 PMCID: PMC5923479 DOI: 10.3390/v10040185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Endogenous retrovirus (ERV) sequences provide a rich source of information about the long-term interactions between retroviruses and their hosts. However, most ERVs are derived from a subset of retrovirus groups, while ERVs derived from certain other groups remain extremely rare. In particular, only a single ERV sequence has been identified that shows evidence of being related to an ancient Deltaretrovirus, despite the large number of vertebrate genome sequences now available. In this report, we identify a second example of an ERV sequence putatively derived from a past deltaretroviral infection, in the genomes of several species of horseshoe bats (Rhinolophidae). This sequence represents a fragment of viral genome derived from a single integration. The time of the integration was estimated to be 11-19 million years ago. This finding, together with the previously identified endogenous Deltaretrovirus in long-fingered bats (Miniopteridae), suggest a close association of bats with ancient deltaretroviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Hron
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Helena Farkašová
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Robert J Gifford
- MRC-University of Glasgow, Centre for Virus Research, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK.
| | - Petr Benda
- Department of Zoology, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 12844 Prague, Czech Republic.
- Department of Zoology, National Museum (Natural History), Vaclavske nam. 68, 11579 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Pavel Hulva
- Department of Zoology, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 12844 Prague, Czech Republic.
- Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Ostrava, Chitussiho 10, 71000 Ostrava, Czech Republic.
| | - Tamás Görföl
- Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Musem, Baross Utca 13, 1088 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Jan Pačes
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Daniel Elleder
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic.
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Abstract
Bats are a large and diverse group comprising approximately 20% of all living mammalian species. They are the only mammals capable of powered flight and have many unique characteristics, including long lifespans, echolocation, and hibernation, and play key roles in insect control, pollination, and seed dispersal. The role of bats as natural reservoirs of a variety of high-profile viruses that are highly pathogenic in other susceptible species yet cause no clinical disease in bats has led to a resurgence of interest in their immune systems. Equally compelling is the urgency to understand the immune mechanisms responsible for the susceptibility of bats to the fungus responsible for white syndrome, which threatens to wipe out a number of species of North American bats. In this chapter we review the current knowledge in the field of bat immunology, focusing on recent highlights and the need for further investigations in this area.
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