The World Goes Bats: Living Longer and Tolerating Viruses
Open accessAbstract
For centuries, people believed that bats possessed sinister powers. Bats are thought to be ancestral hosts to many deadly viruses affecting humans including Ebola, rabies, and most recently SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. However, bats themselves tolerate these viruses without ill effects. The second power that bats have is their longevity. Bats live much longer than similar-sized land mammals. Here we review how bats' ability to control inflammation may be contributing to their longevity. The underlying mechanisms may hold clues to developing new treatments for age-related diseases. Now may be the time to use science to exploit the secret powers of bats for human benefit.
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Bats have evolved dampened responses to cytoplasmic DNA.
“Bats, however, have evolved dampened responses to cytoplasmic DNA110.”
From The role of retrotransposable elements in ageing and age-associated diseases (2021) · cites this paper as [110]
Many species of bats have evolved to naturally tolerate cytoDNA through decreased cytoDNA sensing.
“Interestingly, many species of bats have evolved to naturally tolerate cytoDNA through decreased cytoDNA sensing (Gorbunova et al., 2020).”
From Cytoplasmic DNA: sources, sensing, and role in aging and disease (2021) · cites this paper as Gorbunova et al., 2020
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References 141 · Cited by 162
Research works printed but not linked: 3
- Barclay R.M.R. Harder L.D. Life histories of bats: life in the slow lane Kunz T.H. Fenton M.B. Ecology of Bats 2003 Chicago University Press 209 253
- Lazzaro B.P. Clark A. Rapid evolution of innate immune response genes Singh R.S. Xu J. Kulathinal R.J. Rapidly Evolving Genes and Genetic Systems 2012 Oxford Scholarship Online
- Racey P.A. Entwhistle A.C. Life history and reproductive strategies of bats Krutzsch P.H. Crichton E.G. Reproductive Biology of Bats 1999 Academic Press
- Authors
- Gorbunova, V., Seluanov, A., & Kennedy, B. K.
- Affiliations
- University of Rochester Medicine (US)
- University of Rochester (US)
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- Corresponding author
- Gorbunova, Vera
- Kennedy, Brian K.
- Venue
- Cell Metabolism
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-07
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 31-43
- ISSN
- 1550-4131 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC7341951
- OpenAlex
- W3041837368
- Cited by
- 162
- References
- 141
- Citations by year
- 2026: 24 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 7
- FWCI
- 2.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Cell Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Sirtuins and Resveratrol in Medicine
- Keywords
- bats, longevity, virus tolerance, inflammation control, age-related diseases, Ebola, rabies, SARS-CoV-2, host-virus interaction, anti-inflammatory mechanism
- MeSH terms
- Betacoronavirus, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Aging, Animals, Chiroptera, Humans, Inflammation, Longevity, Pneumonia, Viral, Coronavirus Infections, Pandemics, Telomere Homeostasis
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