The Egyptian Rousette Genome Reveals Unexpected Features of Bat Antiviral Immunity.
Cell
; 173(5): 1098-1110.e18, 2018 05 17.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29706541
ABSTRACT
Bats harbor many viruses asymptomatically, including several notorious for causing extreme virulence in humans. To identify differences between antiviral mechanisms in humans and bats, we sequenced, assembled, and analyzed the genome of Rousettus aegyptiacus, a natural reservoir of Marburg virus and the only known reservoir for any filovirus. We found an expanded and diversified KLRC/KLRD family of natural killer cell receptors, MHC class I genes, and type I interferons, which dramatically differ from their functional counterparts in other mammals. Such concerted evolution of key components of bat immunity is strongly suggestive of novel modes of antiviral defense. An evaluation of the theoretical function of these genes suggests that an inhibitory immune state may exist in bats. Based on our findings, we hypothesize that tolerance of viral infection, rather than enhanced potency of antiviral defenses, may be a key mechanism by which bats asymptomatically host viruses that are pathogenic in humans.
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Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Quirópteros
/
Genoma
/
Imunidade Inata
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
/
Humans
País como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article