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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Scientists discovered that vesper bats — over 500 species strong — carry two separate sets of antibody-producing genes, a feature never before seen in any mammal. Published in Science Advances, the Tulane-led study suggests this unique immune setup may help bats coexist with dangerous viruses without getting sick. The finding opens a new frontier in understanding how immune systems evolve across species.
Researchers at Tulane University, in collaboration with Stanford and the CDC, have uncovered something never before seen in mammals: vesper bats carry two distinct sets of antibody-producing genes. Every other known mammal — including humans — has just one. The study, published in Science Advances, focused on vesper bats, a group of more than 500 species found on every continent except Antarctica.
Antibodies are Y-shaped proteins built from heavy and light protein chains. In all other mammals, the heavy chains come from a single gene set. Vesper bats have two, potentially giving them a broader, more versatile immune arsenal — which may help explain how they can harbor dangerous viruses without falling seriously ill.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Bats are natural reservoirs for some of the world's most dangerous viruses. Cracking the code of their immune resilience could yield insights that help scientists better predict — and prevent — the next pandemic.
