The Egyptian Rousette Genome Reveals Unexpected Features of Bat Antiviral Immunity | Zendy

Stephanie S. Pavlovich | Zendy; Sean Lovett | Zendy; Galina Koroleva | Zendy; Jonathan C. Guito | Zendy; Catherine Arnold | Zendy; Elyse R. Nagle | Zendy; Kirsten Kulcsar | Zendy; Albert Lee | Zendy; Françoise ThibaudNissen | Zendy; Adam J. Hume | Zendy; Elke Mühlberger | Zendy; Luke S. Uebelhoer | Zendy; Jonathan S. Towner | Zendy; Raúl Rabadán | Zendy; Mariano Sánchez-Lockhart | Zendy; Thomas B. Kepler | Zendy; Gustavo Palacios | Zendy

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The Egyptian Rousette Genome Reveals Unexpected Features of Bat Antiviral Immunity

Author(s) -

Stephanie S. Pavlovich,

Sean Lovett,

Galina Koroleva,

Jonathan C. Guito,

Catherine Arnold,

Elyse R. Nagle,

Kirsten Kulcsar,

Albert Lee,

Françoise ThibaudNissen,

Adam J. Hume,

Elke Mühlberger,

Luke S. Uebelhoer,

Jonathan S. Towner,

Raúl Rabadán,

Mariano Sánchez-Lockhart,

Thomas B. Kepler,

Gustavo Palacios

Publication year - 2018

Publication title -

cell

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 26.304

H-Index - 776

eISSN - 1097-4172

pISSN - 0092-8674

DOI - 10.1016/j.cell.2018.03.070

Subject(s) - biology , genome , immunity , virology , gene , virus , virulence , innate immune system , immune system , major histocompatibility complex , genetics , viral replication

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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