1. The Egyptian Rousette Genome Reveals Unexpected Features of Bat Antiviral Immunity.
- Author
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Pavlovich SS, Lovett SP, Koroleva G, Guito JC, Arnold CE, Nagle ER, Kulcsar K, Lee A, Thibaud-Nissen F, Hume AJ, Mühlberger E, Uebelhoer LS, Towner JS, Rabadan R, Sanchez-Lockhart M, Kepler TB, and Palacios G
- Subjects
- Amino Acid Sequence, Animals, Cell Line, Chiroptera classification, Chiroptera immunology, Chromosome Mapping, Disease Reservoirs virology, Egypt, Evolution, Molecular, Genetic Variation, Histocompatibility Antigens Class I classification, Histocompatibility Antigens Class I genetics, Humans, Interferon Type I classification, Interferon Type I genetics, Marburg Virus Disease immunology, Marburg Virus Disease pathology, Marburgvirus physiology, NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C chemistry, NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C classification, NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C genetics, NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D chemistry, NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D classification, NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D genetics, Phylogeny, Sequence Alignment, Chiroptera genetics, Genome, Immunity, Innate genetics
- 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., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2018
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