Bats ability to coexist
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Written by Kelvin Mmbihi
Bats are known to harbor a large number of viruses, including some that can cause disease in humans such as SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), Ebola, and Nipah virus. Despite this, bats themselves rarely show signs of illness from these viruses. So how do they manage to live with so many viruses?
There are several factors that may contribute to bats' ability to coexist with viruses. One is their immune system. Bats have a unique immune system that can tolerate high levels of viral replication without triggering harmful inflammatory responses. This means that they can control viral infections without damaging their own tissues.
Photo courtesy of national conservative
Another factor is their flight. Flying is an energy-intensive activity that generates a lot of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage cells. However, bats have evolved antioxidant defenses to protect their cells from ROS, which may also help them to control viral infections.
Finally, bats live in large social groups, which can also help to limit the spread of disease. Bats have been observed to modify their social behavior when sick, such as isolating themselves from the group, which may help to reduce the transmission of viruses within the colony.
Video courtesy of youtube
It's worth noting that while bats are known to harbor a large number of viruses, the majority of these viruses do not cause disease in humans. Only a small fraction of bat viruses have been shown to infect humans, and even fewer have caused large-scale outbreaks.
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