Week 9

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 Hello Everyone,

I have been having issues with the google sheet for the habitat survey of the bat recordings. Despite our efforts, I am just having to create a new sheet to be copied over. 

I have been trying to focus my paper for the bat project. In my search to analyze the greatest cause that answers my research question, I found out that my hypothesis was partially right. There is a genetic and cellular factor that causes some viruses to easily jump from bats or birds to other animals.

I believe last week I discussed there may be a correlation to bats tumorigenesis. When bats emerged during evolution with the distinction of flight, their young required to be carried on the backs of their mothers. Therefore, their reproductive yield is 1-2 cubs per year. With small litters per bat natural selection acted on lifespan. Some scientists believe this is where the genetic cells that deter cancerous growths came from. 

In correlation, these same oncolytic cells could be why bats obtain and withstand so many viruses. The cells act as an anti-inflammatory which could curb the negative effects and symptoms that ail us when the pathogens enter our body. Without illness or death, these viruses can reside in the bats and easily spread throughout populations. 

The question still lies where the zoonotic factor comes into play. Is it just that bats harbor more viruses, have large populations, and come into close proximity to humans that makes their viruses more susceptible to jumping? Or, is there something genetic or about the viruses themselves that give them specie hopping abilities? 

Stay tuned...

Below is figures of the genetic analysis of the MHC proteins which bats contain. The first figure shows the results of the two alleles of 3-aa and 5-aa. The second shows the absorption of the peptides of MHC in varying viruses. The data tables are derived from https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000436 in, "Peptide presentation by bat MHC class I provides new insight into the antiviral immunity of bats."




Barclay, W. S. (2019). Receptor for bat influenza virus uncovers potential risk to                                               humans. Nature, 567(7746), 35+. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A576552552/GRNR?                          u=mcc_phoe&sid=GRNR&xid=90f92214

Dan, L., Kefang, L. Di, Z., Can, Y., Qiong, L., Hao, C., Liand, W., Yan, C., Jianxun, Q., Lin-Fa, W.,                     (2019). Peptide presentation by bat MHC class I provides new insight into the antiviral                         immunity of bats. Public Library of Science. https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?           

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