Bats are known to mediate Ebola virus, which causes Ebola, SARS-CoV, which causes severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS, and MERS-CoV, which causes Middle East respiratory syndrome MERS. SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 and COVID-19, which is prevalent throughout the year, is also believed to be a virus derived from bats. A Singaporean research team reported discovering a new mechanism for the secret that bats can carry a variety of viruses and not contract disease.
A research team at the National University of Singapore’s Graduate School of Medicine reported on the cause of bats carrying a common infectious disease virus and not getting sick. The research team investigated three species, Black flying fox, Cave nectar bat, and David’s Myotis, and attempted to elucidate the mechanism of protein activity that plays an important role in mediating immune and inflammatory responses.
As a result of the investigation, it was found that bats have a mechanism to lower the level of Caspase-1, which plays a central role in various processes such as cell death and inflammation, and interleukin 1 beta, a kind of inflammatory cytokine that causes an inflammatory response. Turned out. It was also found to have a function of inhibiting interleukin-1β maturation by fine-tuning caspase-1 and interleukin-1β balance.
The research team explained that this mechanism is a factor that causes bats to become infected while possessing the acquired common infectious disease virus. In the case of humans, they said that it is known to prevent the decline due to aging and lead to longevity by suppressing excessive inflammatory reactions in humans. He added that the discovery could lead to the development of new strategies for human infection control and treatment. Related information can be found here .