Could bats hold the secret to beating Covid and cancer?
Bats could hold the key to unlocking new ways to combat cancer, a new study suggests. A paper published by Oxford University Press, looks at the rapid evolution of bats for their abilities to both host and survive infections such as Covid-19 as well as cancer. The animals are known to have a strong immune system which helps fight off many viruses and diseases. These mammals are also thought to have played a role in the emergence of Covid-19 and scientists say such characteristics are interesting to investigate due to the implications it might have on human health. According to the research, understanding the mechanisms of the bat’s immune system that allows these animals to fight off viral infections – may pave the way to understanding how to prevent disease outbreaks from animals to people. To conduct the study, researchers sequenced the genomes of two bat species - the Jamaican fruit bat and the Mesoamerican mustached bat. The team used advanced technology from Oxford Nanopore Technologies and bat samples collected by the American Museum of Natural History in Belize. They then compared the bat genomes to those of other mammals. The results revealed that bats possessed genetic adaptations in proteins which are related to DNA repair and cancer suppression. It was found that bats had adaptations in six DNA repair-related proteins and 46 cancer-related proteins. The study also found that bats had more than double the number of altered cancer-related genes compared to other mammals, which provided further evidence that they have the ability to suppress cancer. “By generating these new bat genomes and comparing them to other mammals we continue to find extraordinary new adaptations in antiviral and anticancer genes,” said the paper’s lead author, Armin Scheben. “These investigations are the first step towards translating research on the unique biology of bats into insights relevant to understanding and treating ageing and diseases, such as cancer, in humans.” The results open up new paths for understanding and studying the links between cancer and immunity, which offers hope that these insights from bats might possibly lead to new treatments for human illnesses. According to the United States Department of the Interior, there are over 1,400 species of bats worldwide and are mostly found in extreme deserts and polar regions. In the US and Canada, there are about 45 species of bats. Read More British bats ‘can help identify coronaviruses with potential to infect humans’ Coronavirus origins still a mystery 3 years into pandemic Groundbreaking migraine treatment offers ‘new hope’ for patients World Sepsis Day: What is the condition and its symptoms? Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor says he’s ‘asymptomatic’ after end-of-life diagnosis
2023-09-20 22:18
'Don't end that Jonas Brother': Fans joke as Joe Jonas' exes Taylor Swift and Sophie Turner spotted together in NYC
Sophie Turner was seen wandering with Taylor Swift through the streets of New York City, enjoying the single life
2023-09-20 21:58
Kraft Heinz is recalling some American cheese slices because the wrappers could pose choking hazard
Kraft Heinz is recalling more than 83,000 cases of individually-wrapped Kraft Singles American processed cheese slices because part of the wrapper could stick to the slice and become a choking hazard
2023-09-20 21:56
Pernod Ricard Seeks Sale of Wine Brand Portfolio Again
French spirits maker Pernod Ricard SA is exploring a potential sale of its wine portfolio that features brands
2023-09-20 20:46
Million-selling novelist Isabel Allende has a deal to write 3 children's books
At age 81, Isabel Allende has decided it's time to try writing children's books
2023-09-20 20:46
Coty Raises Sales Outlook on Strong Fragrance Demand
Coty Inc. raised its sales outlook for the current fiscal year, citing continued robust demand for higher-end fragrances.
2023-09-20 20:26
Hundreds of Buyers Queue Up for Dubai's $5 Million Palm-Island Homes
Hundreds of buyers scrambled to snap up luxury homes on the largest of Dubai’s palm-shaped islands where villas
2023-09-20 20:22
Kraft recalls faulty American cheese singles that might be 'unpleasant' or make you gag
Kraft Heinz is recalling about 83,000 cases of its individually wrapped Kraft Singles American cheese because they might pose a choking hazard.
2023-09-20 20:18
KFC's Colonel Sanders is heading to Final Fantasy
The Colonel won't be frying chicken as a Black Mage in the MMO.
2023-09-20 19:29
Edmunds answers the most asked questions from first-time EV buyers
As sales of electric vehicles continue to grow, so do the number of questions curious shoppers have when considering making the switch to a fully electrified car, truck or SUV
2023-09-20 19:22
Cheerios maker General Mills tops quarterly sales estimates on higher prices
(Reuters) -General Mills exceeded analysts' expectations for quarterly sales on Wednesday, as price hikes on its breakfast cereals, snack bars
2023-09-20 19:15
China Eases Visa Application Process to Attract Foreign Visitors
China said Wednesday it has simplified its visa application process as it looks to attract more visitors from
2023-09-20 18:15