How Bats Break Science | Science vs

Intro

In this episode of Science Vs, the mysteries of bats are unraveled as scientists study these fascinating creatures to understand their longevity and ability to resist viruses. From their slow aging process to their unique immune system, bats hold valuable insights that could benefit humans in treating diseases and living healthier lives.

Main Takeaways

Bat Longevity

• Bats live much longer than other mammals and show no signs of age-related diseases.
• Humans would live for centuries if they had the same lifespan as the longest-lived bat.
• Bats age so slowly that it’s barely detectable.
• Researchers study wild, long-lived bats in France to understand their resistance to aging.

Bat Roosts

• Bats live in unexpected places like churches and roofs of schools.
• A naturalist association helps track down long-lived bat populations in old churches.
• Bats wiggle their way into the roofs of churches and hang in the attic.

Telomeres and Bat Longevity

• Long-lived bats have a way of maintaining telomeres, which protect DNA from degrading.
• Telomeres are thought to be part of the reason for bats’ longevity superpower.

Bats and Viruses

• Bats are known for their ability to fight off viruses, including coronaviruses, SARS, MERS, and Ebola.
• Bats carry viruses that cause deadly epidemics in humans but don’t get sick themselves.
• Bats keep their immune system in a “goldilocks zone” to attack and clear the virus without damaging healthy cells.

Inflammasomes and Bat Immune System

• Inflammasomes play a major role in aging and age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, and heart disease.
• Bats make a protein that suppresses their inflammasomes, keeping their immune system in a Goldilocks zone.
• Researchers genetically modified mice to make the same inflammasome suppressing protein as bats and found that they reacted more like bats, with less inflammation and were less likely to die from the flu.

Bat Adaptations

• Bats’ communal lifestyle may have led to their immune system adaptation to cope with virus transmission, which could help them live longer.
• Flight is hard on bats, so they evolved countermeasures to deal with the stress, which protect them from damage and give them a longer health span.

Summary

Bats: The Long-Lived Mysteries

Bats are the most magnificent of all mammals with rare traits. They live for a mysteriously long time and can brush off viruses that kill humans. Scientists are studying bats to learn how they live so long and avoid viruses. Bats live much longer than other mammals, and don’t show signs of age-related diseases. Humans would live for centuries if they lived as long as the longest-lived bat. Researchers are studying wild, long-lived bats in France to understand how they resist aging. Bats are not living in caves, but in churches and roofs of schools. A naturalist association helps track down long-lived bat populations in old churches. Bats wiggle their way into the roofs of churches and hang in the attic. Scientists catch the bats using a harp trap and track them over their lives. Long-lived bats have a way of maintaining telomeres, which protect DNA from degrading. The reason for bats’ longevity superpower is complicated, but telomeres are thought to be part of it.

Bats: Immune System Marvels

Bats are known for their ability to fight off viruses, including coronaviruses, SARS, MERS, and Ebola. Bats carry viruses that cause deadly epidemics in humans but don’t get sick themselves. Bats keep their immune system in a “goldilocks zone” to attack and clear the virus without damaging healthy cells. Inflammasomes play a major role in aging and age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, and heart disease. Bats make a protein that suppresses their inflammasomes, keeping their immune system in a Goldilocks zone. Researchers genetically modified mice to make the same inflammasome suppressing protein as bats and found that they reacted more like bats, with less inflammation and were less likely to die from the flu. Bats’ communal lifestyle may have led to their immune system adaptation to cope with virus transmission, which could help them live longer. Flight is hard on bats, so they evolved countermeasures to deal with the stress, which protect them from damage and give them a longer health span.

Conclusion

Bats have their own unique lives that can ultimately help humans live healthier and longer. Their longevity and immune system adaptations are fascinating areas of study that could lead to breakthroughs in treating diseases and improving human health. By understanding the mysteries of bats, scientists are uncovering valuable insights that have the potential to benefit humanity.