Bats possess a second gene system for antibodies unlike other mammals

Researchers have discovered a second system of genes responsible for antibody production in bats of the Vespertilionidae family (evening bats). This structural genomic difference, unique among known mammals, explains the high variability of their immune response, allowing these animals to carry dangerous viruses without developing severe diseases. The study, published in the journal Science Advances, identifies a specific genetic architecture but does not yet reveal the concrete mechanisms of how these antibodies interact with pathogens. Duplicate Gene Systems in the Genome The research involved an analysis of the genetic apparatus of vesper bats, the largest family of chiropterans, comprising more than 500 species. Scientists from Tulane University, Stanford University, and the CDC found that these animals possess two separate copies of the gene system that produces antibody heavy chains.