2026-08-26 カリフォルニア大学バークレー校（UCB）
This longeared bat, Myotis evotis, was captured in Arizona by researchers from UC Berkeley and the University of Arizona. The scientists took tissue samples from the wings before releasing it and used the samples to sequence the bat’s genome and to establish cell cultures for study. Elise Lauterbur
＜関連情報＞
- https://news.berkeley.edu/2026/08/26/clues-to-longevity-may-reside-in-the-genomes-of-long-lived-bats/
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10932-7
コウモリの一種であるMyotis属のゲノムから得られる、長寿とウイルスによる適応に関する知見 Insights into longevity and virus-driven adaptation from Myotis bat genomes
Juan M. Vazquez,M. Elise Lauterbur,Saba Mottaghinia,Léa Gaucherand,Sarah Maesen,Michael Singer,Sarah Villa,Melanie Bucci,Devaughn Fraser,Genavieve Gray-Sandoval,Zeinab R. Haidar,Melissa Han,William Kohler,Tanya M. Lama,Amandine Le Corf,Clara Loyer,Dakota McMillan,Stacy Li,Johnathan Lo,Carine Rey,Samantha L. R. Capel,Kathleen Slocum,Melissa Sui,William Thomas,… Peter H. Sudmant
Nature Published:26 August 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10932-7
Abstract
The genus Myotis is one of the largest clades of bats, and it exhibits some of the most extreme variation in lifespans among mammals, alongside unique adaptations to viral tolerance and immune defence1,2,3. Here, to study the evolution of these phenotypes, we generated cell lines and near-complete genome assemblies for eight closely related Myotis species. Using genome-wide screens of positive selection, analyses of structural variation and functional experiments in primary cells, we identify patterns of adaptation contributing to longevity, cancer resistance and viral interactions. We demonstrate distinct modes of adaptation to DNA and RNA viruses compared with all other mammals, with bats exhibiting genome-wide over-representation of positive selection for DNA-virus-interacting proteins and elevated rates of copy-number variation for RNA-virus-interacting proteins. Characterization of Myotis-specific duplications of the key immune factor EIF2AK2 (also known as PKR) reveals multiple ancient segregating trans-species copy-number polymorphisms. We show that the recurrent evolution of longevity seen in Myotis is associated with positive selection in cancer pathways, and demonstrate a unique response to DNA damage in primary cells of the long-lived Myotis lucifugus. Together, our results suggest that bats’ remarkable longevity and immunity are linked through pleiotropic adaptations to viruses and ageing-related disease.
