BAT IMMUNOLOGY

Abstract

Summary A number of studies have explored the bat immune system in order to determine its components and their activity levels. Active adaptive immune system activity consumes a great deal of energy that could be used for other essential activities, such as mating and reproduction, as well as longevity. Innate immunity tends to require lower energy expenditure than cell-mediated or adaptive immunity, suggesting that bat species may differ from other mammals in the type and amount of innate versus adaptive immune responses, with an increased reliance upon the former. Neutrophil's phagocytic activity combined with complement-mediated cytotoxicity are rapid and are involved in defense against bacterial infection, while T-cell activity is more important in clearing viral infections. However, the extent of the role of interferons in bats' antiviral defense may be skewed since relatively little research has focused on cell-mediated immunity in bats.