The study, published in the Journal of Virology, highlights that bat cells possess specific molecular barriers that act as a defence against the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Dr Jordi Serra-Cobo, an eco-epidemiology expert at the University of Barcelona, was a key collaborator in this research.
Using primary cells from several little-explored bat species, such as Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Myotis myotis, Eptesicus serotinus, Tadarida brasiliensis and Nyctalus noctula, the study reveals that these cells possess innate mechanisms that limit the replication of SARS-CoV-2. This discovery suggests the possibility that bats could have a natural resistance to the virus, offering prospects for future research in this field.