Insights into longevity and virus-driven adaptation from Myotis bat genomes

Juan M Vazquez, M Elise Lauterbur, Saba Mottaghinia, Lucie Etienne, David Enard, Peter H Sudmant

1. 01

   Recurrent evolution of longevity within Myotis is associated with positive selection in cancer pathways

2. 02

   Primary cells from the long-lived Myotis lucifugus show a distinct DNA-damage response

3. 03

   Genome-wide over-representation of positive selection in DNA-virus-interacting proteins; elevated copy-number variation for RNA-virus-interacting proteins

4. 04

   Myotis-specific duplications of EIF2AK2/PKR include ancient trans-species copy-number polymorphisms

5. 05

   Longevity and viral tolerance appear linked through pleiotropic adaptation rather than independent mechanisms

Study Design

preclinical

Sample Size

Not reported

Study Duration

Not reported

Methodology

Cell lines and near-complete genome assemblies for eight Myotis species; genome-wide positive-selection screens, structural-variation analysis and functional experiments in primary cells.

Limitations

Comparative genomics with cell-level functional support only; no intervention, no mammalian model of the candidate mechanisms, and no therapeutic target nominated. Constrains which pathways are worth pursuing rather than demonstrating that modulating them extends life in other species.