How can we explain the exceptional longevity of certain bats and their ability to withstand viral infections? By comparing the complete genomes of eight species closely related to Myotis and studying their immune systems and cells, scientists have identified the mechanisms underlying these adaptations and demonstrated a link between proteins that interact with viruses and biological pathways associated with longevity. The findings were published in Nature.

Bats of the genus Myotis exhibit two characteristics that particularly intrigue biologists. Some species can live up to 42 years—an exceptional lifespan for mammals of this size—while other species live only a few years. They also possess defense systems that allow them to tolerate or fight off various pathogenic viruses without necessarily developing severe symptoms.

To investigate the genetic basis of these traits, an international collaboration conducted as part of the CNRS’s RAPIDvBAT International Research Project enabled scientists to sequence and compare the complete genomes of eight species closely related to Myotis. Cell lines were also developed to experimentally test some of the mechanisms revealed by the genomic analyses.

Different adaptations to DNA and RNA viruses

The results show, first of all, that evolution has not followed the same pathways depending on the type of virus. For DNA viruses, such as herpesviruses, bat proteins that interact with viral proteins frequently bear the marks of positive selection: over generations, certain advantageous genetic changes have been favored by natural selection.

Read more on the CNRS website

Reference

Vazquez, J.M., Lauterbur, M.E., Mottaghinia, S. et al. Insights into longevity and virus-driven adaptation from Myotis bat genomes. Nature (2026). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10932-7