To all #PSMC users. A prominent PSMC peak followed by a collapse is typically an artifact. @leonhilgers.bsky.social publiation in @currentbiology.bsky.social shows how to avoid this with simple parameter adjustments. www.cell.com/current-biol...

(i) ISG15 of most rhinolophid/hipposiderid bats, where coronaviruses are frequently found, reduces SARS-CoV-2 by 80-90%, while human ISG15 has no effect. (ii) Intracellular ISGylation is key for this antiviral activity, different from the role of human ISG15 as a secreted pro-inflammatory cytokine.

We highlight selection in several regulators of inflammatory responses and interferon signalling --> promising experimental targets to better understand bat immune-system adaptations.

Where does that signal come from? Partially from the ancestral bat lineage, which has almost twice as many positively selected immune genes than expected --> immune adaptations are likely (directly or indirectly) linked to the evolution of flight.

We found that signatures of adaptations in immune genes are more prevalent in bats than in other mammalian orders; genomic evidence that bats have pronounced immune-system adaptations.

To investigate the genomic basis of these adaptations, the @bat1kgenomes.bsky.social consortium generated 10 new high-quality bat genomes, focusing viral reservoir bats TheGeneMyers @mpicbg.bsky.social

Bats are natural reservoirs for Corona, Ebola, Hendra, Nipah, Rabies and other viruses. Unlike other mammals, reservoir bats do not get sick from infections with such viruses --> their immune system must have unique adaptations.