Robust dengue virus infection in bat cells and limited innate immune responses coupled with positive serology from bats in IndoMalaya and Australasia

Aaron T. Irving, Pritisha Rozario, Pui San Kong, Katarina Luko, Jeffrey J. Gorman, Marcus L. Hastie, Wan Ni Chia, Shailendra Mani, Benjamin Py H. Lee, Gavin J.D. Smith, Ian H. Mendenhall, H. Benjamin Larman, Stephen J. Elledge, Lin Fa Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Natural reservoir hosts can sustain infection of pathogens without succumbing to overt disease. Multiple bat species host a plethora of viruses, pathogenic to other mammals, without clinical symptoms. Here, we detail infection of bat primary cells, immune cells, and cell lines with Dengue virus. While antibodies and viral RNA were previously detected in wild bats, their ability to sustain infection is not conclusive. Old-world fruitbat cells can be infected, producing high titres of virus with limited cellular responses. In addition, there is minimal interferon (IFN) response in cells infected with MOIs leading to dengue production. The ability to support in vitro replication/production raises the possibility of bats as a transient host in the life cycle of dengue or similar flaviviruses. New antibody serology evidence from Asia/Pacific highlights the previous exposure and raises awareness that bats may be involved in flavivirus dynamics and infection of other hosts.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1607-1622
Number of pages16
JournalCellular and Molecular Life Sciences
Volume77
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2020

Keywords

  • Bats
  • Disease
  • Flavivirus
  • Immunity
  • Pteropus
  • Zoonosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology

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