Cell Metabolism
Volume 32, Issue 1, 7 July 2020, Pages 31-43
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Perspective
The World Goes Bats: Living Longer and Tolerating Viruses

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2020.06.013Get rights and content
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For centuries, people believed that bats possessed sinister powers. Bats are thought to be ancestral hosts to many deadly viruses affecting humans including Ebola, rabies, and most recently SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. However, bats themselves tolerate these viruses without ill effects. The second power that bats have is their longevity. Bats live much longer than similar-sized land mammals. Here we review how bats’ ability to control inflammation may be contributing to their longevity. The underlying mechanisms may hold clues to developing new treatments for age-related diseases. Now may be the time to use science to exploit the secret powers of bats for human benefit.

Keywords

Bats
Aging
Longevity
Inflammation
Inflammaging

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