There have been several major outbreaks of emerging viral diseases, including Hendra, Nipah, Marburg and Ebola virus diseases, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-as well as the current pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Notably, all of these outbreaks have been linked to suspected zoonotic transmission of bat-borne viruses. Bats-the only flying mammal-display several additional features that are unique among mammals, such as a long lifespan relative to body size, a low rate of tumorigenesis and an exceptional ability to host viruses without presenting clinical disease. Here we discuss the mechanisms that underpin the host defence system and immune tolerance of bats, and their ramifications for human health and disease. Recent studies suggest that 64 million years of adaptive evolution have shaped the host defence system of bats to balance defence and tolerance, which has resulted in a unique ability to act as an ideal reservoir host for viruses. Lessons from the effective host defence of bats would help us to better understand viral evolution and to better predict, prevent and control future viral spillovers. Studying the mechanisms of immune tolerance in bats could lead to new approaches to improving human health. We strongly believe that it is time to focus on bats in research for the benefit of both bats and humankind.

中文翻译：

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蝙蝠宿主防御的经验教训，一个独特的病毒库

新出现的病毒性疾病已经爆发了几次，包括亨德拉病毒病、尼帕病毒病、马尔堡病毒病和埃博拉病毒病、严重急性呼吸系统综合症 (SARS) 和中东呼吸系统综合症 (MERS)，以及当前的 2019 年冠状病毒病大流行 (COVID -19). 值得注意的是，所有这些爆发都与疑似蝙蝠传播病毒的人畜共患传播有关。蝙蝠 - 唯一会飞的哺乳动物 - 显示出一些在哺乳动物中独一无二的额外特征，例如相对于体型而言寿命长、肿瘤发生率低以及在不出现临床疾病的情况下宿主病毒的特殊能力。在这里，我们讨论了支持宿主防御系统和蝙蝠免疫耐受的机制，以及它们对人类健康和疾病的影响。最近的研究表明，6400 万年的适应性进化塑造了蝙蝠的宿主防御系统以平衡防御和耐受性，从而产生了作为病毒理想储存宿主的独特能力。蝙蝠有效宿主防御的经验教训将帮助我们更好地了解病毒进化，并更好地预测、预防和控制未来的病毒溢出。研究蝙蝠的免疫耐受机制可能会带来改善人类健康的新方法。我们坚信，为了蝙蝠和人类的利益，现在是时候关注蝙蝠的研究了。蝙蝠有效宿主防御的经验教训将帮助我们更好地了解病毒进化，并更好地预测、预防和控制未来的病毒溢出。研究蝙蝠的免疫耐受机制可能会带来改善人类健康的新方法。我们坚信，为了蝙蝠和人类的利益，现在是时候关注蝙蝠的研究了。蝙蝠有效宿主防御的经验教训将帮助我们更好地了解病毒进化，并更好地预测、预防和控制未来的病毒溢出。研究蝙蝠的免疫耐受机制可能会带来改善人类健康的新方法。我们坚信，为了蝙蝠和人类的利益，现在是时候关注蝙蝠的研究了。