Bat lung epithelial cells show greater host species-specific innate resistance than MDCK cells to human and avian influenza viruses

Abstract

BackgroundWith the recent discovery of novel H17N10 and H18N11 influenza viral RNA in bats and report on high frequency of avian H9 seroconversion in a species of free ranging bats, an important issue to address is the extent bats are susceptible to conventional avian and human influenza A viruses.MethodTo this end, three bat species (Eidolon helvum, Carollia perspicillata and Tadarida brasiliensis) of lung epithelial cells were separately infected with two avian and two human influenza viruses to determine their relative host innate immune resistance to infection.ResultsAll three species of bat cells were more resistant than positive control Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells to all four influenza viruses. TB1-Lu cells lacked sialic acid α2,6-Gal receptors and were most resistant among the three bat species. Interestingly, avian viruses were relatively more replication permissive in all three bat species of cells than with the use of human viruses which suggest that bats could potentially play a role in the ecology of avian influenza viruses. Chemical inhibition of the JAK-STAT pathway in bat cells had no effect on virus production suggesting that type I interferon signalling is not a major factor in resisting influenza virus infection.ConclusionAlthough all three species of bat cells are relatively more resistant to influenza virus infection than control MDCK cells, they are more permissive to avian than human viruses which suggest that bats could have a contributory role in the ecology of avian influenza viruses.

Egyptian Fruit Bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) Were Resistant to Experimental Inoculation with Avian-Origin Influenza A Virus of Subtype H9N2, But Are Susceptible to Experimental Infection with Bat-Borne H9N2 Virus

“…However, it appears to be more likely that Egyptian fruit bats are simply not susceptible to avian H9N2 viruses coming directly from poultry without any adaptation processes. In contrast, in vitro replication studies using lung epithelial cells derived from three different bat species demonstrated a general permissiveness of these cells for other avian influenza viruses, e.g., subtype H6N1 and H2N3 [ 23 ]. On the other hand, the host species chosen to be inoculated might have been erroneous.…”

Infection Studies with Airway Organoids from Carollia perspicillata Indicate That the Respiratory Epithelium Is Not a Barrier for Interspecies Transmission of Influenza Viruses

“…Animals of this species are a natural reservoir for influenza viruses of the subtype H18N11 ( 18 , 25 ). In addition, lung epithelial cells of the C. perspicillata species were shown to be permissive for avian and human influenza viruses ( 26 ). Therefore, C. perspicillata provides a good model to analyze the infection and transmission of influenza viruses from bats to other species and from other species to bats, as well as to study infection by bat influenza viruses ( 25 ).…”

Sialic Acid Receptors: The Key to Solving the Enigma of Zoonotic Virus Spillover

“…In intestines, SA α2,6-Gal receptors are more prominent in the goblet cells, lamina propria, muscularis, and serosa of the intestine [ 54 ]. The characterization of lung cell lines of bats ( Tadarida brasiliensis ) also revealed extensive SA α2,3-Gal receptors with barely detectable SA α2,6-Gal receptors ( Table 1 ) [ 55 ].…”