Abstract

Bats are an important animal model with long lifespans, low incidences of tumorigenesis and an ability to asymptomatically harbour pathogens. Currently, in vivo studies of bats are hampered due to their low reproduction rates. To overcome this, we transplanted bat cells from bone marrow (BM) and spleen into an immunodeficient mouse strain NOD-scid IL-2R−/− (NSG), and have successfully established stable, long-term reconstitution of bat immune cells in mice (bat-mice). Immune functionality of our bat-mouse model was demonstrated through generation of antigen-specific antibody response by bat cells following immunization. Post-engraftment of total bat BM cells and splenocytes, bat immune cells survived, expanded and repopulated the mouse without any observable clinical abnormalities. Utilizing bat’s remarkable immunological functions, this novel model has a potential to be transformed into a powerful platform for basic and translational research.

Details

Title
Bat-mouse bone marrow chimera: a novel animal model for dissecting the uniqueness of the bat immune system
Author
Kylie Su Mei Yong 1 ; Justin Han Jia Ng 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Her, Zhisheng 1 ; Hey, Ying Ying 2 ; Tan, Sue Yee 1 ; Wilson Wei Sheng Tan 1 ; Sergio Erdal Irac 2 ; Liu, Min 1 ; Chan, Xue Ying 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Gunawan, Merry 1 ; Randy Jee Hiang Foo 2 ; Dolyce Hong Wen Low 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Ian Hewitt Mendenhall 2 ; Yok Teng Chionh 2 ; Charles-Antoine Dutertre 3 ; Chen, Qingfeng 4 ; Lin-Fa, Wang 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore 
 Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore 
 Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore 
 Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China 
Pages
1-10
Publication year
2018
Publication date
Mar 2018
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2014511210
Copyright
© 2018. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.