World's Largest Bat Organoid Platform Paves the Way for Pandemic Preparedness

World's largest bat organoid platform paves the way for pandemic preparedness

Until now, most research has used either generalized cell samples or organoids made from just one type of tropical fruit bat, and only from a single organ. But a breakthrough has arrived: a research team has now created the world's most comprehensive bat organoid platform. These 'mini-organs' are grown from five common bat species found across Asia and Europe and represent four different organs -- airway, lungs, kidneys, and small intestine.

Comprehensive bat organoid platform paves the way for pandemic preparedness

More than 75% of new infectious diseases affecting humans originally come from animals. Bats, in particular, are natural hosts to some of the world's most dangerous viruses, including those responsible for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), MERS-CoV, influenza A, and hantavirus outbreaks. Yet, despite their importance, scientists have long struggled to study how these viruses behave inside bats, simply because the right biological tools didn't exist.

New Multi-Species Bat Organoid Platform Enhances Pandemic Preparedness

The world’s largest bat organoid platform, which promises improvement in the study of zoonotic viruses, has been newly developed by scientists at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in Korea. By modeling virus-host interactions in a biologically relevant way, the platform allows scientists to isolate, study, and test therapeutics against dangerous viruses directly in bat-derived tissues and prepare for future pandemics. In their study publishe…

Diverse Bat Organoids Provide Pathophysiological Models for Zoonotic Viruses

Researchers developed a collection of bat organoid models spanning five species and four organ types. This multispecies, multiorgan organoid panel shows species- and tissue-specific replication patterns for several viruses, offering robust pathophysiological models for studying respiratory, renal, and enteric zoonotic viruses. [Science] Abstract

Groundbreaking Bat Organoid Platform Sets New Standard for Pandemic

In a groundbreaking advancement poised to revolutionize the study of zoonotic viruses, researchers at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in Korea have developed an unprecedented bat organoid platform that closely mimics the physiology of bats’ multiple organs. This innovative system enables scientists to probe the complex interactions between bats and the myriad of viruses they harbor, shedding light on viral behavior within these unique mamm…