Myotis bat genomes reveal genetic links between extreme longevity and virus adaptation

Using long-read PacBio HiFi sequencing, Hi-C scaffolding, and primary cell cultures, the team generated near-complete, haplotype-resolved genomes for eight Myotis bat species that span a six-fold range in lifespan. Structural-variant mapping revealed numerous inversions and duplications, especially near putative centromeres, and identified a long-standing PKR copy-number polymorphism with up to three tandem copies. Genome-wide scans showed strong positive selection in proteins that interact with DNA viruses, whereas RNA-virus-interacting proteins were more often subject to copy-number expansion.

Selection also targeted cancer-associated pathways, correlating with rapid evolution of longevity; the longest-lived species, M. lucifugus, exhibited heightened apoptosis after DNA-damage treatment. Functional assays demonstrated that duplicated PKR copies act additively without dominant-negative effects. Together, the study links bat longevity and immune tolerance to pleiotropic genetic adaptations driven by viral pressures.