Author ORCID Identifier
Tanya M. Lama: 0000-0002-7372-8081
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-19-2025
Publication Title
Iscience
Abstract
We generated a highly contiguous, annotated genome of the Jamaican fruit bat, Artibeus jamaicensis, including annotated germline immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IGH) and light-chain lambda (IGL) loci to understand bat B cell receptor repertoires. The bat germline shares many structures and features described in human immunoglobulin loci. However, some features are unique to A. jamaicensis, including an expansion of cysteine-rich IGHV genes. To investigate the relationship between the germline IGH locus and expressed B cell receptors (BCRs), we sequenced the BCRs of wild-caught and captive A. jamaicensis, finding an enrichment of IGHV3 and IGHV4 genes. Compared to humans, A. jamaicensis had shorter CDRH3s and lower levels of somatic hypermutation. Our results demonstrate that while immunoglobulin loci are largely conserved between bats and humans, distinct differences exist in the bat germline, highlighting the need for more detailed genetic characterization of these mammals.
Keywords
Biochemistry, Immune system, Immunology, Natural sciences, Viral microbiology
Volume
28
Issue
12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.113903
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Rights
© The Author(s) 2025
Version
Version of Record
Recommended Citation
Reers, Ashley B.; Zhan, Shijun; Pursell, Taylor; Reasoner, Clara; Hodges, Natasha; Lama, Tanya M.; Schountz, Tony; and Frank, Hannah K., "Immunoglobulin Germline Reference Sequences Enable Investigations and Reveal Insights Into Bat-Specific Immunity" (2025). Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/bio_facpubs/336