Organoid platform enables closer study of bat-borne viruses

Bats are natural hosts to some of the world’s most dangerous viruses, yet scientists have long struggled to study how these viruses behave inside bats, simply because the right biological tools didn’t exist. Until now, most research has used either generalised cell samples or organoids made from just one type of tropical fruit bat, and only from a single organ.

Now, a research team led by the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in Korea, along with international collaborators, has created what it describes as the world’s most comprehensive bat organoid platform, grown from five common bat species found across Asia and Europe and representing four different organs — airway, lungs, kidneys and small intestine. Their work has been described in the journal Science.

“Reconstructing bat organ physiology in the lab lets us explore how zoonotic viruses — those that jump from animals to humans — work, in unprecedented detail,” said Bon-Kyoung Koo, Director of the IBS Center for Genome Engineering.

Armed with these new tools, the researchers were able to directly test how key viruses — including SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, influenza A and hantavirus — infect different bat species and organs. They found that each virus behaves uniquely, sometimes infecting only certain organs or bat species. For example, a virus that grew easily in one bat’s lung might fail to grow in another’s kidney. This helps explain why some viruses can jump to humans, while others remain confined to bats.

“This platform lets us isolate viruses, study infections and test drugs all within one system — something you can’t do with ordinary lab cell models,” said senior researcher Hyunjoon Kim. “By mimicking the bat’s natural environment, it boosts the accuracy and real-world value of infectious disease research.”

The team discovered that bats’ immune systems respond differently to the same virus depending on the organ and the species, which could help explain why bats are able to carry so many viruses without becoming sick themselves. They also uncovered two previously unknown bat viruses directly from wild bat faeces — one of which could not be grown in standard cell cultures but thrived in the new bat organoids, proving just how valuable this technology is for future virus isolation. Finally, by converting the organoids into a two-dimensional version, the scientists made it possible to quickly test potential antiviral drugs like remdesivir, and achieved more reliable results than traditional lab methods.

The bat organoid platform thus marks a new era for infectious disease research, making it possible to safely and effectively study dangerous viruses in a setting that closely mirrors real life. It enables scientists to screen for new viruses, assess their risk, and test drugs using bat tissues from multiple species and organs. The research team envisions eventually expanding this work into a global biobank resource that will serve as a cornerstone for both national and international biosecurity efforts, facilitating global pandemic preparedness.

Image credit: iStock.com/CreativeNature_nl