Advanced Bat Organoid Platform Enhances Pandemic Preparedness Through Novel Virus Research

A groundbreaking research development has been achieved with the creation of the world's most comprehensive bat organoid platform, a significant leap forward in infectious disease research and pandemic prevention. This innovative system involves growing three-dimensional 'mini-organs'—including airway, lung, kidney, and small intestine tissues—from five common bat species native to Asia and Europe. These organoids serve as biological models that closely mimic the physiology of bats, the natural hosts for many dangerous viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, influenza A, and hantavirus.

Until now, scientists faced challenges in studying how these viruses behave inside bats due to limited biological tools that accurately replicate bat tissues. Traditional research relied on generalized cell cultures or organoids derived from a single bat species and organ, restricting understanding of cross-species viral dynamics. The new platform revolutionizes this approach by providing standardized, scalable models from multiple species and organs, enabling detailed analysis of viral infection mechanisms.

Using this platform, researchers can infect the bat tissue models with various viruses to observe how they spread and how the bat immune system responds. Notably, they discovered that virus behavior varies depending on the species and organ, explaining, in part, the capacity of bats to carry viruses without disease symptoms and their potential to transmit zoonotic infections.

The team also identified two previously unknown bat viruses—a mammalian orthoreovirus and a paramyxovirus—directly from wild bat feces. Remarkably, one of these viruses could not be cultivated in traditional cell cultures but thrived within the organoid models, demonstrating the platform’s value in virus isolation and identification.

In addition, scientists transformed the three-dimensional organoids into two-dimensional cell layers, facilitating rapid and reliable antiviral drug testing, such as with Remdesivir. This improvement in testing speed and accuracy can accelerate the development of medical countermeasures.

Furthermore, the system revealed that bat immune responses vary significantly by organ and species, offering insights into how bats manage to host multiple viruses without falling ill. These findings could inform strategies for controlling zoonotic spillover events.

Looking ahead, the team aims to expand this system into a global biobank of bat tissues, which would support international efforts in virus surveillance, risk assessment, and developing targeted therapeutics. The platform’s ability to safely study highly pathogenic viruses offers a powerful tool for early detection and pandemic preparedness, aligning with global health security objectives.