An integrative approach for profiling antibody responses in bats to human pathogens

Abstract

Serological analyses are a fundamental tool for identifying infections by a wide range of pathogens. They offer a current overview of pathogen prevalence and insight into past infections. This is particularly relevant for bats, given their high capacity to tolerate pathogens and their role as reservoirs of zoonotic diseases. At present, serological studies in bats have predominantly employed traditional techniques such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, these techniques have several limitations, including low throughput and the lack of bat-specific detection antibodies. To address these limitations, we developed an integrative approach for systemic serological analyses based on microarray technology, which enables the simultaneous detection of bat IgG antibodies against >190 human pathogens (viruses, bacteria, protists). The results of our analyses demonstrated an antibody response in bats targeting multiple epitopes from different pathogens, thereby proving the method's high-throughput capability. Furthermore, this approach does not rely on the use of IgG detection reagents, thereby allowing for its application to a diverse range of bat species. This assay offers insights into the infections of bats with pathogens, thereby enhancing our comprehension of zoonotic disease dynamics and facilitating targeted pathogen surveillance.