The world’s largest bat organoid platform, which promises improvement in the study of zoonotic viruses, has been newly developed by scientists at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in Korea. By modeling virus-host interactions in a biologically relevant way, the platform allows scientists to isolate, study, and test therapeutics against dangerous viruses directly in bat-derived tissues and prepare for future pandemics.
In their study published in Science, the international team shares their bat organoid system that includes five bat species, each with four organ types, including airway, lung, kidney, and small intestine tissues. The paper is entitled, “Diverse bat organoids provide pathophysiological models for zoonotic viruses.”
“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 Koo Bon-Kyoung, PhD, director of the IBS Center for Genome Engineering.
Bats are natural hosts to a wide array of viruses capable of spilling over into humans, including SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, influenza A, and hantavirus. Most studies relied on generalized cell samples or organoids derived from a single bat species and organ—limiting the ability of scientists to examine viral behavior, transmission, and risk. More dynamic and integrated tools are needed to determine how these viruses jump across species.
To address this, the researchers developed a panel of bat organoids, including tissues from multiple organs of wild bats commonly found across Asia and Europe, grown in a setting that closely mirrors natural bat biology.
“By mimicking the bat’s natural environment, it boosts the accuracy and real-world value of infectious disease research,” said Hyunjoon Kim, PhD, a senior researcher at IBS.
Using the platform, the researchers were able to test how viruses replicate differently across various bat species and organs. Kim said that the team was able to “isolate viruses, study infections, and test drugs all within one system—something you can’t do with ordinary lab cell models.”
The viruses showed highly specific patterns of infection. A virus that replicated easily in one bat’s lung might fail to infect kidney cells from another species. These variations offer important clues about why some viruses jump into humans while others remain confined to bats.
The authors wrote, “This multispecies, multiorgan organoid panel showed species- and tissue-specific replication patterns for several viruses, offering robust pathophysiological models for studying respiratory, renal, and enteric zoonotic viruses.”
The team also identified tissue-specific immune responses within bats, providing insights into how bats manage to carry high viral loads without becoming sick themselves. These findings could help researchers uncover host factors that suppress disease symptoms and better understand how viruses adapt to new hosts.
Using this system, the researchers identified two novel bat viruses from bat feces—a mammalian orthoreovirus and a paramyxovirus. Notably, one of these viruses could not be cultured using standard cell cultures but successfully grew in the bat organoid system.
The platform also proved effective for antiviral screening. By converting the organoids into two-dimensional cell cultures, the scientists conducted rapid drug testing using compounds like Remdesivir, resulting in more reliable results than with traditional methods.
“With these standardized and scalable bat organoids, we aim to systematically identify novel bat-origin viruses and screen antiviral candidates targeting pathogens with pandemic potential,” said Choi Young Ki, director of the Korea Virus Research Institute, IBS.
The system enables scientists to identify, analyze, and test treatments against bat-borne viruses, including newly discovered ones. This breakthrough supports global virus surveillance and pandemic preparedness. Created using BioRender. [Institute for Basic Science]
The researchers envision expanding the platform into a global biobank for bat organoids, supporting international virus surveillance and response efforts. This initiative will enable deeper investigation into the viral features that drive cross-species transmission, support the development of comprehensive genetic maps of key bat species, and facilitate global preparedness.
This work addresses a longstanding gap in virology: the lack of appropriate model systems for studying zoonotic viruses in their natural hosts. By capturing species- and tissue-level differences in virus replication and immune response, the bat organoid platform opens new avenues for early detection, risk assessment, and intervention.
The post New Multi-Species Bat Organoid Platform Enhances Pandemic Preparedness appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.
In their study published in Science, the international team shares their bat organoid system that includes five bat species, each with four organ types, including airway, lung, kidney, and small intestine tissues. The paper is entitled, “Diverse bat organoids provide pathophysiological models for zoonotic viruses.”
“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 Koo Bon-Kyoung, PhD, director of the IBS Center for Genome Engineering.
Bats are natural hosts to a wide array of viruses capable of spilling over into humans, including SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, influenza A, and hantavirus. Most studies relied on generalized cell samples or organoids derived from a single bat species and organ—limiting the ability of scientists to examine viral behavior, transmission, and risk. More dynamic and integrated tools are needed to determine how these viruses jump across species.
To address this, the researchers developed a panel of bat organoids, including tissues from multiple organs of wild bats commonly found across Asia and Europe, grown in a setting that closely mirrors natural bat biology.
“By mimicking the bat’s natural environment, it boosts the accuracy and real-world value of infectious disease research,” said Hyunjoon Kim, PhD, a senior researcher at IBS.
Using the platform, the researchers were able to test how viruses replicate differently across various bat species and organs. Kim said that the team was able to “isolate viruses, study infections, and test drugs all within one system—something you can’t do with ordinary lab cell models.”
The viruses showed highly specific patterns of infection. A virus that replicated easily in one bat’s lung might fail to infect kidney cells from another species. These variations offer important clues about why some viruses jump into humans while others remain confined to bats.
The authors wrote, “This multispecies, multiorgan organoid panel showed species- and tissue-specific replication patterns for several viruses, offering robust pathophysiological models for studying respiratory, renal, and enteric zoonotic viruses.”
The team also identified tissue-specific immune responses within bats, providing insights into how bats manage to carry high viral loads without becoming sick themselves. These findings could help researchers uncover host factors that suppress disease symptoms and better understand how viruses adapt to new hosts.
Using this system, the researchers identified two novel bat viruses from bat feces—a mammalian orthoreovirus and a paramyxovirus. Notably, one of these viruses could not be cultured using standard cell cultures but successfully grew in the bat organoid system.
The platform also proved effective for antiviral screening. By converting the organoids into two-dimensional cell cultures, the scientists conducted rapid drug testing using compounds like Remdesivir, resulting in more reliable results than with traditional methods.
“With these standardized and scalable bat organoids, we aim to systematically identify novel bat-origin viruses and screen antiviral candidates targeting pathogens with pandemic potential,” said Choi Young Ki, director of the Korea Virus Research Institute, IBS.
The system enables scientists to identify, analyze, and test treatments against bat-borne viruses, including newly discovered ones. This breakthrough supports global virus surveillance and pandemic preparedness. Created using BioRender. [Institute for Basic Science]
The researchers envision expanding the platform into a global biobank for bat organoids, supporting international virus surveillance and response efforts. This initiative will enable deeper investigation into the viral features that drive cross-species transmission, support the development of comprehensive genetic maps of key bat species, and facilitate global preparedness.
This work addresses a longstanding gap in virology: the lack of appropriate model systems for studying zoonotic viruses in their natural hosts. By capturing species- and tissue-level differences in virus replication and immune response, the bat organoid platform opens new avenues for early detection, risk assessment, and intervention.
The post New Multi-Species Bat Organoid Platform Enhances Pandemic Preparedness appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.