"If we can redirect other species' immune responses to behave in a similar manner to that of bats, then the high death rate associated with diseases, such as Ebola, could be a thing of the past."

Creatures protected from infections like Ebola

Bats have an incredibly strong immune system which allows them to carry but remain unaffected by lethal diseases, new research has found.

Scientists suggest that the finding could hold offer hope for the treatment of human diseases.

Bats are a natural host for over 100 viruses, including Middle Eastern Respiratory System (MERS), Ebola and the Hendra virus. But they do not not get sick or show signs of infection.

Now, new research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that bats have ‘super immunity’ which helps to protect them.

In the study, the team looked at the immune system of the Australian black flying fox and got surprising results.

Leading bat immunologist at CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory Dr Michelle Baker, explains: “Whenever our body encounters a foreign organism, like bacteria or a virus, a complicated set of immune responses are set in motion, one of which is the defense mechanism known as innate immunity.

"We focused on the innate immunity of bats, in particular the role of interferons - which are integral for innate immune responses in mammals - to understand what's special about how bats respond to invading viruses.

"Interestingly we have shown that bats only have three interferons which is only a fraction - about a quarter - of the number of interferons we find in people.

"This is surprising given bats have this unique ability to control viral infections that are lethal in people and yet they can do this with a lower number of interferons."

The team also compared two type 1 interferons - alpha and beta. They found that bats express a heightened immune response, even when they were not infected with any detectable virus.

"Unlike people and mice, who activate their immune systems only in response to infection, the bats interferon-alpha is constantly 'switched on' acting as a 24/7 front line defence against diseases," adds Doctor Baker.

"In other mammalian species, having the immune response constantly switched on is dangerous - for example it's toxic to tissue and cells - whereas the bat immune system operates in harmony."

The scientists believe that bats could potentially help to protect humans from infectious diseases.

"If we can redirect other species' immune responses to behave in a similar manner to that of bats, then the high death rate associated with diseases, such as Ebola, could be a thing of the past," Dr Baker said.