Research summary
Bats carry some of the world’s deadliest viruses—but unlike humans, they don’t get sick from these. As Canada Research Chair in Zoonotic Virus and Animal Reservoirs, Dr. Arinjay Banerjee is exploring how bats coexist with viruses and what that can teach us about preventing or treating future outbreaks in humans.
He and his research team are investigating how the bat immune system keeps viruses in check, focusing on powerful proteins called interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) that may stop viruses from multiplying. Using advanced genetic tools, they’re identifying which bat ISGs are most effective and adapting them into potential antiviral therapies for humans based on messenger RNA. By unlocking the secrets of how bats and viruses coexist, this research could pave the way for new treatments that will help people better resist emerging viral threats and improve our ability to respond to future pandemics.