Understanding the host immune response to the bat-borne pathogen, Hendra virus

Bats are natural sources of deadly viruses such as Ebola and Hendra virus, which can spillover into humans and livestock. It has been hypothesised that unique features of the bat immune system could allow bats to tolerate long-term viral infection. In this thesis, the first tools for characterising bat immunity were developed. These strategies were not only used to understand the bat immune response to Hendra virus but also provided fundamental insights into the bat immune system in general. These findings will aid the development of therapeutics and vaccines as well as prevent future viral epidemics.